If You Can Help Her

by witowsmp

Harry decides to help Ginny recover from her experience in the Chamber of Secrets, causing a special bond to form between them. Rating is for violence in the later chapters. A French translation called Si tu peux l'aider is being written by Sined

42. School Supplies

Harry Potter and all characters, etc. belong to J.K. Rowling, not me.

If You Can Help Her – Chapter 42 – School Supplies

A few days later, Harry and Ron were coming out of his Pensieve dripping with sweat. They'd just completed a boxing lesson. Harry wanted to head for the shower, but unfortunately they had a lot more exercises to do, including a ton of sit-ups and push-ups, as well as a lot of jogging. Harry looked around the exercise room, where the Pensieve had been placed, and saw Ginny on one of the treadmills.

"Hey, Ginny."

"Oh…Hi…Harry, Ron," she said between breaths. She was running very fast. "How did your boxing lesson go?"

"Okay, I think. I don't suppose we'll really know until we go against someone who knows how to box. I'm glad Kingsley is going to help Ron and me with that once a week." He then sighed. "I just hope he doesn't pulverize me the first day."

"I am not looking forward to that," declared Ron as he got onto one of the exercise machines, "Why did you have to pick boxing?"

"Because I want to throw a better punch than Ginny," answered Harry evenly. "Besides, I didn't say you had to learn the same thing I am. The girls aren't." Harry chuckled at the indignant look on Ron's face as he got onto the treadmill next to his girlfriend. "Ginny, are you sure you're not overdoing it? You look exhausted."

"Just five more minutes," she quickly responded.

He glanced at her treadmill's display as he began jogging. "That's a lot more than you did yesterday. You're gonna wear yourself out!"

At that moment she stumbled for a second and turned off the machine before it could throw her backwards. "Maybe you're right. I am pushing myself a bit too hard," she admitted in between gulps of air. She was still breathing heavily as she grabbed a nearby drink. After a long gulp she said, "I just don't want to let you down."

Harry could feel the fear inside Ginny, and sent his confidence in her. "You won't let anybody down." As he shared her self-doubt, his own surfaced. "If anyone should be worried, it's me. Everybody's counting on me to do something I know that I can't do."

"Now you're worried, too," complained Ron from his machine. "How about we just train the best we can and hope that by the time we face Death Eaters we'll be ready for them?"

Harry smiled at his friend. "Sounds like a plan to me."

Ron then turned to Ginny. "Where's Hermione?"

"Studying a book on karate," she answered, rolling her eyes. "I tried to convince her that simply taking the lessons and following instructions was enough, but she insisted that she read a book. She actually tried to get me to join her."

"That sounds like her," remarked Harry chuckling. "Hopefully, she'll learn something useful and tell you about it."

"I hope so," agreed the youngest Weasley, giggling. "I'm gonna hit the showers."

After Ginny left the room, the boys continued their workouts for another hour.

-IYCHH-

That night, just before dinner, the head of the Order of the Phoenix visited headquarters unexpectedly. He had a smile on his face, a twinkle in his eyes, and four small scrolls of parchment in his hand. "Hello, Albus," greeted Molly happily. "What brings you here? You must stay for dinner."

"Thank you for your kind invitation, Molly. I believe I shall. I've come here to see Harry and his friends."

"Stay right here, Albus. I'll get them."

"Don't trouble yourself, Molly. I can see that you are engaged in an important activity. I certainly wouldn't want to cause the roast to burn. I'll find them myself."

The headmaster made his way upstairs as Molly tended to the nearly prepared meal.

-IYCHH-

Harry and Ginny were in the room he was sharing with Ron, while the other two were in the girls' bedroom. The bonded teens were facing each other with their eyes closed while holding hands, working on sharing their thoughts when they heard a knock on the door. They quickly separated and Ginny went to Ron's bed.

"Who is it?" asked Harry.

"It's Professor Dumbledore. I'd like to speak to you and your friends, if you're not too busy."

Harry and Ginny looked at each other before she said, "Come on in, Professor. I'll get Ron and Hermione."

"Ah, Miss Weasley, I thought I might find you here," he commented as he opened the door.

"Hello, Professor," greeted both Harry and Ginny together as she got up to get the other couple.

"Hello," he replied with a twinkle in his eyes.

