Disclaimer: I don't own it. :(

------------

Chapter Seventeen: Fun and Games

After Hope and Severus arrived back at the manor, they went upstairs to her room. Hope set all her pictures into a photo album and wrote captions with Severus' help. Finally, they went to bed.

When they awoke the next morning, they went straight to the Weasley's to get Harry and Draco. Hope ran up and gave both of them huge hugs!

"Oh my gosh, it's so beautiful, you guys! You have to see. It's so pretty. And both of you have a room there, in case we spend a holiday down there, or like when we have the ball and we stay there."

Draco and Harry had wide eyes when they looked at each other. Hope kept rambling on about her house and all that happened while they sat down and listened.

"Hope!" Harry yelled finally tired of it. "The ball is in two days; don't you think you should just show us the house?"

Hope stared at him for a minute before jumping up. She went and grabbed Severus from where he was talking with Mr. Weasley, "Dad, I want to show Harry and Draco and Hermione the house."

Severus shook his head. "I'm in a conversation right now. We'll go before the end of the day."

Hope sulked as she went out back. Deciding not to let it get to her, she smiled and conjured a bucket. Setting it down, she went inside and got Harry.

"Harry, come outside! There's something I need to show you," she said, dragging his sleeve. She secretly threw Hermione and Draco a camera with a look that told them to follow.

She went outside and pulled Harry over to where the bucket was behind him. She wrapped her arms around his neck in a hug while summoning the bucket to her. Leaning close, she whispered in his ear, "I told you I'd get you back," before dumping the cold water all over his head.

"Hope!" He yelled, looking at his now drenched clothing.

She backed up before turning toward her brother. "Did you get it?"

He was smiling widely. "You bet." Harry eyed the camera, and using his seeker reflexes, he scooped Hope into his arms and ran toward the lake. Draco and Hermione followed, both doubled over in hysterics.

Draco took out the camera and took several more shots as Harry jumped into the lake with Hope still in his arms. After a while, Hermione and Draco jumped into the lake, playing around in the water with the other two.

An hour later, Fred and George joined in the fun. They entered in the lake from behind and each grabbed one of the giggling girls.

"Gee, Fred, it seems I've got a fish," George said, as he held Hermione over his head.

"I've got one, too!" Fred said, mimicking his movements with Hope.

"What should we do with them?" Should we throw them back in?"

"NO!" Hope yelled.

The twins laughed as they threw the girls in anyway. Instead of hitting the water though, Hope was caught in Harry's arms. Breathing heavily, she laid her head against his chest.

"I think maybe it's time to get out of the lake," she replied shakily.

Harry nodded and the two swam their way over to the edge. They sat on the bank with their feet dangling.

"Hope, they didn't know."

"It's fine. I was the one who stayed in the lake."

Harry watched her. "Why are you okay with water unless your head goes under?"

Hope shrugged. "I don't really know. I've just always been afraid of drowning. Once my head goes under, I panic."

Harry nodded and pulled her close. Hermione made her way over the where the two were.

"Everything okay?" She asked.

Hope nodded. "Everything's fine."

Hermione looked at her as if she didn't believe it. "Fred wouldn't have let you drown, Hope."

Hope sighed. "I know, I just didn't like it. It's fine, go back over to your boyfriend."

Hermione stuck her tongue out at her. "He's your brother."

Hope smiled. "I know! That means you'll end up being my sister."

Hermione rolled her eyes before turning back and swimming. They had only been playing for a couple minutes when Hope heard someone behind her. She turned and smiled.

Leaning against a tree was her father. She could tell he'd been there for awhile, watching them. She caught his eye and motioned for him to sit by them.

"How long were you there?" She asked as he joined her.

"Long enough. You okay?" She nodded. "In that case, you were stupid getting into the lake when you have no clothes here to change into."

Hope laughed. "I can also perform a drying charm on myself."

Severus shrugged. "Suit yourself." She reached into her pocket where her wand had been and sighed.

"Dad, can I have my wand back, please?"

He smirked at her. "You don't need it." Leaning closer, he whispered. "Not until school starts back. Get some practice in with wandless magic."

Hope glared at her father. "I don't know the movements or anything yet! I'll get sick."

He rolled his eyes. "You'll be fine."

"Dad!" She whined.

He shrugged as he stood up. "Figure it out."

She glared at him as he walked back inside. Smiling to herself, she turned to Harry, Hermione and Draco who were getting out of the lake.

"Hey, you guys!" She called them over to her, all of them casting drying spells on themselves in the process.

Hope walked up to Harry and put her arms around his neck. "Harry, do you love me?" She asked.

"What do you want?"

She pouted. "I'm sorry, I didn't know a girl had to want something to give a guy she likes a hug."

Harry raised his eyebrow. "Most girls don't, but you always have an ulterior motive."

Hope sighed and backed up. "My dad took my wand and told me to dry myself off, but I don't know how yet. Will you do it for me?"

Harry gawked at her. "Hope, I am not risking the fury of your father. No matter how cute you are when you pout, it's just not worth it."

Hope sulked before she went over to Draco and gave him a hug.

"How's my favorite older brother in the world?"

Draco rolled his eyes. "If Dad told you to do it yourself, then I'm not getting grounded for it. And before you ask Hermione, she won't do it either, she doesn't break rules." That earned Draco a smack from his girlfriend.

Hope pouted even more as she marched inside. She shivered as the air conditioning hit her before walking around. She went out front and ran into someone.

