Author's Note:

First of all, THANK YOU to everyone who made note of Theo and Kane. I didn't expect such an intense reaction when they barely interacted, but I will take it as a good sign. I rather like Sebastian's character and we'll see more of him soon. I have a really exciting Sebastian/Tonks scene I'm looking forward to sharing in about ten chapters.

Second, this chapter is bringing out the Canadian in me and for my fellow Canucks out there (all 2 of you LOL), I'm sure you'll appreciate this!

Thanks to GryffindorHealer for helping me plan it out and for letting me bounce my ideas about the Canadian Ministry with. If we're going to make Canada as cool as it is, we should make it fun. I know according to JKR, Canada doesn't have it's own magical community and schools, but I disagree and made up my own! Hope you like it!

And third, I'm rather proud of my horrible puns. LOL.

Thanks to Sam for letting me run ideas with her.

PS — Please don't hate me for this chapter!

Reviews and Comments: To Atea1793: Thank you for your opinion. I will no longer engage in this argument of miscommunication. Hope you have a great day. To minerdude: Thank you! I like Neville and Hannah as well. I'm happy you liked the Theo and Kane scene. I agree, it is hard to see Ginny so angry, but that will soon come to an end! To Wolf's scream: I hope Hannah can finally stand up to her mother as well. To Dianne: Your reaction to Auror K made me smile! You were incredibly devastated by Finn's death so the fact that you immediately are shipping Theo with Kane makes me smile. We will have to see what happens. Yes, Derrick junior is the Slytherin Seeker from Harry's first every Quidditch match. Interesting thought on the Chalice, but the way I see it working is for council related activities and not for jobs as depending on the job and the department, there might be things the witch or wizard must do that the chalice may or may not approve of. As to it being inconceivable for Lavender and the others to have an innocent summer, my thought is that the war doesn't affect everyone and that should be shown. Neville is definitely a sweetheart and so understanding! Hannah needs that! Thank you so much for your kind review.

To Nuno Neves: Thank you! Zee is definitely a real mother figure for Harry and he loves her. I love writing cute and funny Remadora so, thank you! You felt a sparkle between Theo and K? We shall see. Thank you for saying Theo is one of the best characters in ASC (he holds a special place in my heart). To laahrocks: Yes, you will find out in this chapter. Wow, 286 chapters in three weeks is a lot, but yes, welcome to weekly updates! To Ellieoryan7447: Thank you! I miss Hinny, too! I don't begrudge you favouring Hinny at all, but yes, I do have other POVs to tell. To Guest: Thank you! To xXMizz Alec VolturiXx: You can't wait to see more of Kane and Theo? We'll see! To Guest: Will Kane and Theo be a pairing? Boy, such eagerness! I love it! To shivani: Thank you! The longest week of your life? Nah, I'm sure it went by very fast! But sorry, no bonus chapter!

To ITHersey: Thank you very much! It's so nice to hear that "every character feels real and entertaining and" you "want to read more about them." Five Galleons bet on where K and Theo's storyline is going? Hmm… To GodMisha: Thank you! As to how tall do I think the Death Eaters are? A variety of different heights as they are different people LOL. To Nightwing2013: Some of it did, yes. And no, it would be much too easy to spell the antidote into Ginny's stomach. Even magic has its limits. To Seriously Sam: Thanks! I rather loved the term "grunting conversationalist" myself. Of course Remus played along! Not well, considering Tonks caught on, but he did. You should think that when you see Crouch. To wanderinon: Thank you! A soft spot for the underdogs is always appreciated! To yunkol76: Haha! We should all have screamed yes when Hannah said she wanted to be his girlfriend again! To scrappy8: Thank you! I always consider the chapter a huge success when you add more than 'great chapter!' to your review!

To ladyinwaiting2005: Sorry, but none of that is going to happen. To Guest: Thank you! The inferno is definitely worrisome! Thank you for your kind words about negative comments, I appreciate that. To nothatchhavi: Yup, Harry is definitely a little brother to Tonks and he's very lucky to have Zee as his mum. I love the idea that Remus is actually a great liar when it comes to pranks and stuff, convincing others he's innocent, but when it comes to something like this and with Tonks, he can't lie at all. I didn't intentionally make most Ravenclaw boys to be prats and Goldstein is definitely not a prat. Theo did describe Pansy well, didn't he? To Bumlewis: Thank you! I'm glad you found Theo's meeting with Kane so entertaining. I can't help it if I make you feel for Death Eaters LOL. To The Booknerds: Thank you!

To WinkingSkeever: Me neither! To ANewRanger: Haha, thanks I think! To saucyswimmer: You're finally caught up! I'm so glad you love Zee, she really is such a great person! Remus and Harry do have a lot in common, you're right. They both do things for stupid noble reasons and they are two people who deserve love the most. As to Theo and Kane, we'll see! To Shouldna: Thank you! I'm excited for Theo to see Lucius as well and hey, we all have types, don't we? To alix33: Thank you! Always happy to give you a chuckle. To Jones man: I love the idea of soul mates, but I don't like soul bond stories. I think they are very different and should be treated as such. To Arctoid32: Auror Arsehole made me chuckle, too. Thanks! To JamesTKent: Thank you!

To Gyltig: Wow! All 287 chapters in one week is insane! Did you sleep? Eat? Work? LOL. Thanks for catching up! I am truly honoured I held your attention for so long! Thank you so much for saying my "OCs are some of the most realistic encountered." Hinny definitely deserve happiness! To Lady Scribat: Thank you! Happy ASC is keeping you motivated! Good luck on your exams! To pix25: Thank you! Neville and Hannah are rather adorable. To Steelcode: Yes, Baby Lupin is on the way (kind of). Has Theo met his second knight in shining armour? We shall see. To marauders_mowopapr: Thank you. I think the greyness of characters is important because not every person can be painted in black and white. Yes, Lavender doesn't see the war as affecting her and a lot of people think that. K was being an ass and yes, he made a pretty boy comment.

To AnaGPotter: Yes, DEs' always have creepy plans LOL. To wildstyle_101: Theo does deserve some sexy times. Give you old Ginny back? Hmm, we'll see. To AQuickRead91: Thank you for saying Hannah and Neville's chat was so well written! To JonathanRL: Thank you! Haha, you're looking forward to seeing who "gets injured, horribly maimed or killed trying to slip Ginny something?" LOL! To BadWolfKris: I'm proud of Neville too! He's growing up! To Ginny22: You think I'm setting something up with Theo and Kane and you love it already? Good to know. To QuietReader: Haha, that about sums it up! DE evil plans. Hinny reunited. Theo and K possibilities — tune in to find out! To Mizfitz22: Thank you! Did I confirm something? Oh, crap! LOL! Remus and Tonks are just adorable and yes, I know, the Sirius flashbacks are sad. Haha, you smell potential from Kane, do you? I love how you said the comments about Theo and K make you think of "how TV networks tease a potential couple to feel out the audience to see if they will like the pairing before they lock them into the script." Amazing!

To Anastasia_C49: Wow, a standing ovation! Thank you! Wow, keeping up with my story for almost two years! I'm honoured! Thanks for sticking it out! To briana_t: Of course Tonks forgave Remus quickly! She's too happy and he's too happy. She wasn't really going to hold a grudge. You think Theo and Kane are going to be enemies to lovers? We'll see. To crazyforMoony: Theo will be 18 on the twenty-first of October and Kane turned twenty-one in August. To Kikalarachaetos: Thank you! I think the notes are important add ons as sometimes it's been a while and we all need the refresher on who these people are lol. Aww, I'm sorry you still miss Finn! To kyciona: Maybe Theo is. We all have types.

My posting schedule: Weekly.

Thanks to Dusk for her amazing editing skills.

As always, thank you very much for reading and please, please review!

Your reviews give me life! They give me inspiration! And they make me want to keep writing for more than just myself! Thank you for all of your continued support!

CHAPTER TWO-HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-EIGHT:

The One With the 'I'm Sorry I Attacked You' and the Cobra Chickens

Charlie put his hands in his pockets and rocked back on his heels. Today was the day that they were going to be giving Ginny the antidote and he was more worried than he wanted to admit.

