People stopped talking to stare as Harry walked past with Ginny and Neville. He found some seats on the end of an aisle, in case they decided to leave early. He gently sat Ginny down. "Okay here?" he asked her. She nodded numbly. He stood protectively over her.
Professor Mcgonagall came over to them. "Good to see you, Potter. Miss Weasley, how are you?" she asked.
"I'm okay," said Ginny, in a tired voice. Harry looked at Mcgonagall and shrugged. Neither of them had been sleeping well since their visit to the Ministry. Knowing that Hagrid had only been there to get them out of the Ministry and wasn't supposed to be involved in the fighting hadn't helped with Ginny's guilt.
"The service will be starting soon. It shouldn't go for too long as there is no body..." Professor Mcgonagall's voice trailed off as Ginny ducked her head. "I'm sorry, I need to go and greet more guests. I hope I'll be able to see you after the service." She hurried off and Harry let out a sigh.
Students filed down from the castle and began to fill up the seats. Luna came over to them and embraced Ginny. She sat down on one side of her and took her hand. The funeral service was being held on the grounds near Hagrid's cabin. Harry saw Madame Maxime had arrived and was talking sadly to Dumbledore. Remus, Tonks and other members of the Order had arrived too. Harry made eye contact with Mrs Weasley, and she nodded, looking worriedly at Ginny. Harry sat down on the other side of her and whispered in her ear. "Your parents and brothers are here." She nodded, saying nothing.
Sirius slid into the chair next to Harry's. "They're about to start. Dumbledore is speaking. He told me to tell you he's going to open the floor to anyone who'd like to speak about Hagrid."
Harry shook his head. "Gin needs me. Hagrid knew how I felt about him. My grief is private. Thanks, though."
Sirius nodded and watched Harry place his arm around Ginny. She leaned her head on his shoulder while holding Luna's hand. Sirius knew she felt guilty of causing Hagrid's death and it would take a while to work through that.
The service was simple, yet moving. Dumbledore gave a brief speech about Hagird's upbringing, then moved to Hagrid's academic career and his love for creatures of all kinds. How his predecessor offered Hagrid the position of gameskeeper at Hogwarts, a decision he'd never regretted. He spoke of Hagrid's undying loyalty to those he loved. He looked at Harry as he spoke those words.
Professor Flitwick also spoke, of a comrade, a friend, a fellow professor. Professor Mcgonagall spoke, and so did Remus. At the end, Dumbledore asked that everyone stand and raise their wands.
"For Hagrid," he said solemnly.
"For Hagrid," said everybody.
"If anyone else has anything they'd like to add, they may do so now." Dumbledore paused. When no-one made a move, he quickly spoke again. "Refreshments are being served in the Great Hall. Thank you for attending today."
People murmured and started to rise. Students were walking off in twos and threes; some upset, some just glad to have time off before the exams started.
"Harry?"
Harry turned to see Hermione looking at him. Her eyes were red, and she looked nervous. Sirius stood up, and Harry did too.
"Harry. I know what Hagrid meant to you, and I just wanted to say I'm sorry," said Hermione, trying not to cry. She'd been determined to get through this today. "Really sorry."
Harry nodded. He remembered the times he, Ron and Hermione had gone down to see Hagrid, in their first three years. How Hagrid had comforted her after Draco had called her a Mudblood. How they and Ginny had helped Hagrid with Buckbeak.
"Thanks," he said appreciatively. He nodded to Ron, standing next to Hermione.
"Were you there? When, when..." Hermione couldn't finish, and Harry could see Ginny's shoulders were shaking as she cried silent tears. He had to get her out of there.
"I'm sorry, I can't- I just can't talk about it now," said Harry, now upset himself.
Hermione nodded. "Of course. Harry, with everything else that happened between us, we're truly sorry. We thought we were helping you. If there's anything we can do-"
"Not now, Hermione," said Harry harshly. Sirius stepped protectively in between them as Harry helped Ginny stand up. "We're leaving."
Ron came forward, his eyes on Ginny. "What's wrong with her?" he asked worriedly.
"Little late to start caring now, isn't it?" asked Neville. Ron flushed and watched Neville and Harry stand either side of Ginny. Ginny put her arm around Harry's waist, and grasped Neville's hand.
"She's still weak from what happened to her at the Ministry," said Sirius, walking alongside Harry.
Molly Weasley stepped in front of them and opened her mouth to speak, but Sirius held up his hand. "Today is not the day, Molly. Excuse us."
Hermione, Ron and Molly watched them go.
"Nooo, Hagrid, noooo," sceamed Ginny, tossing and turning in her sleep.
