A/N: Here's the next chapter - I broke it into two chapters as 11000 words seemed a little much for one chapter. Sorry for the rather slow update, but I had a lot of stuff come up at once and then I got sick.
Thanks for the reviews!
Disclaimer: I make no claims on what JKR has written...
Chapter 19: Tears
The flames in the fireplace glowed green, and Ginny Weasley came tumbling out. She ignored the sitting Albus Dumbledore and ran to Harry, tightly wrapping her arms around him and burying her head into his chest. Harry moved his arms to her waist and tried to hold her closer. Harry vaguely registered that Dumbledore spoke, but could not make out the individual words, nor did he notice when the aged professor left.
Albus Dumbledore said a quick goodbye, but doubted that either Harry or Ginny heard him, and edged out of the room. Not much scared Albus Dumbledore, but the sheer amount of power radiating off the intertwined couple did. Gazing thoughtfully at the closed door, Dumbledore decided to wait in the kitchen for the rest of the Weasleys to return. He suspected that Harry and Ginny would not want to be separated tonight; Molly Weasley would need to be warned.
Eventually, Ginny pushed back from Harry's embrace so that she could look up into his face. "I can't lose you," she choked out, her eyes turning misty.
Harry met her gaze and brought his hand up to cup her cheek; she leaned into his hand. His heart felt like it was breaking just thinking about life without her. He leaned in and kissed her. The kiss was hard and needful. Ginny returned it with the same intensity. Their kisses became more frantic as they tried to convince themselves that the other was never going to die.
"I DON'T CARE! I NEED TO SEE HARRY!" came the booming voice of Mrs. Weasley. Neither Harry nor Ginny heard it; nor did they notice when the door open.
Harry did, however, sense a change in the air when Mrs. Weasley entered. His eyes rose and widened, and he froze, his mouth still firmly planted on Ginny's neck. Mrs. Weasley was standing in the doorway, eyes wide and mouth open. Harry's face blushed crimson and disappeared into Ginny's surrounding hair. He did not recall precisely how he and Ginny had gone from kissing to...well...this. Harry was seated with Ginny on top of him. His hands had found their way beneath Ginny's shirt, which had also become partially undone. His own shirt was lying several feet away. Ginny still had one of her hands buried in his hair, holding his head to her neck. Her other hand was on his backside.
Harry blinked. No, Mrs. Weasley was not going to like this.
"Ex...excuse me," Mrs. Weasley's voice was strained.
Ginny released her hold on Harry's hair and backside in order to smooth out her rumpled blouse. She stood and checked her blouse's buttons before turning around. She did not even try and fix her tangled hair. Harry, being as inconspicuous as the situation allowed, tried to edge around her so that he could reach his shirt.
"Yes, Mum?" She figured if her mum was going to act like nothing was wrong, neither would she.
"I-I actually wanted to speak to Harry," said Mrs. Weasley, her voice strangely distant. She closed her eyes for a full two seconds before opening them again.
Harry had just stuck his head out of his shirt and was twisting it around. Once he had both arms through the right holes he answered, "Yes, Mrs. Weasley?"
Mrs. Weasley's pale face colored. "I wanted..." she seemed to be struggling to remember why she had been so determined to speak to Harry, "I wanted to ask if you would use your phoenix tears to help heal Arthur."
Ginny cocked an eyebrow at her mother, I guess she's come around to the idea of us being Animagi.
Why not just use Fawkes? I should have thought of this, Harry chided himself.
"That's a brilliant idea! But why not have Fawkes heal him?" asked Harry.
Dumbledore entered the room and placed his hands on Mrs. Weasley's shoulders from behind, steering her from the doorway so he could enter, "Fawkes tried, but the wounds refused to heal – perhaps with two phoenixes the poison can be counteracted."
"When are we going?" asked Ginny, the previous awkwardness of the situation forgotten with the thought of helping her father.
"In the morning," Dumbledore answered again. Mrs. Weasley frowned; she obviously wanted her husband healed as soon as possible. "Both he and Tonks will be fine until then. Come, Molly, I have something to discuss with you and Sirius." Turning to Harry he added, "I will talk to you tomorrow, Harry."
Ginny leaned over Harry's shoulder and whispered into his ear, "Sometimes—sometimes mind you—Dumbledore isn't half bad." Harry heard her words, but was too affected by the feeling of her warm breath on his ear and the scent of wildflowers from her hair to think rational thoughts, or to form any type of agreement that sounded vaguely coherent..