Yesterday had been her sixteenth birthday and it had been a rather subdued affair. Ginny had refused to celebrate, claiming that she couldn't trust anyone in her family. Theo had come over, bearing gifts and a smile and she'd even refused to see him. She claimed her friends were lying to her just as much as her family and she wanted to be left alone. Charlie had been forced to turn away Colin, Luna, and Theo at the door and urged them to take their gifts with them for another time.

Her friends had been just as confused and hurt as he was. Ginny always loved celebrating her birthday and by not doing so now, he felt it was only another sign of how much this potion had changed her. Now he stood in the kitchen of the Burrow next to his mother, his eyes on Ron and Hermione who were up to date on the brewing of the antidote.

"Harry's bringing it here?" he asked, nerves bundled in his stomach.

"Well, Mr Borage is," Hermione corrected. "According to Mr Borage it will be ready for Ginny to drink at exactly seven after five this evening."

Charlie raised an eyebrow. "That's incredibly specific."

Ron shrugged. "He's a pretty specific guy. He says that it will work, Charlie."

Charlie's tongue played with the inside of his bottom lip for a moment. "All right. What about Harry?"

"He's not coming. Mr Borage believes that it will only antagonize her more and until she takes the potion, which will still take a few hours to take, she'll be undergoing her own little healing process. He insists that it's safer for both of them if they start off apart," Hermione explained. "Apparently it's instant, but it takes a lot of adjustment on Ginny's part. Mr Potter suggested that it was best to wait for Ginny to decide when she's ready to see Harry."

"Poor Harry," Charlie mumbled. "Well, we're doing this right that's for sure. I want our girl back. No more of these bloody memory confusions and not remembering who she is. I feel like I'm walking on eggshells around her and I don't like it. There will be five of us and one of her and she's going to drink this damn potion if I have to force it down her throat."

"And Bill?" Ron asked.

"I promised that I'd send word after she takes it. I know that he wanted to be here, but it's his honeymoon and he's still recovering. He needs the holiday. The five of us together can get her to drink one potion."

Ron snorted. "You seemed confident when it came to getting some of her blood as well."

"To be honest, I didn't expect her to put up such a fight," Charlie admitted, pride in his voice. "But this time, we'll be more prepared and Mum and Dad will be here."

Molly looked hesitant. "I don't know if I want to watch you force her to drink it, Charlie."

Charlie gave Molly a sympathetic look. "Mum, you know that it's the only way."

Molly nodded, sadness in her eyes. "I do."

The knock on the door had all of them turning and Charlie ran his fingers through his beard. "Ron, can you get Ginny? I'll let Borage in."

Ron nodded and hurried upstairs as Charlie moved to open the front door. The old man who stood there, offered a small smile, the long goatee on his face making him look like a billy goat.

"Good evening! Libatius Borage, at your service."

Charlie extended his hand to shake the old wizard's. "Charlie Weasley. Please, come in. We've been waiting for you."

Borage stepped into the Burrow, placing the small chest in his hands on the kitchen table. He opened the lid and lifted out one steaming goblet and presented it to Charlie. "She has to drink all of it and it must be done while it's still steaming."

"Is it hot?"

"It won't burn her," he said kindly. "It will actually feel icy going down, but she needs to drink the entire goblet."

"And then she'll be cured?" Charlie asked.

Borage shook his head, pointing to the two other steaming goblets inside of the chest. "No. Then she will drink a second goblet exactly one hour later and a third one hour after that. They must each be an hour apart and she must empty all three of them."

"Fuck! Pardon my French, but tricking her into drinking one is going to be bloody hard enough," Charlie replied.

Borage gave him a sympathetic look. "After the second one, she will be feeling more like herself, so the third goblet should be easier to manage."

Charlie nodded. "Are there any side effects that we need to concern ourselves with?"

"She'll be extremely tired after drinking the third dose, but once she sleeps it will help rebuild the damage that the bloodlust did to her memories and to her body. There's a chance that she'll have a nose bleed after drinking the second dose, but it's nothing serious, I assure you."

Charlie nodded again. "We can deal with that."

Borage closed the chest. "Where is the young woman in question?"

"My youngest brother is bringing her into the living room now."

Borage took the chest and followed Charlie into the living room, taking a seat in one of the chairs. His father was sitting in the rocking chair, a sleeping Aydin on his shoulder. Percy was on the sofa, a book open in his lap that Charlie was positive he wasn't taking in. George and Angelina were sitting next to him, whispering. Charlie moved to stand by the fireplace, the goblet sitting on the mantle, tapping his fingers on the wood. Hermione took a seat on the arm of the sofa next to Percy, her hands in her lap.

It was another two minutes before Ginny finally came down, her arms crossed in front of her chest. Her red hair was pulled back in a high ponytail, hanging halfway down her back. The black veins on her face seemed more prominent with her hair pulled back. Zig-zags like bolts of lightning shooting from her temples, down her cheeks, down her neck; some across her lips. There were at least ten now, looking like scratches in her skin. The long-sleeved shirt she wore hid the purple bruises on her arms and he wanted to hold her in his arms like he had when she was little and promise her that everything would be okay.

Fred came in behind her with Ron and Molly. Molly moved to sit on the arm of Arthur's chair and Fred and Ron blocked the door of the living room.

"Have a seat, Ginny," Charlie said.

Ginny only stood there, her arms still crossed. "Why are you all herding around me? Who are you?"

"Libatius Borage, at your service," Borage said, smiling kindly. "I've come with an antidote for you."

"And you're going to drink it," Charlie told her.

Ginny merely lifted an eyebrow. "I already told you, I'm not drinking a potion that I don't need."

Charlie's eyes stared into hers. "That's what you think. There's one of you and nine of us, ten, if you count, Mr Borage."

"I'd rather be more of an observer, if I'm honest," Borage admitted as Hermione gave him an amused look.

"You will drink every drop of this," Charlie continued, "or I will personally pour it down your throat."

Her black eyes gleamed almost red. "You wouldn't dare."

Fred put a hand on her shoulder. "Try us."

She reached for the wand at her waist but Ron was already holding it in his hand.

"Don't think so, Ginny."

"You lot are supposed to be on my side in all of this! Can you not see that Potter's been trying to poison me? He wants me dead, Charlie! He's tricked you into believing his lies!"

"You'll see reason when this is over."

She dodged out of Fred's grip, but Ron was faster. Ginny screamed in outrage as Ron pinned her against the wall. Percy grabbed her other arm, using his body as a shield to hold her in place.

"Don't hurt her!" Molly shrieked, her hands over her mouth as Arthur gripped his wife's hand.

"Merlin, she's wily!" Percy exclaimed as he tried to hold her squirming body against the wall.

Fred and George each got down on their knees to hold her legs in place as Percy pulled out his own wand to petrify her. Charlie stood before her with the steaming goblet as Fred un-petrified just her face.

"I hate you!" Ginny shrieked when she could talk again. "I hate all of you! How can you do this to me?"

The more she screamed, the more black lines began to form along her skin.

"I love you, Jitterbug," Charlie said. "My favourite sister's in there and I'll do anything to bring her back, even if you never forgive me for it."

Ginny screamed in rage again, fighting desperately against the four strong men who held her in place to no avail. Charlie used his wand to force her mouth open as Ron and Percy moved her head back.

"I'm sorry that it has to be this way, Ginny," Charlie said.

Tears rolled down Ginny's cheeks and Charlie moved closer, slowing tipping the goblet to her lips. She choked on the first bit and then when Ron demanded she swallow, she did so, her black eyes glaring daggers at them. But she drank it all down. Every last drop. When the goblet was empty, the black veins began to slowly fade to blue and Charlie let out a slow breath. He placed the goblet down and cupped her cheek in his hands.

"Jitterbug?"

Ginny's eyes were still black as she stared back at him. "Fuck you."

"Ginevra!" Molly exclaimed. "There's no need for that kind of language!"

Ginny glared at her mother in response.

Charlie nodded at Percy and he took the charm off of her. She stumbled as Ron and Fred each caught her and she shoved them away from her.

"Don't try it," George said.

Ginny turned to glare at them over her shoulder. "If you think that I'm going to sit here with you traitors, you've got another thing coming. You'll rue the day that you did this to me."

Charlie grabbed her arm. "Maybe we will, but right now, you're staying in here with us until we say otherwise. Try to fight us off and I will tie you to the bloody chair."

Ginny glared at him before she sat in the centre of the sofa next to Angelina, crossing her arms in front of her chest, and gave each of her brothers a murderous stare.