Sirius and Harry raced out of their respective bedrooms. "What are we going to do? It's been every night this week. She can't have any more Dreamless Sleep Potion, Andi said it's too addictive," said Harry, worriedly.
"Nooooooo," sobbed Ginny.
"I'm going to firecall Poppy. Will you be all right in there with her?" asked Sirius. Harry nodded and went into Ginny's bedroom.
"Ginny, come on, wake up. Ginny, wake up," pleaded Harry.
"Not Harry, noooo, not Harry," moaned Ginny.
"Ginny, wake up," begged Harry, shaking her lightly on her shoulders.
Ginny awoke suddenly. "Harry! You're okay!" She sat up and hugged him hard.
"You were having another nightmare. Sirius has gone to ask Madame Pomfrey what we can do to help you. You can't keep going on like this, Gin," said Harry.
"I know," sighed Ginny, releasing him from the hug and laying back down. "Will you just lay with me and hold me? It reminds me of my brother Bill; he used to hold me when there was a thunderstorm."
"Course," said Harry, letting her get settled and laying down, spooning her. She laced her fingers with his and sighed in relief. Already she felt better.
"This is nice," she said conversationally.
"Mmm-hmm," agreed Harry.
There was a comfortable silence, then- "It was a beautiful service. Hagrid would have loved it," she said softly.
"Yeah," said Harry sadly.
Ginny rolled over so she faced him. "Thank you for being there for me."
"Ditto," said Harry, smiling at her.
"It was nice to see so many students there," she said.
Harry nodded. "Draco wasn't there, I checked."
"No," said Ginny, "Tori said he barely leaves the common room, except for lessons."
Harry nodded, his eyes on her face. Seemingly of their own accord, his fingers came up and brushed some hair away from her face. "Are you okay?" he whispered.
Ginny nodded slowly. "I will be. With you and Sirius, Neville and Luna, I'll be okay. I just need some time."
"I'll be here for you. Whatever you need, Ginny," said Harry. His fingers stroked her cheek and she closed her eyes and leaned in to his touch.
She felt his lips on hers, and it felt so right. She opened her mouth and joined him in the kiss. Her hands were on his waist, and she moved her body closer. The hand that had been brushing her face so tenderly now held her as his mouth demanded more.
They broke apart. "I hope that was okay," said Harry gently. "I don't want to push."
"It's fine, Harry. You are a good kisser," smiled Ginny.
Harry flushed. "So...you liked it. Enough to maybe...do it again?" he asked shyly.
Ginny nodded, and they came together for more. Soft gentle kisses that made Ginny moan for more, more of what she wasn't really sure, but she knew there was more.
Harry deepened the kiss, and Ginny slid her tongue against his. This time Harry groaned, and reluctantly pulled away. He smiled at her and she returned it.
"You're brilliant," said Harry, making her flush with pleasure. Unfortunately, she also yawned.
"I think I can go to sleep now," she muttered happily.
"You want me to go?" asked Harry.
"No," said Ginny. "Stay. I feel better with you holding me." She snuggled up to his side, fitting her head under his chin.
"Gin, will you be my girlfriend?" asked Harry, in the still of the night.
Ginny felt tears of joy in her eyes. She nodded, then looked up at him. "Yes. I'd love to be your girlfriend, Harry." She kissed his throat, making his breath hitch, then settled back in his arms.
"Brilliant," murmured Harry, fighting sleep himself as he drew her close. "Hagrid would be happy for us."
"Yeah," said Ginny, " he would." Her last thought were of a happy Hagrid, smiling down at the two of them.
"I'm telling you Poppy, she's been tossing and turning, and screaming out in her sleep," said Sirius, escorting her up the stairs.
"I don't hear anything now," said Poppy, carrying her potions bag.
"Maybe Harry threw up a Silencing Charm," said Sirius, " or maybe he got her to sleep."
He walked down the hall and quietly opened the door. He and Poppy stepped in, stopping at the foot of the bed. The teens were snuggled on the bed, sleeping peacefully.
"I think it's safe to say Mr Potter found a way to break through Miss Weasley's nightmares. Looks like I'm not needed here after all, Sirius," chuckled Poppy.
"I'm sorry to drag you out here for nothing," said Sirius, shaking his head in embarassment.
"Don't be. Seeing them like that, well, after all they've been through, it's perfectly natural they'd turn to each other for comfort," chuckled Poppy. "I'm glad for them. I'll see myself out, good night."
"Night," called Sirius, turning back to the bed. Ginny turned over and Harry gave her room to do so before pulling her back flush against him. Neither woke, he was pleased to see.