When Ginny left the room, Albus looked at Harry happily. "I understand you've chosen to study muggle boxing."

Harry nodded. "I like the idea of punching Death Eaters if they get too close. I don't think a Protego shield can stop a fist."

Dumbledore chuckled. "I suppose not. It may be a good idea to carry concealed weapons with you as well. After you've learned how to use them, of course. You never know when your life is in danger. I will need your word that you won't use them unless your life is in danger, of course, before I allow you to carry them around Hogwarts.'

"Of course. I wouldn't just randomly use a knife on somebody."

"I know. I simply felt it my duty as headmaster to mention it. The same privilege and responsibility goes to each of your friends, who should be arriving now."

At that moment, Ginny, Ron, and Hermione came into the room.

"Hello, headmaster," greeted Hermione politely.

"Hello, Miss Granger and Mr. Weasley. Thank you for seeing me. Allow me to get right to the point because I believe Mrs. Weasley is nearly finished preparing what promises to be a lovely feast." The others smiled at that thought. "I informed Minister Bones of the prophecy, obtaining a promise to keep it quiet so that no one can leak the information to the press." Harry's head hung down, but he nodded. "I have also informed her of the admirable job all of you are doing in training for the day that prophecy is fulfilled. I then made a suggestion that she has agreed to. That is on these parchments." He then handed one scroll to each of them. Harry read his silently.

Dear Mr. Harry Potter,

Due to certain circumstances, the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Magic no longer applies to you. You have been given special dispensation, and we hope that you will use it wisely. The Statute of Secrecy naturally still applies to you, so don't perform magic in front of muggles, unless someone's life is in danger.

Sincerely,

Amelia Bones,

Minister of Magic

P.S. This means that you are eligible to learn and be licensed in apparition. Whenever you feel you are ready to take the licensing examination, contact the ministry and show them your Underage Magic License. They'll make you an appointment.

Harry looked around as a smile grew on his face. He realized that all of them got a similar letters by the expressions on their faces. Dumbledore then reached into a pocket and produced four wallet-sized 'Underage Magic Licenses.'

"This was quite a favor," clarified Dumbledore gravely, "and I don't expect it to be a wasted effort. Naturally, you can have some fun with your magic, but I expect you to practice Defensive magic every day. Remus Lupin is a fully qualified apparition instructor as well as Defense Against the Dark Arts. Unfortunately, the Ministry won't hire him because of his condition, but he has agreed to teach you four to apparate. Ideally, you'll be ready before the summer is over.

In any case, you will have a few lessons here every week for the school year, to learn advanced defense, as well as a few other things I've discussed with Remus and Sirius. If you're not finished with Apparition, then you'll start with that. Once Professor Lupin's convinced you will pass the exam, I'll arrange for each of you to take it at the Ministry on an individual basis, so that no one will feel that they are holding the others back."

"That's wonderful. Thank you. Thank Professor Lupin for us as well!" exclaimed Hermione excitedly. "I wonder if there's a book on apparition here."

Dumbledore chuckled. "I shall owl a book here from Hogwarts later today, Miss Granger. I must say I admire your enthusiasm."

"Thank you, sir."

-IYCHH-

The next day began lessons in both apparition and magical dueling. Both Sirius and Remus helped them with dueling. First the kids dueled the adults, and then the kids dueled each other. Sirius arranged it so that no one would duel their significant other, mainly because he knew neither Harry nor Ginny were capable of harming the other. He thought it would be less suspicious if neither couple fought. Harry found that he was the best duelist of the four teenagers, but the others weren't bad, either. Hermione knew the most spells, but it took her a second to decide which one to use, leaving her vulnerable to attack.

"I'm not telling you this to hurt your feelings, Hermione," explained Remus kindly after he pointed out her problem. "I'm trying to save your life." Sirius was working with the other three while Hermione and Remus stepped out of the room to talk.

She took a deep breath. "I, I know. It's just hard to decide what to do."

He smiled. "My advice is to try using only a few hexes in a duel so that you can rapidly fire spells off. The point is to win the fight, not show off how many hexes you know."

She blushed slightly. "Okay. I understand. Which spells should I use?"