"I'm sorry…" Hope said as she stood up. Looking down at the girl on the floor, she glared.

"Hope, why are you here?"

Hope shrugged. "Came to pick up my brother and Harry. This way, they are away from your clutches before you can sink your claws into either one of them."

Ginny pulled out her wand. "Oh really?" She smirked. "Harry and I had such a fun time this week."

Hope shook her head and turned around to walk away. As she neared the doorway, she heard a spell whiz past her and jumped out of the way.

"Damn it, Ginny, when will you learn?"

"I never got to finish what I started."

Hope didn't let the fear show on her face. Here she was, outside, where nobody would look for her, without a wand. She turned and faced the girl head on.

"Harry said he'd still love me anyway, you know that right?"

Ginny glared. "He wasn't saying that this week when he kissed me. Oh, we had so much fun. Playing in the lake, falling asleep together, watching the stars. He'll never be fully yours. Not when he truly loves me."

Those statements hit Hope hard. She closed her eyes, distracted for a moment, and pictures flew threw her mind. How could Harry do that to her? She was forced out of her thoughts when a curse hit her in the stomach. Doubling over in pain, she caught the triumphant look in the girl's eyes.

"Never let your guard down, Hope. Harry will be mine," Ginny snarled, turning around to go back into the Burrow. She stopped at the door. "Oh, I forgot, he already is."

Hope lifted her shirt to reveal a gash on her stomach. Sighing, she pressed it tightly as she went in to find her brother.

Seeing him sitting on the floor with Harry and Hermione, she slowly made her way over. The pain in her stomach grew worse with each movement and her vision was growing blurry. What was that curse?

Hope called out Draco's name and all three teens rushed to her. She stumbled and was caught by Harry.

"I need to go home. I need to get out of here," she muttered as Harry took all of her weight.

"Hope, what happened?" Draco exclaimed.

"Not now. Get Dad and go home," Hope muttered as she laid her head against Harry's chest.

Harry looked at Draco worriedly as he made his way to the fireplace. Taking some powder, he threw it in and called out "Snape Manor."

For once, the floo was nice and didn't spit him out. He stepped out and set Hope down on the couch. Moving her hands from her stomach, he slowly lifted her shirt to see the wound.

Hope winced as he brushed his fingers on it. He conjured a wet cloth and immediately began adding pressure. A few minutes later, a worried Severus, Draco and Hermione stepped out into the living room.

Severus rushed over to his daughter. He worked quickly so nobody knew what he did, but a few minutes later, Hope was sitting up. It was obvious she was in pain, but she looked at everyone with obvious gratitude.

Severus sat down on the end of the couch and brushed the hair away from his daughter's face.

"What happened, Hope?"

Hope tried to turn away from him, but his hands grasped her face and forced her to look straight into his eyes. He felt her betrayal as her motions ran so close that he could sense them.

"I don't want to talk about it," she muttered.

Severus felt his heart breaking at her betrayal. "Hope, someone tried to kill you. Will you at least let me see what happened?"

Hope looked into his eyes and he let her see his pain. She nodded as much as she could with her head trapped between his hands. He nodded and pushed into her memories.

Severus watched the memories with growing anger. He pulled out and stood up from the sofa so quickly, his daughter jerked away. He hadn't just seen the event, he'd felt the emotions. The fear because she didn't have her wand. It was all his fault.

He turned to her and saw Draco hugging her while she watched him carefully.

"I didn't mean to get in that position, I'm sorry."

He shook his head. "It's not your fault, child." He went over and helped her stand with Draco's help. Motioning for Harry to come over, he shifted the weight off of himself and onto the boy. Hope looked at him with pleading eyes.

"I'm not mad at you, nor will I tell her parents. I merely think you should get some sleep so you have the energy to decorate tomorrow for your ball."

Hope's eyes glistened as she smiled at her father. "Love you…" she muttered tiredly, leaning against Harry.

He smiled. "I love you too, Hope." He leaned forward and kissed her forehead, not caring that her friends were in the room. "Let Harry take you to your room."

Hope nodded sleepily as Harry talked to her softly on the way up the stairs. When they were out of earshot, he turned toward the two teens still standing with him. Turning first to Draco, he voiced his concerns over what he'd seen.

"Ginny told Hope that Harry had been with her in the past two weeks. Is it true?"

Draco looked at him as if he were a ghost. "Merlin, no! Harry avoided her every chance he got."

Severus sighed and rubbed his forehead. "Then she's getting even more desperate. You both need to keep an eye on Hope and Harry when they are not together. Do not let them go off by themselves whenever Ginny is near. She's going to hurt Hope or do something to Harry and we won't be able to fix it. The injuries are getting worse each time. Promise me you'll keep your eyes on them?"

Both teens nodded solemnly. Severus nodded to the two teens. "Good, then you two also go up and relax. Our plans for the night have changed."

Hermione and Draco quickly went upstairs. Severus turned back toward the fireplace. He closed his eyes and thought about the new danger his daughter and Harry had to face.

"As if Death Eaters and Voldemort aren't enough…" he muttered, as he spelled off the lights downstairs, before going to turn in himself.

----------------

A/N: Hey Everyone!! I'm so sorry I missed my last deadline, but I have been going nuts getting ready for vacation. I had finals, and paperwork, and packing plus a 30 hour work week, and it was hectic. I'm so sorry!! But I'm posting tonight and my beta is going to post tomorrow night for you and next week so you still get your chapters. :) Love ya'll, review please?
Kayla