He just hoped they'd get a decent night sleep. Then tomorrow, he was going to have to have The Talk with Harry. Oh, how James must be laughing, thought Sirius, shaking his head as he went back to his room.
Ginny certainly picked up in spirit over the next few days. She and Harry were inseparable, and tried to be discreet about the change in their relationship. Sirius had decided not to have the Talk with Harry for the moment, yet lingering glances and touches meant he knew he'd have to do it soon.
They'd sat down and discussed what to do about their exams. Neither wanted to return to Hogwarts for the last two weeks. Remus intervened with Professors Mcgonagall and Snape, and they agreed that they could take their exams at home, under Professor Mcgonagall's watchful eye. Remus came over for the day to go over everything with them, and they studied together at night. Sirius tried to ignore the footsies that were going on under the table as they read their school books.
They did all their exams over a week. Ginny finished her exams before Harry, and so it was she who welcomed the little owl with a couple of letters. She gave it an owl treat before sending it on its way. To her surprise, one of the letters was for her, from her brother Bill. She took it up to the roof, and settled in for a good read.
Harry came out of the kitchen, exhausted. "Good work, Mr Potter. Your Patronus form is quite impressive," said Professor Macgonagall.
"Thanks," he sighed in relief.
The floo flared and Professor Dumbledore stepped out. "Ah, I timed it well, I see. Minerva, how did he do?" he asked.
"E-xceptionally well," winked Mcgonagall. "Miss Weasley's results were of high standard too, I'm pleased to say."
"Well done, well done," said Dumbledore. "Are you heading back to the castle, Minerva?"
"Yes, I need to get these results registered," said Mcgonagall, holding up their written scrolls.
"Very well. I expect to be there for the evening meal, but I may be held up. If I do not make it, please congratulate the students on making it through these last trying weeks."
"I will, Albus. Good day, Mr Potter," nodded Professor Mcgonagall, just as Sirius came out of the basement. He farewelled Minerva, and looked suspiciously at Dumbledore.
"Sirius, Harry, may we talk?" asked Dumbledore.
Sirius hesitated, then nodded. "Can I get Ginny too?" asked Harry. Dumbledore nodded, and Harry raced off to get her. She seemed deep in thought when he finally found her.
"Hey, how did your last exam go?" she asked, kissing him.
"Good, pretty sure I got an E. Listen, Dumbledore's here, said he wants to talk to me and Sirius. You want to come?" he asked her. She nodded, and hand in hand, they went downstairs.
"Ah Miss Weasley, it's good to see you. Minerva tells me you have done well on your Transfiguration exams, so well done," beamed Dumbledore.
"Thank you Sir," said Ginny, sitting close to Harry. He grasped her hand under the table.
Sirius lay drinks in front of everybody. Kreacher bustled around, preparing a snack. "Well, out with it, Albus. What did you want to talk about?"
Dumbledore sighed. "Everything."
Harry and Sirius exchanged a glance. "Er, can you be a bit more specific?" asked Sirius.
Dumbledore took a breath and told them about meeting Grindelwald, and their relationship. While Ginny and Harry didn't know Dumbledore was gay, it didn't bother them. They were surprised to learn of his brother and sister, and saddened when they learned of his sister's fate. He told them that after his sister's death he knew he must stop Grindelwald, and told them how he helped defeat him and incarcerate him in Nuremberg.
He talked about becoming a professor at Hogwarts and meeting a young Tom Riddle. How, even back then, there was something odd about the boy. He recounted Tom's time at school, including the death of Myrtle and the release of the basilisk. He sadly told of how Hagrid was blamed for opening the Chamber and thus expelled. Dumbledore told how he'd convinced Headmaster Dippet to take on Hagrid and train him as gamekeeper.
It was around this time that Dumbledore believed Tom commited his first murders; his father and grandparents in Little Hangleton.
"Is that when he made his first Horcrux?" asked Harry.
"You know about the Horcruxes?" asked Dumbledore, astounded. The three facing him nodded.
"I belive Tom Riddle stole a ring from his uncle. It was shortly after that I think he made his first Horcrux. His diary," he said, looking at Ginny.
Harry squeezed her hand under the table in comfort. She nodded, to indicate she was fine. Dumbledore felt safe in continuing.
"Tom Riddle was made Head Boy in his seventh year. By now he'd accumulated a group of friends which would be the first of what was to be called his Death Eaters. By now, these friends were already referring to him as Lord Voldemort," said Dumbledore.
"What career did he aspire to?" asked Sirius, curiously.