Lupin thought for a moment. "Until I teach you more advanced spells, try the disarming, stunning, and full body-bind spells. The problem with those spells is that they don't end the fight if anyone's there to help your opponent. Soon, I'll be teaching you spells that can get past shields – spells that can be lethal. If you're in a fight with someone who's using unforgivables, do not hesitate to use deadly force. For now, we're working on dueling technique, not the spells you use. Now, I suggest you go in there and wipe the smug look off of Harry's face."

She giggled. "I'll try."

She did do a lot better, and managed to beat Harry a few times, but not many.

-IYCHH-

A few days after that, the two couples were sitting in the boys' room discussing Animagus transformations, when four Hogwarts owls flew in the window, carrying school letters. Harry noticed that Hermione seemed nervous as she slowly began opening hers, but he shrugged it off and opened his. He soon found a surprise in his envelope. It was a scarlet and gold circular badge with a 'P' on a Gryffindor lion.

As he was trying to figure out what the badge was for, Hermione gave out an excited shriek. "I made Prefect!" she shouted for the world to hear, and then glanced at Harry's hands for a moment before adding happily, "You too, Harry! I knew it! Congratulations! Well done!"

Although he wasn't particularly excited about having more work to do, Harry decided to fake enthusiasm for his friend's sake. He knew this was important to Hermione. He put on a broad smile. "Yeah. Congratulations to you, too!" He got up and hugged her briefly.

Ginny hugged Hermione and then Harry, whispering, "Good act," to her bondmate. She could feel that he wasn't excited.

Ron finally hugged his girlfriend, saying, "Congratulations!" However, he didn't say a thing to Harry and seemed to be sulking. Harry wondered if Ron was jealous again, but wasn't about to start an argument if Ron wasn't. Hermione didn't seem to notice in her excitement, for which Harry was glad.

At that moment, Fred and George literally popped into the room.

"We thought we'd find out…" began George.

"If any of you three fifth-years…"

"Has acquired a badge of shame."

Upon noticing the badges Harry and Hermione were holding, Fred commented, "We knew Granger would get one, but never expected…"

"Our little sister's boyfriend…"

"Who sneaks around the school with an invisibility cloak…"

"to get one."

"Please say that it only stands for Potter."

"I wish," muttered Harry so that only Ginny, who giggled, could hear him. Deciding to play along, he took on the most remorseful, sorrowful expression he could as he stood up with his head hung down. "I'm afraid not. I've failed you all. I'm a disgrace to my name, and I hope my girlfriend will someday forgive me."

Ginny got into the act, giving Harry a mock-outraged look. "I don't know if I can overlook this one, Potter. Now, everyone will expect me to be a prefect next year. Enough shame has already been brought to my family this way. I don't think I should associate mys…"

"Being a prefect is an honor!" interrupted an annoyed Hermione, "not a disgrace or a joke! Harry, you should be proud…"

"I know, I know, Hermione. I am. We were just having some fun, isn't that right, guys?" He gave Fred and George a look that said they'd be in serious trouble with Harry if they didn't agree.

"Of course, Hermione. You know we're always joking," agreed Fred.

"You worked hard to be a prefect, and now you are," added George.

"Congratulations!" they exclaimed together.

Just before popping away, Fred remarked, "At least we didn't have to disown Ron."

"What's all this noise?" asked Molly, who just opened the door. "Did I hear the twins apparating in here?" Then she noticed the Hogwarts letters in her children's hands. "I see you've got…" She saw the badges. "Oh, Hermione! And Harry! You're prefects! I'm so proud of you both!" She shot Ron a disappointed look, which did not go unnoticed by her youngest son. "We'll have to throw a party tonight! We've got to tell Sirius! I'm sure he'll be proud!"

"Proud of what?" asked Padfoot as he came up behind Molly.

"Harry made prefect! Hermione, too!"

Sirius looked momentarily stunned. "Harry's a prefect?"

"Of course he is!" replied Ginny defensively.

"Oh, er, congratulations! Remus was the prefect from our year."

"I was just saying we should throw them a party," added Mrs. Weasley, looking a bit displeased with Harry's godfather's lack of enthusiasm.

Sirius smiled at the thought of another party. "Sure, we can have a party!"

"Arthur and I always got a special gift for our children who made prefect," she commented with a tone of voice that suggested that Sirius would be hexed if he didn't give his godson something.