This time it was not Mrs. Weasley's voice that woke him, but the light creeping through the window. Harry stretched and decided to go take a shower. Ginny said something as he left the bed, but it was too muffled for him to make out. He leaned over and kissed her forehead and then opened his trunk to find a clean robe.
Harry shoved several robes aside that he knew were dirty before finding one near the bottom that was clean. He was about to close the trunk when he saw the word 'Fate' written in gold lettering peaking out underneath some balled up socks. Moving the socks to the side revealed a book with the title, Why Wizards Don't Meddle with Time: Fate's Wrath. It felt like his stomach had turned to ice. He had completely forgotten about the book. He remembered thinking that it would be an interesting read when Hermione had given it to him, but now its title struck fear into him.
Harry pulled the book out the trunk allowing the jostled socks to fall. The knobbly pair from Uncle Vernon fell with a thunk. A thunk? Harry reached for the socks and found that there was something inside of him. It took him a moment to remember that he had stuffed the sneakoscope from Ron in them. A little afraid to read the book, Harry was grateful for the distraction and extracted the item. It immediately stood on end and began emitting a high-pitched sound, although it was not very loud. Harry frowned. It seemed like all he was getting was bad news this morning.
"Harry, what's wrong?" came Ginny's sleepy voice.
"Er...noth..." began Harry.
"Tell me or I'll make you tell me," said Ginny cutting him off and sitting up. She was dressed only in one his shirts. Harry blushed at the memory. There had been little awkwardness. The bond allowed them to know what the other liked, which spot to caress, suckle, or kiss and what the other was comfortable with. It also made each of them painfully aware of the other's fears and insecurities. It had the strange effect of egging them on, but also slowing them down at the same time. They had cooled off remarkably quickly though when Mrs. Weasley walked by the door talking to Sirius.
Looking at Ginny, Harry's blush deepened; he was looking forward to being alone with Ginny soon. Ginny's eyes narrowed and glittered with mischief, "Then you had better tell me what's wrong!"
"I..." unable to find the words, he pointed to the sneakoscope. Ginny's expression mirrored his own.
"Do you think someone in the house isn't trustful?" she asked.
"No, I mean it's only us, your mum, the twins, Ron, and Sirius," stated Harry casting another worried look at the sneakoscope. "If I hadn't destroyed Mrs. Black's portrait I would have said it was her."
"What about Kreacher?" pressed Ginny.
"He has to be trustful now. Sirius gave him very specific orders." The sneakoscope continued to emit the sound despite their logic.
"Maybe it's broken," Ginny's tone said she did not believe it herself.
"Dumbledore's coming will be over today. We'll tell him then," Harry picked up the dark detector and stuffed it back inside the socks. "I also found this," Harry tossed the book on the bed. "I'm going to go take a shower."
Ginny nodded, briefly considered taking a shower with him, which caused them both to blush, she did not did not move her gaze from the book. She opened the book to the table of contents page. She sucked in breath quickly as she read the page and wondered if the Harry from the future had read this book. The book was organized into two sections: theory and examples. The examples were further broken out into what technique or spell the wizard or witch had used. To the side of each name was either the word "Success" or "Failure." Only the section with the heading "Time-Turners and Other Such Devices" had any successes. She shivered as she flipped through the next few pages. The last two pages of the table of contents listed all known attempts at using the ritual Dumbledore had told them about. There were no successes.
She flipped back to the beginning of the table of contents and searched for the appropriate page listed under theory and turned to it.
Ritual: Debt of Fate or Ritual of Fate's Debt
Perhaps the most desperate, drastic, and dangerous of all time-meddling, the ritual known as the Debt of Fate is shrouded in mystery. The origin is unknown, but wizards since recorded history have attempted this ritual with no known success (See example: Horus). The ritual is used to send a message back through time. According to early writings about the ritual, there is no danger of a time paradox as with the ever popular time-turner.
Early writings about the ritual report that Fate or Destiny would weigh the caster's request and then judge if he or she had been treated unfairly and if the message to be sent was justified. This is where the name of the ceremony originates. However, the cost of having Fate judge the request is high: the caster's life. If it was judged that Fate did indeed owe a debt to the caster then the message is allowed to pass. It is hypothesized that, along with the caster's sheer magical power, the castor's own lifeforce - the soul itself - is used to send a message back through time to him or herself.
Despite the complete lack of evidence that the ritual has ever resulted in any message being sent back through time, the ritual is still occasionally attempted. In the early part of the sixteenth century it gained prominence as a method of suicide. As a result of the many attempts at the ritual, it was decided by the International Confederation of Wizards in 1554 that information related to how to perform the ritual would henceforth be restricted.