"He graduated and applied for a teaching position at Hogwarts. The headmaster turned him down, saying he was too young. He then got a position at Borgin and Burkes. It was there he came into contact with many dark artifacts. It was through this position he met an old witch named Hepzibah Smith. She invited him to her house to appraise her antiques. We believed he killed her when he realised she had Slytherin's locket and Hufflepuff's cup. He managed to get her house-elf blamed for her death, and he then disappeared for nearly ten years. No-one has seen those articles since he disappeared," Dumbledore said grimly.
Sirius pulled the locket out of his pocket. Kreacher let out a small yelp. "My brother found it. He tried to destroy it, but it got him killed. His loyal house-elf has kept it safe for all these years. I have vowed to destroy it, for Reg, and so Kreacher can keep his promise to his Master. I just don't know how to destroy them. Do you?"
Dumbledore picked it up gently. "Yes, I know how. We can do it later." Kreacher whimpered in gratitude. Dumbledore nodded in acknowledgement of the house-elf's feelings.
"I knew he was still out there, somewhere, just biding his time. But it was a time of peace for us here, and I became headmaster of Hogwarts the same year Minerva started to teach there. Imagine my surprise when Tom resurfaced and applied to teach the Dark Arts position. I refused him, and he cursed the position. Since then, we've never had a professor last more than a year," said Dumbledore, shaking his head.
"Your parents would have been born a couple of years later," mused Dumbledore.
"My Mum and Dad got married in nineteen sixty-nine," said Ginny.
Dumbledore nodded. "The next decade were years of terror. It was a dangerous time, as no-one knew who were his supporters, and so many witches and wizards were killed and tortured. Some were put under the Imperius Curse and forced to commit attrocities, including torturing and murdering 's ascent to power was at its greatest height. For me, it was like Grindelwald all over again." He sighed.
"My Mum and Dad got married in nineteen seventy-eight," said Harry.
"It was around this time we began to suspect someone from our group was a spy for Voldemort," said Sirius.
"And it was around this time that I interviewed Sybil Trelawney for the position of Divination at Hogwarts. It was that night she made the prophecy, the one that was stored in the Department of Mysteries," explained Dumbleodre.
"So, you know it? You heard it?" asked Harry. Dumbledore nodded.
"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches...born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies...and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not...and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives."
They all took a moment to go over the prophecy in their mind. So many thoughts were going through Harry's mind. He will have a power the Dark Lord knows not. What could that mean? He felt Ginny squeeze his hand.
"It could only have been two boys. Neville Longbottom, or Harry. Both fit the criteria. The Potters went under the Fidelias. I offered to be Secret Keeper for James and Lily, but they planned to go with Sirius, of course," said Dumbledore, nodding to Sirius.
"We changed at the last minute. I knew everyone would think it was me," said Sirius sadly.
"Then of course, we know what happened on that Halloween night," said Dumbledore. "Tom fled to the forests of Albania. He possessed the body of animals for years, just to survive."
Ginny screwed up her nose at the thought.
Dumbledore sighed again. "You pretty much know the rest. What I don't know is how many Horcruxes he made. Once I saw the diary and you told me what happened in the Chamber of Secrets, it confirmed what I had suspected. That somehow, Tom had found a way to be immortal. He seems to have a fascination with the Hogwarts founders. Of course, he is a descendant of Salazar Slytherin through his mother. I believe I know where the ring is. Here we have Slytherin's locket. The diary has already been destroyed. That makes three."
"What about Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff? You mentioned this Hepzibah Smith also had a cup of Hufflepuff's. It would be fair to think he's used it to make a Horcrux," said Sirius. Dumbledore nodded.
"How do you make a Horcrux?" asked Harry. He had unconsciously picked up the locket Horcrux and ran his fingers over it.
"You must commit murder. It rips your soul apart. A fragment can then be magically placed inside an object. As long as there is a fragment of your soul somewhere, one cannot die," explained Dumbledore.
"That's horrifying," said Ginny. "We're already suggesting there are five Horcruxes. That's five murders." She looked ill at the thought.
"He killed that witch Hepzibah, he killed my parents. Hell, he killed his own family," said Harry, bitterly.
"Not to mention the deaths he's ordered but not personally done. That figure would be huge," said Sirius grimly. He was thinking of his brother.
"Can a Horcrux be a living thing?" asked Ginny, thinking about the snake that had attacked Sirius.
Dumbledore nodded uncertainly. "I believe so," he said, with a look at Harry. Harry was looking at the locket, and missed it.
"So we have the locket, we've destroyed the diary and you think you know where the ring is. Any idea about the cup and the thing from Ravenclaw. What could the item from Ravenclaw be?" asked Harry.