"A gift? Sure. Harry, what would you like?"

"Er, I don't know. Truthfully, all that training stuff you bought me…"

"Nonsense," responded Sirius, getting into the spirit of things, "I bought that because you needed it before you became a prefect. Now, I need to get you a gift."

"Maybe we could go to Diagon Alley today and I could look around for something."

"Well, we do need to pick up school supplies," remarked Mrs. Weasley. "I'll call a few Order members and try to arrange an escort. In the meantime, Hermione, I suggest you tell your parents the good news. I'm sure they'll be proud!"

"I'll go get my mirror," she replied before running to her and Ginny's room.

-IYCHH-

Ninety minutes and one lunch later, Molly, Sirius, Mad-Eye, and Remus were escorting Fred, George, Harry, Ginny, Ron, and Hermione into Diagon Alley from the entrance behind the Leaky Cauldron. Hermione's parents had owled some muggle money in an envelope, along with a note saying how proud they were and that they wanted her to buy something as a gift.

At Ron's insistence, they first stopped at Quality Quidditch Supplies, where he drooled over the brooms that were displayed. However, Harry didn't need a new broom, and still had his broomstick servicing kit. They left after ten minutes. They went next to Flourish and Blotts, where they got their school books. Padfoot decided to buy Hermione a tome that she was admiring to congratulate her. She happily thanked him while Harry was looking around. After fifteen minutes, nothing caught his fancy, so they moved on. While they were leaving the bookstore, Harry noticed a man in dark robes with a hood over his head look at him for a moment and apparate away.

They continued on to Madam Malkin's to get new school robes. Like last year, Ginny was using Harry's old robes that he'd outgrown. She asked Madam Malkin if it was possible to have her dragon-leather jacket (Harry had bought her for Valentine's Day), which Harry insisted she wore for protection (with a cooling charm), to be changed to have removable sleeves so she could just wear it like a vest when it was warm. She said it could be done in just an hour, so Ginny, much to Harry's consternation, left the jacket there, with the brooch Harry had given her stuck to the front of it, promising to return before they left the Alley. He then took off the vest she'd given him and made her wear it. She reluctantly agreed, to make him happy.

They then walked toward the Apothecary to get potion supplies. That's when all Hell broke loose.

From where they were, Harry saw no less than thirty uniformed Death Eaters appear in one loud 'pop.' "There's Potter!" shouted one of them, and he rolled up his sleeve and touched his wand to his Dark Mark while the others started shooting spells everywhere.

Harry didn't remember pulling his wand out, but he was ducking behind a crate firing spells at the attackers within five seconds of their arrival. Ginny was beside him, and he noticed others out of the corner of his eye, but he didn't have time to figure out who was where.

He smiled as he saw a Death Eater mask move as though something were trying to push it off the man's face. The victim dropped his wand, reaching for his mask, and managed to pull it off as Harry stupefied him and ducked again, dodging a curse. Chuckling, he realized the problem as bat bogeys freed themselves from the now-removed mask and began attacking the face. "Brilliant!" he muttered to Ginny as he petrified another Death Eater. He saw another's mask moving like there were bat-bogies inside it.

He swore under his breath as another attacker freed his comrade from the body-bind and began using a curse he'd learned for the tournament. "Reducto!" he shouted, separating the wand-hand from a Death Eater's body. The victim bent down to grab his wand with his other hand, only to be stupefied by Harry.

"OW!" he heard Ginny shout beside him as he felt her pain and fear.

Ducking down, he glanced at her to see that her arm had been hit with a curse and was bleeding. He didn't have time to do anything about it, though. There was another 'pop,' and the Death Eaters that were firing toward him parted, revealing Voldemort.

-IYCHH-

As soon as the attack started, Hermione and Ron ducked into the nearest shop and started firing hexes out the window facing the street. It ended up being the first shop they'd visited, Quality Quidditch Supplies.

Hermione and Ron ducked and shot disarming charms at the group that was attacking them. Unfortunately, the Death Eaters were putting up 'Protego' shields in time to block the spells, so at best, the young couple was stopping their attackers from hexing them. However, one of them blasted the wall beneath the window, and part of it collapsed into Hermione, who screamed in pain. That put Ron over the edge. Looking around for a way to stop them, he spotted the displayed Firebolt.