Although the ritual has been compared to the ritual required to create a -------, it is not believed to be Dark Magic. The ritual requires the use of -------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------.
As of 1554, The International Confederation of Wizards has decreed (Decree 1101) that information that could be used to conduct the Ritual of Fate's Debt restricted information. For further information contact your local Ministry of Magic and see ICW Decree 1101.
Edit required by International Confederation of Wizards Decree 1112 of 1557.
Edit required by International Confederation of Wizards Decree 1101 and 1112.
Ginny sighed as she closed the book. It had not told her anything more than what Dumbledore had revealed to Harry yesterday. Reading the book, however, had caused her to revisit her thoughts of the previous night. She wondered what she would do if Harry died facing Voldemort. She knew with certainty it would tear her in two. She looked back down at the book and felt a wave of hopelessness and loss pass through her as she imagined what Harry had felt. She hardly noticed the tears that started to fall.
Harry did not bother to turn the water off when he felt Ginny starting to cry. The only time he wasted was to grab a towel off the rack as he rushed back to Ginny's room.
Ginny, don't cry. Neither of us is going to die! He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into his lap.
Ginny sniffled, "I'm being stupid. I was just thinking about what it would be like if you died, then I thought about that you had lived like that, then I thought what you must had been feeling when you performed the ritual, and then..."
Ginny was interrupted by Harry kissing her, Listen to me – I don't know how things are going to end, but I do know I didn't send that letter back so we could be miserable.
Ginny laid her head on his bare shoulder and hugged him tightly, I don't want to live without you.
Placing his head on top of hers, Harry shivered at the thought of losing her. Neither do I.
A soft knock at the door interrupted them. It was not Mrs. Weasley's voice that echoed through the door, but Sirius', "Harry, Ginny? You're leaving soon for St. Mungo's. Molly is going to come up soon. I'll just go turn the water off shall I?"
They quickly dressed and made their way downstairs where the rest of the Weasleys were waiting for them. A light breakfast was on the table.
Sirius gave them a roguish wink that made Harry believe the Marauder had seen him go into Ginny's room in only a towel. "Dumbledore sent word that he would meet you there. He's bringing Fawkes with him too."
Fifteen minutes later and after everyone had eaten, they met Mundungus Fletcher, who was driving a different car than the one he had used to get them to St. Mungo's the first time.
"Why can't we just floo? Ginny did last night and it would be quicker," complained Ron as he slid into the back seat of the sedan.
"We'll just Apparate over," said Fred sharing a devious expression with George.
Mrs. Weasley rounded on them, "Fred, George – get in the car! I will not have you sneaking off to get more of your...your useless inventions after I've searched you!" The twins did not look happy, but complied. Mrs. Weasley had searched both of them before they left the house. She had confiscated three sets of extendable ears, two vials of an unknown potion, and a package of dungbombs.
Ron grumbled again about flooing, "Hush, Ron. We aren't supposed to use the floo. Dumbledore thinks the network is being watched."
The trip to St. Mungo's was quick despite Ron's complaints and Dumbledore was waiting for them in Mr. Weasley's and Tonks' room. Fawkes was perched on the headboard of Tonks' bed and gave a welcoming trill.
"We already tried Fawkes, Professor," stated a perplexed Bill Weasley. Harry turned surprise to see the eldest Weasley son.
Dumbledore's eyes twinkled, "Yes, but I believe the tears of two phoenixes will be more powerful than one alone."
"Two? Where's the other one?" asked Bill. Tonks snickered, which only added to Bill's confusion. Dumbledore closed the door and flicked his wand before nodded to Harry.
"I'm the other one," stated Harry.
"What?"
Rather than explain the situation, Harry chose to transform. Bill took a step back in shock, "I'll be...Merlin! He's an Animagus! That's amazing!"
Mrs. Weasley grumpily replied, "So is Ginny."
"Really? What are you?" asked Bill excitedly.
Ginny smiled broadly. She knew Bill had tried to become an Animagus and for him to be this happy over her achievement meant a lot, "I'm a panther."
Bill nodded and winked at her, "No surprise there."
Dumbledore chuckled, "Harry, Fawkes would you begin? I would rather not be caught using a Silencing Charm by any of the healers."
Harry flew to Tonks' bedside and waited patiently while Mrs. Weasley carefully removed the bandages around her foot. It started to bleed immediately. Fawkes was the first to act, his pearly tears falling. The blood stopped flowing, but the wound did not heal.