Borage cleared his throat from across the room. "I'll get the second dose ready."

Charlie sat across from his sister. "Your black veins are getting lighter."

Ginny looked skeptical for a moment before she pushed the sleeves of her long-sleeved flannel shirt up. The dark black veins had lightened and she shivered. "That doesn't mean I trust you."

"I know," he said. "But all of us, we'd never do anything to harm you. I promise that we will never not once choose some bloke over you. You are our whole damn world, Ginny. You have been since the moment you were born."

Ginny's hands trembled. "But you're still choosing Potter over me. You trust him on this?"

"No," Charlie said. "But we know that this isn't you. This isn't the girl we love and fear… this is… something dark is inside of you, Ginny, I know that you can feel it. I know that you can see it manifesting itself in your very skin… please, let Mr Borage give you this potion. If not for us, for yourself."

She bit her bottom lip before she leaned back against the couch and closed her eyes, refusing to speak.

The next little bit seemed to drag by like molasses dripping off the edge of a table. Every time Charlie looked up at the family clock, only another minute had passed. Ginny's hand was still pointed at mortal peril, but since the entire family was pointed there and had been for the last year, he didn't think the clock could be trusted with this.

Ginny kept her eyes closed, but Charlie could see that she wasn't sleeping. He listened with half an ear as George and Angelina spoke about the changes they'd made to their new home, new paint samples and the like. Angelina asked Hermione questions about their upcoming seventh year and how she felt about being Head Girl, but still Ginny didn't move.

The dark veins in her skin were slowing disappearing the longer she sat there. They faded from black to blue, almost looking like ink that was disappearing into her skin. Her eyes stayed closed but he knew that they were still the same dark black, maybe even blacker than ever. Charlie had noticed her pupils were even black, making them look less than human. The longer she sat there, the more the veins disappeared and her scowl slowly left her face. By the thirty minute mark, she blinked at them and a flash of brown seemed to appear in the black of her eyes making Charlie's heart leap into his throat.

It was working.

When it was time for the second dose, Charlie held it out to her cautiously. "Do I need to force this one down your throat as well?"

Ginny shook her head. "No, I'll take it."

Fred lifted an eyebrow, exchanging a look with Ron as they watched her with bated breath. But she took the potion from Borage and drank it slowly, swallowing every last drop before handing the goblet back to Charlie.

This time, it was like an instant change came over her. Her eyes returned to normal and the first thing she did was throw herself into a surprised Charlie's arms.

"Charlie!"

Charlie's arms locked around her, kissing the top of her head. "Ginny?"

"I've missed you."

His lips curved as he tucked a loose hair behind her ear. "I've missed you, too."

"Did you just get in?"

"Yeah," he said, hugging her close. "I just got in."

Ginny let him go and moved to kiss Aydin's cheek, who was still curled up on Arthur's chest in contented sleep. "She looks peaceful."

"She is," Arthur said, his eyes on his daughter.

Ginny kissed his cheek and Arthur's eyes widened in surprise before Molly hugged her so tightly, her face was smushed into her mother's shoulder.

"Mum! Let me breathe!"

But Molly only held on tighter. "I love you, Ginny."

"I know," Ginny said, wiggling out of her mother's grip. "Merlin, you think I'd died or something."

When no one laughed, her smile faded. "Did I miss something?"

Borage cleared his throat. "Memory loss is another common side effect. Once she drinks the final dose, it will all make sense."

Charlie hoped to Merlin that was true.

It took ten minutes for her nose to start bleeding. Fred supplied her with half of a Nosebleed Nougat that stopped the bleeding and she thanked him for it. Not two minutes later, she fell asleep with her head on Ron's shoulder.

Borage assured them that sleep was good for her, but she only napped for fifteen minutes before waking again, still a bit confused.

The rest of the hour passed much quicker as Aydin woke and Ginny played with the baby on the carpet, making her giggle and laugh and when the time came, Borage held out the third goblet.

"You need to drink that, Ginny."

If she questioned it this time, she didn't say. She accepted the third potion with no complaint and drank it all down quickly.

"You probably feel a little strange, maybe even a bit nauseous?" Borage asked.

Ginny nodded. "Yes, a little."

"The best thing now is for you to sleep it off. A good ten to twelve hours should help with the queasiness."

"Er okay," she said, standing up, looking a little dazed. "Goodnight."

Charlie watched her leave the living room, a frown on his face. "That's it?"

"No," Borage said. "The sleep will draw the rest of the bloodlust from her system. She might even be physically sick from it for the next twenty-four hours. The rest will be up to her as her memories return and she deals with what's happened over the last month and a half."

"But she's cured?" Molly asked, her eyes on the door her daughter had just disappeared through.

"Yes," Borage assured them. "She is."

Relief coursed through Charlie and he scooped Aydin up into his arms. "Then we can deal with the rest."

And he knew that his family was thinking the exact same thing.

~ ASC ~

Ginny left her family in the living room, feeling a bit disoriented. She stepped into her bedroom, biting back a yawn. She wasn't sure what she was supposed to be feeling at the moment, but she felt drained and confused. Her head was throbbing at her temples and she felt vaguely like she'd been trapped in some strange dream. The dream was patchy… gold dresses, naked in the sunlight, silk sheets, Harry in the orchard… it was blurry and disjointed and none of it made sense. The more she tried to think about it, the more her head pounded. The knock on her bedroom door was a welcome relief.

Fred leaned against her door when she opened it. "I'm betting you feel a bit overwhelmed."

"For starters," she said.

He reached his hand out to give her the communication mirror. "Sorry, I kept this until you were better. We didn't want Harry to try to contact you."

"Harry..." she said, her eyes wide. "Why wouldn't you want him to contact me? I… oh gods, Fred! I tried to kill him!"

Fred shrugged. "That prat is tough. Someone tries to kill him every year."

"Yes, but he..." She put a hand over her uneasy stomach. "I... it's all kind of in flashes. I... I remember hating him, wanting him dead and I... I started to hate all of you, too, because you were stopping me from going after him."

"Yeah, we rather got that impression, Gem. Look, we did what we thought was best to keep you safe from yourself and from others."

She nodded, her eyes drooping. "Dad… I blamed him for being taken into the Chamber… I… the things I said to him…"

Fred pulled her close for a hug. "Dad knows it was the potion, Gem. I promise. Get some sleep. We'll talk more in the morning and answer all of your questions. I'm sure that you'll want to see Harry in the morning, too. I know that he's been anxious about seeing you."

She nodded, her limbs suddenly feeling like dead weight. Fred obviously noticed because he half carried her to the bed, tucking her under the blankets.

"Get some sleep, Ginny. Everything will make sense in the morning."

He stroked her cheek and she vaguely thought that the morning seemed awfully far away before sleep overtook her and she fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.

~ ASC ~

George closed the door behind him, snagging Angelina around the waist and pulling her tightly into his arms. He buried his nose in the crook of her neck as her arms came around him.

"I feel relieved," she told him.

He nodded, loving how well Angelina knew him. He'd been worried about his sister all summer and here was his incredible girlfriend, just as worried as he'd been. He was so lucky to have her in his life. He knew that she'd been just as worried about Ginny. She knew exactly how he felt about it as he'd spent endless nights telling her about his worries and how Ginny had reacted or not reacted to events over the last month and a half.

"Me too. I feel like this has been some never-ending nightmare that has me worried I'm going to watch my sister die."

Angelina hugged him tighter. "She's cured now, George. Borage said so and when she gets the rest she needs to be fully recovered, she'll bounce back. If there's anything I've learned from you Weasleys is that you're made of tough stuff."

He smiled against her neck. "That we are."

Angelina slid her hands under his shirt, roaming up his back. "Maybe you should let me take your mind off it and you should show me that tough stuff."

George raised an eyebrow. "Tough stuff? What did you have in mind, Ange?"

"Well, we do still have many places left in here to break in properly."

George chuckled. "I don't know, Ange. I don't know if we can do better than over the railing of the stairs. The way you held on and had your legs up and wrapped around... fuck, I'm hard just thinking about it and don't even ask me how we did it because I don't think I could recreate it for the life of me."

Angelina's eyes twinkled. "That was really good. Why don't we try out the bottom of the stairs?"

He wiggled his eyebrows. "That will be rather uncomfortable, won't it?"