He ran and grabbed it, barely avoiding being shot, and mounted it. With his wand out, he began flying at incredible speeds in a zig-zag pattern, avoiding all of their spells, and got close enough to use a 'Reducto' curse on two of them who were standing together. They were knocked backwards with the force of the spell. One lost his left hand, the other his right. Ron began hexing the others with every spell he could think of, still moving around on the fastest broom in the world, and noticed that some spells were coming from Hermione's direction. When all of their attackers were unconscious, he flew back to Hermione, to see that she was bruised and a bleeding a bit, but nothing major was wrong with her. Suddenly, the background noise died down.

-IYCHH-

Sirius began running toward the Death Eaters the moment they appeared, shooting 'Reducto's' out of his wand as he went. He surprised several by running straight into some, knocking them down. He found a stack of crates to use as cover on the other side of the street as he continued to fire and dodge. His plan was to occupy as many as possible, to keep them away from Harry. As it was, he was fighting ten of them, rather expertly, when someone appeared behind him. He turned around with his wand pointed at Molly Weasley.

"I thought you could use some help," she commented as she began firing at the Death Eaters. He smiled as he turned back around and bound one in ropes, causing him to fall to the ground, dropping his wand in the process. He quickly stupefied him and started firing at another.

Molly got an idea and started shooting curses at their legs. Most of the time, the Death Eaters didn't notice it coming, and when she made contact, they always fell down so she could quickly stupefy them. Molly and Sirius were firing so fast that the attackers didn't have time to revive their fallen comrades. They had to defend themselves.

The last of their Death Eaters shot a 'Reducto' at the crates Sirius and Molly were hiding behind, causing one of them to smash into Sirius' head, knocking him out. Molly stood up with more speed than you would believe possible and shot the culprit's wand-hand off before using the bat-bogey hex on him. After watching him get his mask off – a difficult process when one only has one hand – Molly finally stupefied him and looked around for her children before the battle scene quieted down suddenly.

-IYCHH-

When the fighting started, Fred and George looked at each other and popped away – straight into Zonko's. They quickly grabbed an arsenal of joke products and joined the fight.

Fred started firing the products out the window at whatever masked bigots they could find. Some of them exploded below the Death Eaters, turning them into various animals. George, who'd been providing cover fire, found it much easier to stupefy shocked, defenseless animals than Death Eaters.

Other products caused the attackers to grow extra limbs. One of them made someone's nose start enlarging as soon as the victim smelled a gas that was released when the bomb exploded beneath their feet. Still others did even crazier things, all of which had enough shock-factor to allow the twins to overpower them. They took down a dozen from that section of Diagon Alley.

-IYCHH-

Remus and Mad-Eye stuck as close to Harry as they could, about twelve feet away from him and Ginny, behind other barrels. The werewolf and retired auror, both of which had been defense professors, shot and dodged spells with incredible speed and accuracy, taking out Death Eater after Death Eater before they knew what hit them.

Moody's eye was spinning around, searching for any hiding attackers. He shot two different ones who were on a rooftop aiming at Harry. No one got close to hitting them as they blasted Death Eaters off their feet. Remus heard Ginny's scream, but knew he couldn't do anything now. Moody suddenly said, "Uh-oh. He's here."

-IYCHH-

"Form a circle around us. No one interfere!" hissed Voldemort as he confidently strode toward Harry (and Ginny, who was laying down, unnoticed by Riddle). "This shouldn't take long. You see, Harry, there are people around who actually believe that you can defeat me, simply because of one miscalculation on my part, fourteen years ago. I hadn't accounted for your mother's sacrifice. But that's all in the past. It was prophesied that way. Who's going to die for you, now?"

"I will, Tom!" shouted a defiant Ginny, now struggling to get up.

"Stay out of this!" Harry hissed at her.

A smile formed on Tom's deformed face. "Oh yes, the Weasley girl. I understand you enjoyed writing in my diary. I wonder…"

"Your fight's with me, Tom! Not her!"

"Then get up! Stop hiding like a coward and duel me like a man! Otherwise you'll go deaf from her screams of pain!"

Harry stood up and stepped between Ginny and Voldemort. He pointed his wand at Riddle, who appeared relaxed.