"Rowena Ravenclaw is best known for her diadem. It's said to bestow wisdom when it's worn," said Dumbledore.
"So, lets start looking for them," said Harry, looking at Sirius, then Dumbledore. "That is why you're here, right?"
Dumbledore nodded. "I'd like to spend the summer with you, Harry. You too, Sirius. I would train you, get you ready to fight Voldemort. We could go and look for the other Horcruxes. I promise to tell you and teach you all I know, no secrets."
Harry looked keen but wary. Dumbledore saw him exchange looks with Sirius. "What about Ginny?" he finally asked.
"Harry, I think this is something you need to do," she said, facing him. "You told me how powerful Tom was, when he was at the Ministry. Forgetting the Horcruxes, if you had faced him then, would you have won? Could you have defeated him with your magic?"
Harry shook his head. "He's so strong. I can't imagine ever being that powerful."
"That's why you need to do this. The prophecy said something about a power he knows not. You need to find out what it is, and use it. He has to be stopped, Harry," she said passionately.
They brought their hands out from under the table and lay them together on the top. "But I won't see you most of the summer, and we just got together," he said.
"I hate to say it, but I think Ginny's right. Dumbledore is a great wizard, a powerful wizard. To be trained by him, like an apprentice, well, it can only help. I promise I'll be there with you, even if I'm not as pretty as Ginny," quipped Sirius.
"What will you do," Harry asked Ginny, "while I'm gone?"
Ginny pulled a letter from her back pocket. "I got this today, it's from Bill. He's been posted to the Paris branch of Gringott's and wants me to come over and stay with him some time over the summer. He wants me to meet his new girlfriend," said Ginny, her eyes lighting up.
"So you were leaving me alone here anyway?" asked Harry despondently.
"I only got the letter just before this meeting, Harry. My first thought was to see if you could come with me. You have to admit, the timing is perfect. You guys will be away, and you won't have to worry about me," said Ginny.
"I'll always worry about you, Ginny," said Harry. He sighed. "I don't want to go a whole summer without seeing you."
"I know, but in the end, it will be worth it. We'll have lots of summers together, as soon as old Moldywart is gone," said Ginny, trying to lighten the mood.
Harry, Sirius and Dumbledore burst out laughing at the name Ginny had given Tom. Harry picked up her hand and kissed the back of it.
"So it's settled. Sirius and I will go with Dumbledore, looking for Horcruxes and he'll train me up. You'll be in Paris with Bill. I guess I'll have to be back that last week before school to get my new supplies," said Harry.
Sirius nodded. "When do we leave?"
"I'll need to see the school year out. There is still another three days. We'll leave on the fourth day," said Dumbledore. Harry and Sirius nodded.
"Good. Now that's settled, Sirius, perhaps you would like to accompany me back to my office at Hogwarts and we can destroy the locket?" asked Dumbledore. He looked to Harry and Ginny. "You are also welcome to come."
Sirius stood, but Harry and Ginny shook their heads. Sirius started to walk off with Dumbledore then stopped. He looked at Kreacher. "Would you like to come too?"
Kreacher was shocked. "Master would allow Kreacher to come?"
Sirius nodded. "I think it's only right. In fact, I think you should be the one to destroy it. Then your promise to my brother will be fulfilled."
Kreacher bowed. "Kreacher would like to see the locket destroyed once and for all. Thank you, Master Sirius."
"Let's go," he gestured. "Be back soon," he called to Harry and Ginny, before flooing to Hogwarts.
Harry got up from his seat and pulled Ginny up with him. "Where are we going?" she asked.
"To the roof," he replied. It had become 'their place', where they could be alone and snog and talk about everything and anything, or sometimes, just sit together in comfortable silence.
"Ginny, I only have you for a few more days. Will you let me take you on a real date," said Harry.
"I'd like that, but I doubt it will be safe for us, though," said Ginny.
"I was thinking Muggle London. Maybe the cinema, or a show," said Harry, "and dinner after."
Ginny leaned over to kiss him. "Sounds perfect. Guess we'll have to run it past the old dog," she teased.
"I already asked him, even before Dumbledore came over, and he said it should be fine," said Harry, almost shyly.
Ginny laughed. "Let's go to the cinema. Dad used to tell me about it. It sounds brilliant."
"Whatever you want, Gin," said Harry happily.
"Do you know what I want to do right now?" asked Ginny. Harry shook his head.
"I want to take advantage of the fact that we are all alone in this big ole house," said Ginny. She put her hands up and around Harry's neck and pulled him down for a kiss.
"You have the best ideas, Gin," murmured Harry.
There wasn't much talking after that.