She tossed her long braids over her shoulder. "Not if I'm on my hands and knees and we use a cushioning charm."

George grinned as his girlfriend began to undo his trousers. "I like the way you think, Johnson."

She pulled his shirt over his head. "I like it better when you're naked, Weasley."

George took in her beautiful form, admiring the colourful bra against her dark skin. He loved how good she made him feel. He loved how she knew exactly how to help distract him and he certainly loved how adventurous she was. He unhooked her bra, cupping her breasts in his hands before he bent his head to kiss one.

"You should always be naked, Ange. It should be a new rule of our house. Clothes are not optional."

Angelina chuckled, her fingers threading through his hair. "Only if you stay starkers with me."

Then they were both laughing as they pulled at the rest of each other's clothes, leaving a trail behind them to the bottom of the stairs.

~ ASC ~

Fred headed back to his flat, running his hands over his face. He was tired. But seeing his sister finally come back to herself, even if only for a moment, had been the win he'd needed. He stared at the empty flat with a sigh. He wished Avril hadn't gone back to France as he could certainly use a good shag right about now. But as much fun as she'd been, neither of them had been looking for more.

Feeling like he needed something more to help him sleep, he turned and left, Disapparating to the training ground for the defence squads. The Ministry had acquired a large area in Wales where they were using it as a training ground for the Defence Department. It was open to all (as only those who knew about its location could find it) and it was warded so that they could fly high into air without being seen. Fred found himself spending a lot of time there, working out and flying. It helped him come up with some of his best ideas, not to mention blow off a little steam. It was unusual for anyone to be there this time of night, though he often did find a body or two looking to escape. Tonight, he had the area to himself.

He mounted his broom, whipping up into the sky and feeling the freedom that the flying gave him. It reminded him that the world was a huge place and that he was only a small part of it. He wasn't sure how long he spent up in the air, but when he finally landed, he saw that he wasn't alone any longer. A small woman with chin-length black hair was shooting arrow after arrow into a bull's eye from three hundred yards away.

He whistled in appreciation and she cocked her head, moss green eyes staring at him, and he recognized her immediately. She was the fae who had saved his life on the causeway. He took in her pointed ears, her wide smile and triangular face before his gaze wandered down that firm body and a flicker of desire shot through him.

"Impressive," he called out.

The fae only stared at him as if she were bored and turned back to her archery. Fred continued to move closer to her and when he was close enough to touch her back, she spoke.

"Take another step and I'll spear you through."

Fred chuckled, holding his hands up in surrender. "Seems a little aggressive for a bloke you just met."

"Seems a little bold of you to stare at my arse for as long as you have," she shot back.

Fred's lips curved. "Ah, can't blame a bloke for that. You have a fantastic arse."

Her lips twitched slightly. "I know."

Another arrow shot from her quiver, spiralling through the air and landed in the dead centre of her target.

"And one hell of a deadly arm," Fred said. "I never properly thanked you for your help on the causeway. I might have been food for the dead if you hadn't timed that flaming arrow just right."

"There's no 'might' about it," she said. "You would have been dead."

Fred snorted. "I happen to be able to take care of myself, you know."

"Not well," she shot back. "Or you wouldn't have needed me to save your arse back there."

"Oi!" Fred exclaimed. "There was a proper battle going on and I didn't need saving, though don't think I didn't appreciate the help."

The woman only gave him a cool stare. "Appreciation noted."

Another arrow shot out, this time hitting the centre of the target on her left.

"I'm Fred, by the way."

"Fiadh."

"Ah, both 'f' names, it was meant to be."

Fiadh merely gave him another cool stare. "Was there something you wanted or are you only here to annoy me?"

"Ouch," Fred said. "You certainly know how to hit your target."

"I never miss," she told him.

"Is archery your thing? You like to play with long shafts and hard wood?"

Fiadh's lips twitched, her eyes moving down his body provocatively. "Why? Have you a long one you want me to play with?"

Fred's neck flushed and desire swept through him. "It's been known to warrant a second look or three."

She smirked. "I'm training."

"So was I."

"I know," she said.

Fred grinned. "Ah, watching me, were you?"

"Did I notice you up there, flying on a broomstick? Yes. Was I watching you? Hardly."

"Worried you might not catch me? Even with your arrow dynamics?"

Her lips twitched again. "Has anyone told you that you're not as funny as you think you are?"

"Ah, but you do think I'm funny. Did I make you… quiver?"

Fiadh lowered her arm, turning to give him her full attention. "Have you been saving up on bad archery puns just for me?"

"Nah, babe, they just come naturally."

"I think you've missed the mark," she said, before turning back to her target.

Fred snickered. "Let me buy you a drink."

Fiadh let another arrow fly, hitting the target with perfect precision. "What makes you think that I want to have a drink with you, Funny Man?"

"Because you like my puns and are interested in seeing my long shaft?"

"Bold," she said.

"Is that a yes?"

"No."

"Is that a no?"

"No," she said, smirking at him over her shoulder.

Fred scratched his chin. "It's kind of late for dinner, but I can buy you dinner?"

"No," she said again.

He frowned. He wasn't sure that he could figure this woman out. The bow dropped from her hands and hit the ground before she turned, standing in front of him so fast, he gasped. She danced her fingers up his chest, those green eyes on his.

"I'm not really feeling much like food or drink."

Fred nodded. "Noted. Maybe there's something else I could help you with?"

Fiadh stared at him. "I don't know if you could handle me, Fred."

Fred swallowed. He'd been marginally attracted before, but suddenly he was standing there with a raging hard on. "Try me."

She stepped back and picked up her bow. "Ever shot an arrow?"

The lack of contact had his cock, pushing up against his trousers and he almost groaned. "Never."

Fiadh held the bow out to him. "Give it a try. Show me what you can handle."

Fred hesitated only a second before he took the bow from her and stretched it back, surprised at the muscle it took to wield it. He let an arrow fly and it dove right into the ground ten yards away.

The fae snickered. "If you want to score, your wood needs to be up in the air."

His face flushed and she licked her lips. "Sorry, guess I… released early."

Her lips twitched. "So, you're saying that you didn't mean to shoot… there."

"Well, maybe the wood isn't as thick as I'm used to handling."

Fiadh only stared at him. "Straighten your arm," she said, moving behind him. "Yes, like that. Raise it, you want your shot to align with your mouth for perfect control. Elbow up. Good. Now fire."

Fred let the arrow fly and to his surprise it landed next to the target which he considered pretty good for his second shot. He turned to look at her. "Not bad."

She shrugged. "It was better."

He put the bow down and took a step towards her, his fingers dancing along her hips. "So, since you showed me your wood, want to see mine?"

"Your lines are getting worse," she muttered.

Fred picked his broomstick off the ground. "I meant my broom, but if you were thinking of something else, I'm open to ideas."

Fiadh smiled. "Are you asking me to ride your broom?"

"Absolutely," he said, wiggling his eyebrows.

The fae took the broom from him and mounted it, kicking off. She flew off into the sky and did three loop-the-loops before landing in front of him. She handed the broomstick back to him with a shrug.

"I've ridden better."

She took two steps away from him before he grabbed her wrist and spun her around. "You're about to."

They stared at each other for ten full seconds, neither of them moving, and then Fiadh leapt up, legs locking around his body and making him stumble back a few steps, and her lips locked on his. He groaned as her mouth attacked him, his hands roaming up her back, trying not to focus on the way she was rubbing against his hard cock. Teeth scraped his neck and when she sucked his throat, he knew that he was going to have a hell of a mark the next day.

He didn't care.

He let his own teeth graze her throat, losing himself in the softness. She smelt like a garden and tasted like flowers and he'd never been so hard in all of his life. Then those lips were biting his in quick nips designed to drive him mad with pained pleasure. His hand slid under her shirt, cupping a firm naked breast and she pulled away.

"Not here."

Fred frowned. He'd forgotten that despite the fact that they were very much alone, they were in the middle of a Ministry training ground. Anyone could walk in at any moment.

"Hold tight," he told her and he Disapparated on the spot, appearing in front of the stairs leading up to his flat above the shop.

Fiadh shimmied down his body, her hand in his as he led her up the stairs and into the flat. The door had barely closed before her legs were locked around his waist again. She moaned when he slammed her against the door in his haste to touch her, pulling her shirt off. His mouth lowered to her breast and she groaned in desperation.