Focusing on the wound, Harry again found it impossible to cry.
Sing, came Fawkes' command. You must see the wound.
Harry did as he was told. Just like what had happened with Hagrid, Harry could see a white light escaping from the wound. The bright light escaping from Tonks wound though was nothing compared to the almost blinding light coming from Mr. Weasley's abdomen.
Focus on this one first, instructed Fawkes.
His tears soon joined Fawkes' and the wound started to close. When the skin was no longer marred they stopped crying. For a few seconds it looked like they had succeeded, but the skin where the wound had been stated to release smoke or steam and the smell of flesh burning rose. Tonks muffled a scream.
Your mate must help, said Fawkes and then he chirped at Ginny. Dumbledore raised his eyebrows at the action, but said nothing.
Ginny cast a worried look at her mother before walking forward. When she transformed into a phoenix a collective gasp was heard from the group. Only Ron and Dumbledore did not act surprised. Ron allowed himself a smug smile and Dumbledore only looked amused. Ginny flew to perch on the opposite side of Tonks foot so that the three phoenixes formed a triangle around the wounded appendage.
The tears of the three phoenixes stopped the blood from flowing and forced the wound to close; however, this time a smoke began to rise up from the wound. When the wound finally closed, the phoenixes hopped aside and waited. Nothing happened. Tonks immediately swung her feet off the bed and tested her weight on her foot. She jumped up and down a couple of times and smiled.
"I'm healed!" she exclaimed and then promptly tripped over the bed frame's corner. "Am I still healed?" she asked disgusted. "What are you looking at? Heal him!" Tonks said to the phoenixes trying to shift the attention from her and ignore the snickering and laughing at the same time.
Fawkes flew over to Mr. Weasley's bed, but Harry and Ginny took a brief moment to chirp in obvious amusement before joining him. The room went quiet as Mrs. Weasley slowly undid the bandages.
Mr. Weasley's wound was far worse than Tonks' and it too began bleeding immediately when the bandages were removed. Fawkes was the first to start crying, halting the bleeding. Then Harry's tears began falling, which were soon joined by Ginny's after she had given a short trill. Whereas Tonks' wound had produced only a little smoke, Mr. Weasley's wound practically billowed smoke. It strongly reminded Harry of the Basilisk venom eating through Riddle's Diary and he wondered exactly what type of snake had bitten Mr. Weasley.
It took nearly a minute for the wound to heal.
"Well done, well done!" congratulated Dumbledore.
Mrs. Weasley had rushed to her husband's side as soon as the phoenixes had left the bed and was giving him one of her bone-crushing hugs. The others in the room, aside from Ron, seemed to still be in shock from Ginny's phoenix transformation.
Harry and Ginny transformed back into themselves in front of the astonished crowd. Mrs. Weasley did not look like she knew how to respond as she seemed to be on the verge of scolding and praising them at the same time.
"You're a phoenix too?" Bill asked rhetorically.
Ginny had the grace to blush as she smiled. Several people started to talk at once.
"Excuse me," Dumbledore's calm voice resonated throughout the room. Everyone stopped talking.
How does he do that? asked Ginny.
Magic? came Harry's slightly sarcastic reply.
Ginny cut her eyes at him and then raised her eyebrows in an expression that clearly stated, Maybe.
"We can discuss this…discovery when we return to headquarters. Now, why don't we have Arthur and Ms. Tonks examined by the healers so that they may leave," it was worded as a suggestion, but Dumbledore's words were clearly an order.
Two hours later everyone was back at Grimmauld Place sitting at the kitchen table. An occasional snicker was heard, causing Mr. Weasley to blush in embarrassment. The healer had been highly skeptical of his sudden healing skills. Even Professor Dumbledore explaining Fawkes' assistance could not assuage the healer that everything was fine.
The healer had insisted that Mr. Weasley, since his wound was far more serious, strip down so he could carefully examine his entire body. The healer seemed to fear that the wound would magically appear elsewhere. It had taken an hour for the healer to finish his examination; Mr. Weasley emerged from the room walking funny and thoroughly embarrassed. The twins were in their element.
Eager to shift the attention away from himself, Mr. Weasley said, "So, you're a phoenix too, Ginny." The twins went silent as the discussion turned to Animagi.
"Professor, how is it possible for Harry and Ginny to be Animagi? Magical Animagi at that?" asked Bill.