From behind him he first felt Ginny in tremendous pain, and then heard Ginny calmly say, "Crucio!"

The curse hit him in the back from less than a foot away. He found himself face-down on the sidewalk, shaking with more pain than he'd ever felt before, even in the graveyard. Somehow his mind grasped the idea that Ginny – his Ginny – was once again possessed by Riddle. He automatically felt strong love and compassion for her flow through their bond into Ginny (along with his hatred of Voldemort). He heard her voice start to scream behind him as the curse was released, but the scream ended in Voldemort's voice in front of him. Harry realized that Tom had been driven from Ginny's mind.

With Seeker reflexes, he quickly grabbed his wand, which he'd dropped while under the curse, and stood up to see Voldemort pointing his wand directly at him.

Voldemort shouted, "Avada Kadavra," and a green beam of light shot toward Harry.

At the same moment, Harry shouted, "Expelliarmus!" and a red beam of light shot toward Voldemort.

The beams of light connected, and suddenly Harry's wand was vibrating with energy. Riddle's wand was doing the same. As their wands stayed connected, a golden dome-shaped web formed around the two of them.

"Do nothing!" shouted Tom as a battle of wills took place.

Harry instinctively held his wand tightly with both hands, trying to force his spell to overpower Riddle's. As he was beginning to feel like it was hopeless, he felt love and confidence fill him and he gritted his teeth and tightened his grip on the wand. He saw fear in Voldemort's red eyes as the red beam pushed the green one back further and further toward its originator. A moment before the spell hit Tom's wand, he pulled his wand away, breaking the connection, and apparated while shouting the word, "Retreat!"

The light-show ended, leaving Harry still pointing his wand where Tom had been standing. He was in shock, and barely registered all the conscious Death Eaters disappearing with a loud 'pop.'

He felt two arms wrap around him from behind and heard muffled crying from a face that was buried in his back. As he felt Ginny's sorrow, shame and fear, he saw her still-bleeding right arm. He put his left hand over her hands, which were on his chest.

She pulled her head out of his back long enough to say, "I'm soooo sorry! I didn't mean it! I tried to stop him but he was so strong!" All of this was coming out of her in between sobs. He realized that she felt responsible for the curse. "I let you down."

"Step around and face me."

She reluctantly loosened her grip on him so she could do what he asked. He saw her eyes red from the tears that were still falling down her cheeks freely. "I can't believe he took me again. I'm so…"

"You fought him off!" he interrupted.

"With your strength," she retorted.

"And I fought him with your strength! I would've given up if I didn't feel your love and confidence in me."

"Really?" she asked, looking desperate.

He smiled at his love. "Yes, really. Today proved that we need each other."

"Harry-dear! Ginny!" shouted Molly from the middle of the street. She was running toward them. Aurors and healers had arrived as soon as the trouble was over. She left Sirius as soon as he was being helped. She looked at Ginny's arm. "Ginny, let's go to one of the healers to get that taken care of!" She put one arm around Ginny and the other around Harry and they walked toward a healer.

While Ginny was having her arm treated, Harry noticed a healer working on a battered-looking Hermione with Ron standing over her. "I'll be right back," he said and walked over toward them. He was glad to see the brunette girl turn her head toward him.

"Harry! How are you and Ginny?"

"I'm fine. Ginny's arm got cursed but a healer's looking at it. What happened to you?"

"A store front fell on her," explained Ron, "and she kept fighting!"

Harry could barely make out a blush on Hermione's face. "You're the one who rode out after them on a Firebolt. You were brilliant!"

"A Firebolt?" asked Harry, a smile forming on his face.

At that moment, an elderly man Harry recognized from somewhere called out as he was flying toward them on a Firebolt that looked scuffed up, with scorch marks, and with some of the brushes folded or missing, but appeared to be working perfectly. Harry thought that a Broomstick Servicing Kit would make it almost good as new. The man looked very happy. "Hey, you, son. With the red hair!"

"Me?" Ron questioned as the man landed in front of him.

"Yes, you. That was my Firebolt you rode today. I own Quality Quidditch Supplies."