Then he was kneeling before her, ripping her out of the leather tights she wore and finding her naked. The moment his tongue touched her, she cried out. He kept her pinned against the door, one leg draped over his shoulder as he used his tongue recklessly. The orgasm tore through her and she pulled on his hair so tightly he thought she might tear it from his skull, but he didn't stop. Not until she came a second time and then Fred really wasn't sure what happened next.

It was all a flurry of movement, of bites and kisses that blurred together until they were both naked in the middle of his kitchen floor with her riding him. Strands of dark hair fell into her eyes as her breasts bounced and when she came a third time, to his surprise, large, beautiful golden wings erupted from her back. His thumb pressed on her clit and she moaned. He added more pressure and she purred his name before she went over the edge a fourth time, riding him into sweet oblivion as he finally released.

When he woke some time later, a golden wing was covering his face. He kissed it and she shivered.

"So, how'd I handle?" he asked, keeping his voice light.

Fiadh lifted her head to look down at him. "You made me come four times."

Fred smirked. "I know."

She snuggled back into his chest, her wings settling around them. "Sleepy now."

Fred had to agree, but he certainly didn't plan on staying on the kitchen floor. He slowly finagled his way out from her before he stood and bent to pick her up. She gave him a sleepy sigh as he carried her into his bedroom and settled her into his bed. She was so tiny, he thought, and yet surprisingly strong. He kissed her brow as she snuggled into him and he wondered how agreeable she might be to morning sex.

She woke him two hours later with her mouth wrapped around him. He only made a grunting noise as she worked him, taking all of him into that sweet mouth as she sucked and fondled him until he was on edge. Then she slowly slid her lips off him and straddled him, his cock brushing against her.

"Shall I ride you again?"

Fred groaned in response, pulling her down onto him. "Oh… fuck," he moaned when she arched her back and increased her speed.

Determined not to come without her, he used his fingers and her green eyes darkened. Her hips were undulating against him now in a way that was going to make him combust any second. He rubbed her clit, focusing on her and trying to make himself last and when she finally moaned, he lost it.

"Fuck… Fee-ah… yes!"

She continued to ride him until he was completely spent and then she nestled her face into the crook of his neck. "You certainly know how to use your shaft to make me quiver."

Fred laughed, unable to stop himself, and she smiled down at him. He kissed her, rolling her with him until she was beneath him on the bed. "For someone who didn't like my jokes, you seem to be full of them yourself."

Fiadh's hand slid down to stroke him. "I'd like to be full of you. Again. Now."

Fred was about to comment that as much as he'd like that, he was going to need another minute or two before a warm glow appeared around her hand and he was suddenly very much ready to go.

"Did you just…?"

She smiled. "Fae have healing powers. If you're lucky, I'll ride you until the dawn."

He groaned, slipping into her again. He held her hands above her head. "I'll show you what I can do until dawn."

He didn't quite make it until dawn. But he certainly made good use of the night. He woke alone to sunlight shining through his bedroom window. The sheets next to him were cold and he grunted as he climbed to his feet. The flat was empty and he ignored the pang of disappointment that shot through him.

Last night had been the best sex he'd ever had. Fiadh had been one little hellion. After showing him her little healing trick, she'd proceeded to shag his brains out another three times. They'd had sex five times, he thought with a grin and that wasn't even including how many times he'd made her come. Seven, he smirked. Not that he'd counted.

He made himself a cup of coffee and saw the arrow on the counter. He picked it up curiously and saw the note attached to it.

Fred,

It was fun. Sorry to sneak out, but I had to be at my post. Maybe we'll meet again.

Fiadh

PS — You definitely don't early release.

He snorted as he sipped his coffee. Oh yeah, he was definitely going to see her again.

~ ASC ~

Harry was running.

He'd been running for almost the last hour and even though his body was telling him to stop, he couldn't. If he stopped, he'd go to the Burrow and he knew that he couldn't do that.

"She'll need rest," Fleamont had insisted.

"But won't she want to see me?" Harry asked.

"Harry, love, of course she will, but she'll need to rest first. This has been a terrible ordeal for her," Euphemia said.

Fleamont nodded. "Rest will be important first. She's going to be coming down from this high. Her body and her mind will be physically exhausted and the antidote is like a calming draught in that it will be a lot for her to handle. It messed with her memories, with her mind, and with how she portrays herself. When she wakes it's all going to be a lot for her to handle."

Harry dragged his fingers through his hair, making it stick up even more than normal. "So, how long do I have to wait?"

Euphemia's portrait gave him a sympathetic smile. "Let her come to you, dear."

Harry hadn't much liked that answer.

He collapsed onto the grass, his breath uneven and his heart pounding as he attempted to stretch out his arms and legs from the run. He couldn't stop the worry. He couldn't stop thinking about what he was going to do if she didn't want to see him.

What if the potion made her think that it was better if they were apart?

That nagging voice inside of his head that told him she would be safer without him seemed to be speaking a lot louder as of late. Ginny had been given this potion because of him. She'd been targeted by Voldemort because of him. The wizard knew she was his weakness and it made his heart ache. Maybe it would be better if he just let her push him away. She was cured now, she could go on to live the life she'd always wanted.

She would be safe.

The thought of her playing for the Harpies one day, of the men who would chase her, of the new men she'd date... if it kept her safe, he could stomach it. He could, he told himself as if he was still trying to convince himself of it. If it kept her safe, he could do it. If it meant that Voldemort would never target her again, he would go the rest of his life without touching her, without kissing her, without seeing that blazing look in her eye...

Harry rubbed a hand over his heart and blinked back the tears in his vision as a shadow fell over him. When he looked up, he saw the freckled face of his best mate. He accepted Ron's hand and let him tug him to his feet.

"Stop it," Ron insisted.

"Stop what?" Harry asked, raising an eyebrow at his friend.

Ron's look made his stomach clench nervously. "Stop sitting there and trying to convince yourself to let Ginny go for her own safety."

Harry opened his mouth to protest but Hermione spoke from behind him. "She won't allow it."

Harry ignored them. "How is she?"

"Sleeping it off," Ron said. "Fred gave her back the mirror, but he said that she could barely walk to her bed because she was so tired. When she wakes, I imagine she'll use it."

"Yeah," he said as he pulled his shirt up to wipe the sweat from his face revealing his toned stomach and abs.

Ron shook his head as Harry dropped his shirt. "You keep working out like you've been, you're going to give me a complex."

Harry's lips curved. "Doubt it."

Ron snorted. "How are you doing?"

Harry shrugged. "About the same."

Hermione moved to hug him. "All of the black veins vanished, Harry; the bruises, the discolouration of her eyes. She looked like Ginny again. There was no rage behind her face. She was just exhausted."

"Charlie forced the first potion down her throat. It was intense."

"Bet she didn't like that," Harry said.

"Not at all," Ron replied. "But she drank the second and third doses all on her own."

Harry nodded. That was rather reassuring.

"Her memories are still a bit jumbled. She thought Charlie had just arrived, seemed to have forgotten about the whole 'us forcing the potion thing on her,' though I imagine that will come back when she wakes in the morning," Ron told him. "I'm considering hiding her wand just in case."

"My grandmother said that I should let her come to me," Harry told them.

"You should," Hermione agreed. "I can't imagine it's going to be easy for her when she wakes. It's going to be like she had a really strange dream and she'll be trying to work out everything that happened. I know it's hard for you, but you have to do what's best for her."

"I know," he said, dragging his fingers through his hair. "I get that. It's all been for her, all of it. This… they gave her that potion because of me! Do you know what that feels like?"

Ron grabbed Harry's arm. "It feels like they're arseholes! Don't you sit there and put the blame for this on you!"

Harry's gaze darkened. "They wouldn't have touched her if I wasn't… if I didn't…"

"Love her?" Ron said. "Maybe not a bloodlust potion, no. But they might have done much worse, Harry! They could have kidnapped her. Raped her. Treated her like that Novak women or forced her to have their pureblood children. Ever thought about that? Ginny's the first Weasley daughter in seven generations. The fact that they gave her a bloodlust potion over anything else is because of you, Harry. Because you're the fucking Chosen One."

Harry stared at his friend in surprise, his mouth slightly agape.

"Harry," Hermione said, softly. "Ron's right. You're not to blame for this. You being with Ginny doesn't put her in any more danger then she already is just by being who is she is."

Harry dragged his fingers through his hair. He heard what they were saying, but he still didn't fully agree with it. Hermione was looking at him in a way that told him she was well aware of what he was thinking, but he was saved from answering by the backdoor opening.

Zee stepped onto the patio. "Hi, Ron, Hermione. Did Ginny take the potion?"

Ron nodded. "Yeah. She's sleeping it off now. Borage said that she needs time to come to terms with everything and it might be a bit."

"Of course she does. She's been through such an ordeal. Harry?"

Harry shrugged, lifting up the bottom of his shirt to wipe the sweat of his face again. "I'm waiting for her to contact me."

Zee gave him a sympathetic look before she gestured the three of them forward. "Well, while you wait, can the three of you come inside?"

Harry led his friends into the house, moving to get himself a glass of water. "What's going on, Zee?"

"Oliphant wants to stop by with Rolf and I'd like you to stay for the meeting," Zee told him.

Harry arched an eyebrow. "Why?"

"Well, because I want you to meet Rolf and because they have something that they think might be useful. Or they know someone… I wasn't clear."

Hermione took a seat at the kitchen table. "Who's Rolf?"

"He's the grandson of Newt Scamander and we just hired him a few months back to be a freelance magizoologist. He's very good, not to mention a great photographer."

"He told Zee that she's his hero," Harry said, giving Zee an amused look.

"Not his hero, he said that he found me inspiring," Zee corrected, blushing a bit. "And he said that he wants to be me when he grows up. How sweet is that? Anyway, I like him. He's a brilliant young man who I think is going to do great things just like his grandfather did."

Hermione's eyes widened. "The grandson of Newt Scamander? Wow! He must have a million stories!"

"He definitely does," Zee told her. "Harry, why don't you go upstairs and shower? They should be here in about half an hour."

Harry nodded and left his friends to talk to Zee while he headed upstairs. The twins were already in bed for the night and when he stepped into his bathroom, he rested his back against the door for a moment. Tonight was a good night for Zee's work friends to stop by. He needed something to take his mind off of Ginny and the antidote; to make him think of anything other than how she was dealing with it. If she was sleeping, was she dreaming of it? Of him? What did she remember? What didn't she remember?

He undressed, moving to take a quick shower and trying to think of anything other than Ginny and the potion, all to no avail. The shower took a bit longer than planned since he was forced to have a quick wank, which only made him feel slightly better. By the time he returned downstairs, Ron was eating a plate of chicken, cornbread, and potato salad while Hermione ate a slice of mudpie.

"It's almost nine," Harry said, his eyes on Ron's plate.

"S'was 'ungry," Ron said with his mouth full.

Hermione kicked him under the table and he yelped.

Zee placed a slice of mudpie in front of Harry with a cup of tea just as the knock sounded on the front door. Padfoot, who still slept dutifully in the twins' room, came to the top of the stairs to look down. Harry heard Zee tell the dog to go back to Mina and Leo.

It was only a moment later before the two wizards came into the kitchen. One of them was in his early sixties with brown hair, grey at the temples, and rather bushy eyebrows that might even give Scrimgeour a run for his money. The other was a tall young man with light brown hair worn to his collar, with a splash of freckles on his nose and dark eyes. He had a friendly smile and Harry liked him immediately.

"Goldwin, this is my son, Harry, and his friends Ron and Hermione. This is my boss, Goldwin Oliphant and our newest freelance magizoologist, Rolf Scamander," Zee said.

"Nice to meet you, Harry," Oliphant said, extending his hand. "Zee talks about you all the time."

"Nice to meet you, too, Sir," Harry said, shaking his hand before doing the same to Rolf.

Once everyone was seated with a slice of mudpie and a cup of tea, did Oliphant narrow in on Hermione.

"Wait, are you Hermione Granger?"

"Yes, Sir," she said, her cheeks turning pink.

"Your legislation is still causing some waves in my department. It's brilliant! I hope you're still interested in working for our department when you finish school?"

Hermione's eyes widened before she nodded. "I would love to, Sir."

Oliphant looked pleased with this before he turned back to Zee. "I know I shouldn't bother you, Zacarias, being on your maternity leave and all that, but making you my deputy head was the best choice I've made in years and I value your opinion."

Zee smiled. "It's no bother, Goldwin. I told you, I'm happy to help where I can."

Oliphant nodded. "Scamander here has proven to be one hell of a great catch for us. He spent a few weeks in Japan doing a photo article on a Hoo-hoo. Adorable little bird."

"Friendly too," Rolf said, with a smile. "I worked with Kiko Takagi. She specializes in birds."

"Yes, yes. You'll see the article on that soon enough, but it was his next trip that made me interested. Why don't you tell Zacarias what you told me, Rolf?"

Rolf cleared his throat, taking a sip of his tea before he spoke. "After I left Japan, I headed out to Essex County in Ontario. A friend of mine discovered a nest of Jobberknolls in Kingsville and wanted me to come check it out since I was looking at Hoo-hoos. As I'm sure you know, Jobberknolls are a beautiful bright speckled blue bird with powers to affect truth serums and memory potions. Anyway, while I was out there, I met a Canadian magizoologist named Raphael Ouellette who was telling me that he's been studying an animal called the Cobra Chicken."

Zee gave him an amused look. "A Cobra Chicken?"

Rolf nodded. "Yes."

Ron looked puzzled. "What in bleeding hell is that? Half-bird, half-snake?"

"Actually," Rolf said. "Neither. It's a nickname given to the birds by the local Muggles. They are more commonly known as Canadian geese."

Zee chuckled. "I have heard that they can be quite aggressive."

"Incredibly so," Rolf told her. "We were at Dieppe Park in Windsor and I saw a herd of them attack some Muggles out of the blue. They are very territorial around their nests."

"Well, most animals are," Zee replied.

"Yes, but these birds seem to pride themselves on attacking. They honk and strut as if they own everything around them," Rolf went on. "Anyway, Ouellette was telling me that he and his partner, Reagan St Louis, have been working on training them. Every witch or wizard who has ever tried has failed, but these two have done it."

Zee looked intrigued as she offered a second slice of mudpie to Oliphant. "Really? Trained them how?"

Rolf nodded. "St Louis' brilliant. She's managed to convince the RCMA to implement her idea as part of the Magical Creatures Branch. In fact, some of the Mounties are even using them as guards in their prison."

"Geese?" Ron said in disbelief. "You've got to be joking?"

Rolf shook his head. "No. I know it sounds a little out there, but they are actually very fierce animals and seeing what Ouellette and St Louis can do with them really made me think. I was telling them about our new defence program and how we were discussing the idea of using magical creatures as part of the Wing Guard. I know there's still a lot to do to get that up and running and that no magizoologist is willing to force any magical creature to participate, but I wondered about the geese."

"Wait, wait, wait," Ron said, staring open-mouthed at Rolf. "You want these Canadian geese to attack Death Eaters? Are you joking? What will they do? Beak them to death?"

Rolf chuckled. "I'm well aware how mad it sounds, but trust me, these birds are a force that I would not want to face. The Canadians have nicknamed then Cobra Chickens for a reason."

Harry frowned, leaning back in his chair. "Would the Canadian Ministry let us use their trained geese if we wanted them?"

"Canadians have always had a great relationship with the British and Ouellette says that if we were interested, he would discuss the possibility of a handful of Canadian magizoologists coming to England with the geese. Of course, it would have to be discussed between Minister Bones and the Canadian Minister," Rolf said. "But I'm sure the Royal Canadian Magical Agency would be at least be interested in discussing it."

Oliphant grinned. "I say let's do it. It would be a sight that no one would believe as Ron here has stated. No one believes them to be fierce and if they are as you say, Rolf, it could be quite a surprise to unleash upon our enemies."

"But… they're not magical creatures?" Hermione said, slowly. "I mean, there's nothing special about them?"

"Just because they're not magical doesn't not make them an incredible animal," Rolf said. "I value all creatures from all ways of life. Even the ones that are basically just a menace to society."

"What do you think, Zacarias?" Oliphant asked.

Zee tapped her fingers on the table. "I trust Rolf. Let's get the RCMA on board and see what happens. Are you returning to Canada, Rolf?"