"Oh?" Ron looked worried. "I, er, guess you're mad about the damage. Um, I'll try…"

"Don't worry about that, son. That was some impressive flying, and fighting Death Eaters is certainly a worthy cause. I just wanted to discuss a problem that I have. You see, this broom is no longer brand new, so I can't sell it. It will only take up space, now, but I don't want to chuck it. I was wondering if you'd take it off my hands. I'll even throw in a broom servicing kit if you'll do me this favor."

Ron looked to Harry like he was gonna faint. He managed to say, "Um, sure, thanks."

"Wonderful. Just come with me to what's left of my shop."

Ron looked between the Firebolt and Hermione.

"Go on, mate, I'll stay with her until you fly back."

"Go on, Ronald. I'll be all right with Harry here."

Ron climbed on the back of the broom and they flew toward the Quidditch shop as Hermione dozed off.

About that time, Fred and George apparated into the middle of the street grinning ear to ear holding a piece of parchment like it was the most valuable thing in the world.

"Oi! Fred, George!" called Harry, gaining their attention. They hurried to him.

"Hello, partner!" greeted Fred.

"We just bought Zonko's!"

"What?" asked Harry, astonished.

"We fought from inside the shop…"

"Using some of their products."

"Anyway, the owner was scared by the attack and offered to sell the shop and the inventory to us."

"At a great discount."

"Just so he could stay out of town."

"It took almost all of the Triwizard money, but we own it."

"That's great, guys, but aren't you going back to Hogwarts?" asked Harry.

"I'm afraid not," replied Fred.

"Opportunity waits for no one!" declared George.

"Just don't tell your mum when I'm around."

"Tell me what?" asked Molly, just as Ron showed up on his Firebolt.

"Ron Weasley, what are you doing on a Firebolt?"

"It's mine, mum!" he exclaimed as he landed.

"WHAT?" asked Fred, George, and Molly at the same time.

Harry then walked away, looking for Sirius. Before he could find him, he caught sight of Lupin and Moody, who appeared fine. "Hey, Moony!" he called, gaining their attention.

"Harry!" exclaimed the werewolf, "There you are! Are you and Ginny all right?"

"Fine. Ginny's arm was hurt, but it's healed now." He could no longer feel pain through their bond. She was simply happy. He glanced back toward Ron and saw that Ginny was examining the Firebolt. He must have just missed her. "Have you seen Sirius?"

"No," answered Moody, "Is he missing?"

"He's the only one I haven't seen yet," explained Harry.

Moody's magical eye spun around for about five seconds. "This way. It looks like he got punched in the face good."

They walked up to find Sirius looking around with two black eyes. "Hey, Harry, Moony, Moody! Have you seen everyone else?"

"Yeah! Right this way."

They walked back toward the group. Just before they arrived, Molly shouted, "YOU TWO MOST CERTAINLY ARE GOING TO FINISH HOGWARTS!"

"Why don't we wait a few minutes to join them," suggested Harry with a grin. All three agreed. Moody found their purchases, which thankfully weren't damaged, and they went into the Apothecary shop and picked up everybody's potion supplies, including Fred and George's. He figured that they could use it for inventing if they didn't return to school. If he didn't buy for them, Mrs. Weasley might be mad at him. Harry could tell that Ginny was enjoying the argument immensely. He figured they'd missed the worst of it, so they returned to the group.

Right after Harry said they'd gotten the potion supplies, Mr. Ollivander walked up to them. "Mr. Potter, may I have a private word in my shop?"

He looked around for guidance, but everyone seemed just as confused as him. "How about if my godfather and girlfriend join us?"

"Very well, if you trust them."

"I do."

"Then come with me."

-IYCHH-

When they reached the shop, Mr. Ollivander asked, "Do you remember what I told you about your wand the first time we spoke?"

"That it has the same core as Voldemort's wand?"

He flinched at the name while Sirius and Ginny looked surprised. "You-Know-Who's wand. Correct. That is the reason for the phenomenon you experienced today when you dueled him."

"When our wands locked?"

"Yes. Brother wands aren't meant to duel. It seems you have a problem if you're going to fight him again."

"I can't use my wand against him?" Harry asked with a worried expression on his face. "But that's the only wand that chose me! No other wand will work as well…"

"I know, Mr. Potter," Ollivander replied politely. "I remember that you tried every wand in the shop. I was going to suggest trying now. I have more wands, many with Phoenix feathers that aren't from Fawkes."

"Dumbledore's phoenix?"

"Oh, yes. Fawkes only donated two feathers. But I have been given feathers from other phoenixes. It is very likely that since one wand with a phoenix feather chose you, another will choose you, as well. It could save us considerable time to skip the others."

Harry looked at Sirius. "How about this be my prefect gift?"

Padfoot grinned. "Sure, but I think I'll throw in a couple holsters."

Ollivander handed Harry a wand while saying, "I do have a wide variety of holsters for you to choose from."

As Harry took the wand from the old man, he felt it almost jump out of his hand. He dropped it and it rolled next to Ginny.

She bent over and picked it up. As she held it in her hand, she felt a sudden warmth in her fingers. As she raised the wand to hand it to the shop owner, a stream of red and gold sparks flew from it.

Ollivander excitedly clapped while the others were staring at the wand. "Miss Weasley, I knew that you hadn't come in for your own wand, and I certainly understand why. But this wand has chosen you, and I would be doing a disservice to the wand to put it back on the shelf. It will never choose another. I wish to give you this wand."

Ginny smiled at the old man. "Thank you very much, sir, but I can't…"

"I will not take no for an answer, young lady. My decision is final. Mr. Potter, try this wand."

After Harry had tried four wands, he found one that chose him. "Curious," commented Ollivander.

"What's curious?" asked Sirius, who had chosen some holsters while Harry was trying wands.

"That this wand is a brother to the one that chose Miss Weasley."

Harry and Ginny both blushed while Sirius remarked, "They could never use those wands against the other."

Sirius purchased Harry's wand, along with two holsters for him, both of which become invisible when a wand is in it. They also resisted the summoning charm. Harry would wear one on his left thigh with his new wand, and the other holster on his right thigh with his original wand. Sirius decided to get another one for himself, and Harry bought one for Ginny as an extra birthday present so she could hide her new wand. He then decided to buy three more – one for Ginny's old wand and one each for Ron and Hermione. He decided that it was important to have a proper place to keep your wand.

When they left the wand shop, Ginny wanted to go to Madam Malkin's. She came in and found the place a mess, with the proprietor cleaning up with her wand.

"Hello, Miss Weasley," she greeted, "I haven't been able to work on your jacket yet, for obvious reasons. I can owl you when it's done."

"Thanks, but it won't be necessary. I want the sleeves now. My arm got cursed in the attack. It's been healed now, but if I'd been wearing the jacket as it is now, I wouldn't have gotten hurt at all." Ginny gave Harry his vest back, and took the jacket from Madam Malkin. They then met up with the rest of their party, to find that Hermione had bought an owl with the money from her parents (after getting it changed to Galleons).

-IYCHH-

The rest of the week passed by quickly (Ron spent a whole day working on his Firebolt, and Harry had to admit it looked almost perfect). Harry didn't like how the Daily Prophet made him out to be a hero in their article about the attack, but couldn't do anything about it. Before long it was August 11th, Ginny's fourteenth birthday. Mrs. Weasley made a cake for her after dinner. She wasn't allowed to open her presents until after she'd blown out the candles and they'd finished the cake. Ron was especially helpful with that.

Finally, she opened her presents. Harry got Ginny a bottle of the same expensive perfume that had caused a temporary breakup between Ron and Hermione nearly a year before. Hermione and Ron glared at the bottle. Both Harry and Ginny chose to ignore them.

Harry whispered in Ginny's ear, "The perfume has been charmed so that if you're wearing some, you have a weak shield around you that can resist a few low-level curses like 'Stupefy.' It, along with your jacket, should provide a bit of protection, but let's hope we don't need it. By the way, let me know when you're running low on the perfume, and I'll get more for you."

"Only if you'll get some cologne like that for yourself. I worry about you just as much as you worry about me." At that moment, with Molly, Ron, and Hermione in the room, Ginny kissed Harry.

When their lips met, Harry heard what sounded like Ginny's voice in his head saying, 'I love you so much, Harry!'

'I love you, too, Ginny!' he thought.

After about three seconds, both of their eyes widened at the same time.

"Did you think that?" they both asked at once.

-IYCHH-

Chapter end