He nodded. "I am. I want to spend some time in Ottawa as I heard there's a few dugbogs that live around the Rideau Canal. The canal is pretty populated so I'm not sure where they could be hiding, but that's the rumour. While I'm in the capital, I'll stop by and visit the Magical Creatures Branch of the RCMA."

"Where's that?" Ron asked.

"In the Peace Tower," Rolf told him. "The lift has a special code, 7262, which activates a panel in the wall of the lift much like the rocks at King's Cross. You slip right through the wall of the lift and enter the atrium of the RCMA."

"And Muggles don't stumble upon it being in the lift?" Hermione asked.

Rolf shook his head. "No. You move into the lift, hit the code, the doors open and Muggles walk in and out and you slip through the wall completely oblivious. Only those with magic can move through it and it's only visible when you punch in the four-digit code. If you need to bring in a No-Mag then you need to hold them while walking through, like side-along Apparation."

"7262 or RCMA," Hermione repeated. "Fascinating."

Rolf nodded. "It's beautiful inside as well. You'll have to go one day."

"What's a No-Maj?" Ron asked.

"It's what they call Muggles across the pond," Zee told him.

Oliphant put his empty tea cup down on the table. "I'll speak to Bones and Scrimgeour about the meet with the Canadian Minister and we'll see what the plan will be."

Rolf grinned. "You won't be disappointed, Sir."

They clarified a few more details before saying goodnight and Zee stood up to see them out.

Ron shook his head as he exchanged a look with Harry and Hermione. "Cobra Chickens? Ooh, scary, a long-necked duck with a sharp beak! Charlie's bringing bloody dragons and this Scamander bloke is talking about beaking people with geese? Are they bloody joking with this?"

Hermione burst into laughter and Harry soon followed as Ron continued to look puzzled. Harry wasn't sure how much this was going to help them, but any sign of progress made him smile. And he couldn't help but laugh at the image of a goose pecking Voldemort in his nose-less face.

It would definitely be entertaining to see.

~ ASC ~

Ginny woke the next morning with a dry mouth. Her limbs felt heavy from sleep and despite how thirsty she felt, she really didn't want to move from her bed. It took her another hour before she finally shifted and opened her eyes. Bright sunlight shone into her room and she blinked at the brightness of it, burrowing deeper under the blankets as she yawned and soon fell back asleep.

It was almost eleven before she finally made it out of bed. She still felt groggy and she trudged to the bathroom to get a drink of a water and wash her face. As she stared at herself in the mirror, she blinked a few times, still trying to fully wake up, when she suddenly remembered the bloodlust potion.

The way her blood had splattered into the glass from her palm. Snape adding it to the cauldron; how the potion had flashed in bright colours, snapping and crackling until it sparkled like an open flame… The way Rabastan Lestrange had forced her mouth open, his hands making her skin crawl as Snape stood before her and forced the potion down her throat.

Her small hands wrapped around her throat as the memory washed over her. It had tasted like copper and burned like fire as it went down. She vividly remembered how in an instant she had felt Harry. She'd felt loved and calm and safe. She could smell that delicious teakwood and mahogany soap he used, wooden brooms, broomstick polish, and summer air and then… then her throat had burned and that safe feeling, that feeling of love and calmness from Harry had vanished.

She'd felt completely alone.

Ginny shivered as she remembered how Rabastan had cupped her breast, squeezing it. She could almost feel his hands on her and she fought back the urge to vomit. He'd called her a "good little cunt." The memory was too much and she fell to her knees, vomiting into the toilet at the thought of it.

They'd stunned her and she'd been lost. It had been like part of her was separated or split in some way. She'd been able to see herself, her reactions, her thoughts, but nothing seemed to connect. She wasn't able to communicate with her other self or to see what was real and what was fake even though part of her knew it.

Her brothers had tried to protect her. Her parents had done what they could do to make her feel safe and she'd… oh gods, she thought as she retched all over again. Her father! The way she'd spoken to Arthur, the way she'd blamed him for things he'd never done, and the absolute hurt in his eyes. How would he ever forgive her?

And Harry… the thought of him sent a sudden streak of desire through her that she couldn't explain. She missed him. She missed him like she'd lost a limb, like part of herself was missing, but at the same time… the memory of how her brothers had held her in place, how Harry had leaned in and forced his lips on hers without her permission, without her consent had been…

She shivered, suddenly feeling violated again. Ginny knew that Harry hadn't meant it that way. She knew that he'd just been trying to break the connection that the potion had on her. He hadn't seen it as anything else, but it didn't feel like that. Ginny had been trapped in her own body, in her own defenceless state of mind and he'd kissed her. It had been against her will that kiss and suddenly she didn't know how she felt about any of it.

How could she trust her own mind again? Her own thoughts? Her own body? How was she supposed to trust the brothers who held her down and forced her to drink a potion the way Snape and Lestrange had? How was she supposed to trust Harry when he'd kissed her without her consent the way that Lestrange had run his hands over her breasts?

It was all so familiar. She felt like she'd gone back in time, lying in the hospital wing of Hogwarts as she poured her heart out to Bill about Tom and the diary. It was all too much.

Ginny finished retching, her stomach hurting from it. She cleaned her teeth and hopped into the shower. She spent a long time under the hot spray, washing every inch of herself three times over until she finally felt clean. She dressed in jean shorts and an old tee shirt that had once belonged to Charlie that said: Dragons Are Fangtastic!

She tied it at her waist so that it didn't bag on her and pulled her hair back into a high ponytail. She used moisturizer on her face and added a touch of lip balm before she ventured downstairs for some breakfast. To her surprise, both of her parents were sitting at the kitchen table as if they'd been waiting for her all morning.

"Good morning, Ginny," Molly said, carefully. "Would you like some lunch?"

Ginny didn't answer her. Instead she wrapped her arms around her father from behind, nuzzling her face into his neck and kissing his cheek. "Daddy."

Arthur turned a bit, his arms coming around her. "Ginny?"

Ginny kissed his cheek again. "I'm so sorry. I never meant… I didn't mean any of it. It's all jumbled and it was all wrong and I —"

Arthur shook his head, standing up and crushing her into his arms for a tight hug that reminded her of when she'd been young and how she would run across the house into his outstretched arms. He kissed the top of her head.

"I love you, baby girl. You have nothing to apologize for."

Ginny stayed in his arms for two full minutes before she finally pulled away, her brown eyes looking into his blue ones. "I love you, Dad."

Arthur had tears in his eyes as he squeezed her arms. "I love you, too."

Molly was sniffling as she stood at the counter, moving pots and pans around as if she was pretending to stay busy. Ginny moved into her mum's arms next, hugging her close.

"Mum, I'm sorry."

Molly shook her head. "No. You mustn't apologize. It wasn't you. None of it was."

Ginny nodded and allowed her mother to make her a full breakfast as she explained how she felt that morning. Her parents listened, making a few comments, and when Ginny finished, Molly reached across the table to touch her daughter's hand.

"You should use the mirror to talk to Harry."

She knew that. She knew that he was probably going crazy waiting to hear from her, but some part of her still wanted to hold back, to wait.

"Mum, Dad, I… I know that he was trying to help me, I know that, but… it feels…"

Arthur squeezed her shoulder. "Talk to him. You'll have a better understanding of where you stand after. You went through a lot and your mind is still reeling from that. Mr Borage told us that it would take you a few days to get back to your normal self."

"I still feel tired," she admitted. "Like I could sleep for a week."

"Sleep as long as you like," Molly said. "We need you take care of yourself."

Ginny nodded and when she left her parents in the kitchen, she went upstairs to find the communication mirror sitting on her nightside table. She picked it up, but simply closed her hand around it and tucked it into the back pocket of her jean shorts. Ginny headed out into the garden and made her way towards the pond. None of her brothers were around which surprised her, but she assumed that they had decided to give her some space and she was rather grateful for that.

Ginny made herself comfortable under the big tree, leaning her back against the trunk, the mirror in her hand again. She stared at her reflection for a long time, taking slow breaths until she finally said his name. He answered in seconds, his hair dishevelled, and to her surprise, a decent amount of black stubble rounding his face, making him look ridiculously sexy. His green eyes were full of concern.

"Ginny, hi!"

Ginny forced a small smile on her lips. "Hi."

Neither of them said anything for almost two minutes, just staring at the other in the mirror. His green eyes kept searching hers as if he was waiting for something. Finally, she let out a slow breath.

"I just wanted to say that I'm awake and myself. I mean, I remember everything and… I'm sorry that I attacked you."

"You're sure you're okay?" he asked.

"Yes," she said. "I'm okay. Just tired and… tired. Can we talk later?"

Harry frowned before he nodded. "Yeah, of course, I'm… I'll be here whenever you want to talk."

Ginny closed the mirror and put it back in her pocket, leaning her head back against the tree. She felt relieved to have spoken to him and yet still a bit befuddled by it all. Part of her wanted to race over to Black Cottage, to snog him senseless and have him hold her in his strong arms and never let go. But another part of her still wanted to recoil from his touch, from him… and until she could get that part under control, until she could understand those feelings: She needed to wait. The last thing she wanted was to hurt him, not after she had physically torn into his ribs like…

Oh gods, she thought, her stomach churning. What had she done to his ribs? There had been so much blood and she remembered the feel of her fingers slipping between those ribs, touching his organs, ripping him open… She didn't even know if he was okay! She pulled the mirror out again and said his name. His face appeared in seconds.

"Ginny?"

"Are you all right?"

Harry looked confused. "Am I… yes, I'm fine."

"I ripped you open with my nails," she continued. "I tried to tear you apart!"

His eyes softened. "I'm fine, Ginny. Madam Pomfrey patched me up."

"You swear?"

"I swear," he said, a soft smile on his lips. "I'm fine. I know it wasn't really you."

"It was me," she whispered. "I wanted to kill you."

Harry's green eyes stared into hers from the mirror. "But you didn't. Look."

The mirror shifted and she was greeted to nothing but a dark green shirt before it rose up to show her the left side of his body. Her eyes took in the golden tan from the summer sun, the muscle, the little scars that were near his ribs, but he was healed. The flicker of desire at the sight of that delicious side of him had her crossing her legs in surprise as his shirt covered his side again and his face came back into the mirror.

"See? All healed," he told her.

Ginny only nodded. "I have to go."

Then she closed the mirror again and leaned back against the tree, closing her eyes. She wanted to kiss him again. She wanted to feel his lips on hers, his arms around her, his body pressed up against hers. She wanted to kiss his skin, the toned muscle, the abs. She wanted him on his knees, her legs over his shoulders and his tongue inside of her. She wanted his fingers on her, his mouth on her breasts, his hands on her arse. She wanted to kiss every inch of him. She wanted to wrap her mouth around his nipples, to hold his cock in her mouth, to watch him lose control as he came only for her…

She wanted all of it.

And yet she wanted none of it.

And until she knew what those thoughts meant and where they aligned with the old and the new, she wouldn't let herself see him. She wouldn't go there. Not yet. She couldn't because she wasn't even sure if she could trust herself yet, even if she knew with absolute certainty that even if she couldn't trust herself, she could trust Harry.

She fell asleep under the tree to the thought of his beautiful green eyes staring into hers, the mirror still clutched tightly in her hand.

~ ASC ~

When Ginny woke an hour or so later, the mirror was on the grass next to her and the sun was peeking through the trees. She stretched and stood up, making her way back to the Burrow before she stopped and stared at the mirror in her hand. She said Theo's name into it and watched his handsome face appear, a wide smile on his face.

"Hi, chick! How are you feeling?"

"Tired. Achy. Confused," she admitted. "Are you busy?"

"Sadly, I'm alone and lounging out by the pool. Want to come over?"

She nodded. "Yes, please. I don't… I need to get out of here."

Theo's face sobered. "I'll be there in a few minutes, chick. Pack a bag."

The mirror went blank in her hand and she stuffed it into her pocket before marching back to the Burrow. Molly and Arthur were sitting in the garden talking and she told them that she was going to Theo's.

"He's welcome here, dear," Molly said.

Ginny shook her head. "No, I just… I need to get away, Mum. Can I stay with him for a bit?"

Arthur looked startled by this. "Stay with… Ginny…"

Ginny bent down to kiss his cheek. "It's nothing to do with you and Mum. I love you both. I just need some time and some space and… I need to get away."

Molly nodded. "Of course, dear. Did you talk to Harry?"

"For a minute," she admitted. "I… I need some more time."

Molly stood up to hug her daughter. "You take as long as you need."

Relief rushed through her at her mum's words. She hurried upstairs to pack a bag, changing into her blue swimsuit before throwing her shorts and tee shirt back on. She tucked her wand and her mirror into her shorts before she made her way downstairs. She found Theo in the garden with her parents and when he held his arms out to her, she ran into them.

"Missed you, chick."

"I missed you, too," she said, hugging him tighter.

Theo kissed the top of her head. "I thought if you wanted we can reach out to Colin and Luna and get them to come and stay as well."

"That sounds perfect," she told him.

Ginny said goodbye to her parents, her bag on her shoulder, as she walked with Theo to the Apparition point. A moment later they were walking up the gates to Norfolk Manor and she was overwhelmed by the sheer size of the place again. Kiki took her bag from her and Theo led her out into the garden where they could lounge in the pergola by the pool. A minute later, a house elf brought out a tray of fruit and another of assorted sweets before pouring them each a glass of white wine.

"How do you feel about pinot?"

"I feel very good about it," she said, accepting the glass.

"To having our girl back," Theo said, clinking his glass with hers.

A lump formed in her throat. "To being back."

They drank and Theo stood up. "All right. You sit, take a swim. I'm going to kidnap Colin. Luna will be arriving by Floo soon."

Ginny nodded gratefully and watched him head off. She took her tee shirt off, stepping out of her shorts and stared at the glistening warm water. A moment later, she was swimming in the pool, feeling refreshed as the salt water hit her skin. The salt water of the pool reminded her of the beach.

She remembered how she had taken the time last summer to teach Harry how to surf; the way they'd kissed in the water. They had talked about finding a place to surf this summer, but it hadn't happened and now the summer was almost over. She would be returning to school soon and she felt like she'd missed out on all of it.

Ginny climbed out of the pool, letting her feet dangle in the water as she reached for the mirror again and said his name. Harry's face appeared a second later. His hair looked even more dishevelled and his green eyes were smiling at her.

"Hey, I was hoping you'd call again," he admitted.

Ginny stared at him. He was so good looking. Those gorgeous green eyes, the chiselled jaw, the dark stubble that she was liking more and more the longer she stared at him. The glasses brought out the green in his eyes even more.

"Gin? You there?"

Ginny let out a slow breath. "Harry. I'm sorry, it's just… it's been an adjustment period."

He nodded. "I can imagine. It's been quite an adjustment for all of us and you're going through it even more. I'm just happy to talk to you again. You're all wet," he said, his lips curving. "Did I catch you coming out of the shower?"

Ginny pulled the mirror back a bit to show her bathing suit top. "A swim."

His eyes twinkled. "You're so beautiful. Where are you?"

"At Theo's. I just needed to get away a bit and… think."

"I get that," Harry said. "I've missed you so much, Ginny. It's been like I've been missing a part of me this whole summer and it's so good to talk to you again. Can I see you? I'm sorry, I know I shouldn't push, I just… I miss you, so damn much."

Ginny's chest tightened. She missed him, too, but at the same time, she couldn't say the same. Everything was so jumbled and confused like she was living two sets of memories and trying to determine which was real. She could still feel her brothers hands holding her still, could feel Harry's lips pressing against hers as she thrashed against him. She could feel the rage consuming her as her nails dug into his skin, as she bit his lip open. Her heart wouldn't stop beating harshly in her chest.

"I think that we need to take a break," she blurted out at the same time that he said, "I love you."

Harry looked like he had been slapped. He flinched, his mouth gaping open like he didn't know how to respond, like it was the last thing he expected to hear in a million years. It was the last thing that Ginny had even expected to say.

"I'm sorry, I just... I have to go," she whispered before she closed the mirror in her hand.

She tossed the mirror onto the lounge chair and dove back into the pool, letting the water consume her the way the potion had.

End Author's Notes:

Fun Fact: Bumlewis thinks cobra chickens are hilarious, but for anyone else who's a fellow Canuck, we all know how dangerous those beasts can be! I was chased by three of them in the parking lot at work in May and we had the police and animal control there because they were attacking people trying to get into the mall. They are insane!

And yes, Ginny just broke up with Harry.Don't hate me.

Please review :D