Harry could swear that Dumbledore smirked. "The mystery does not stop there, William. Harry and Ginny both have panther forms."
Bill swore, earning him a smack from Mrs. Weasley. "Sorry, mum. How is this possible?" asked Bill for the second time.
Dumbledore locked eyes with Harry, who realized what the professor was asking. Harry nodded his assent. "I believe it is because of their soul bond." Bill's eyes widened and the twins' mouths dropped open. Tonks reacted by tipping over her glass of juice. "I suspect that the phoenix form is from Harry. How Harry manages a magical form is a mystery, but Mr. Potter has always surprised us." Dumbledore smiled and paused, waiting for any interruptions. When no one interrupted, he continued, "As you said yourself, Ginny's panther form is no surprise. No bonded pair has ever bonded before they became Animagi and I believe the bond allowed them to share forms," concluded Dumbledore.
"Brilliant!" announced Fred.
"Absolutely spiffing!" added George. A harsh glare from Mrs. Weasley silenced them.
"They're bonded? Soul bonded?" questioned Bill.
"We are right here!" complained Ginny, causing Bill to give her an apologetic smile.
"Yes, it was detected and recorded the very first time they met on platform nine and three-quarters!" explained Dumbledore.
Bill looked at the headmaster like he was crazy, "That's impossible!"
Surprisingly, it was not Dumbledore who answered, but Sirius, "So are magical Animagi."
A long silence followed Sirius' statement. Mr. Weasley was the first to break it, "Does this have something to do with the prophecy?"
"ARTHUR!" bellowed a very unhappy Mrs. Weasley who was now glaring at her children as if hoping that her gaze alone could remove the memory of what her husband had said. "That's enough! Children OUT!"
"But mum!" chorused the twins, "We're of age!"
"You are still my children!" said Mrs. Weasley sternly. Sirius, Tonks, and even Professor Dumbledore seemed unwilling to challenge the Weasley matriarch.
"Molly," said the tired voice of Mr. Weasley. "They are of age. You can't force them to leave."
"Harry needs to stay," said Sirius quietly, but with steel in his voice – although he had pushed his chair back far enough so that he was well out of Mrs. Weasley's arm reach.
Mrs. Weasley gave her husband a betrayed look, but gave a look of pure disgust to Sirius. "Fine! Ron, leave."
Why's she so mad at Sirius? asked a confused Harry.
Because if you stay, I'm staying.
Harry almost laughed at the affronted look that appeared on Ron's face, "Harry will just tell me everything later! Besides what about Ginny?"
Mrs. Weasley seemed to be approaching her breaking point. "There's no point in sending Ginny away," her tone was defeated, but she quickly rebounded, "You, however, have to leave!"
"No! I'm staying," Ron said. Considering the slightly crazed look in his mother's eyes, Harry thought Ron was being absurdly brave. The twins must have agreed because they were looking at Ron with a mixture of awe and sympathy. They must have guessed what was coming.
"Oh, you are, are you?" Ron fidgeted nervously. "Do you want to be cooking your own meals for the rest of the vacation?" Ron paled. "I thought not! Now why don't you wait in the sitting room – Hermione will be arriving shortly." Ron nodded excitedly either out of anticipation of Hermione's arrival or out of relief of escaping his mother's punishment. He quickly stood and left the kitchen.
Dumbledore waited for Mrs. Weasley to cast the appropriate charms on the door before starting. "As most of you know, a prophecy was made shortly before Harry's birth," Dumbledore case a worried glance at Harry and Ginny, "A Death Eater heard a part of the prophecy and passed it on to Lord Voldemort, who then acted on it by attacking Harry's parents on Halloween. It was his downfall."
Dumbledore closed his eyes, collecting his thoughts, "The question you have asked is far more…complicated…than you realize, but at this point I do not believe it is important anymore. The soul bond has given both Harry and Ginny a natural resistance to Voldemort's mental intrusions…" Dumbledore went on to explain exactly what a soul bond was and how it affected Harry and Ginny.
Reactions varied across the table. Those who already knew listened attentively, hoping to hear Dumbledore say something new, while Tonks and Bill gained expressions that steadily grew more and more amazed: their eyes grew as wide as saucers and their mouths were in danger of touching the table. Fred and George reacted differently.
"This explains so much!" said George.
Fred smiled, "It was always obvious you two were meant to be together, but are you really able to talk mentally?"
Harry and Ginny nodded. "That's fantastic! Oh, imagine how much easier classes would be! You could do half the work…ouch!" Fred stopped talking as Ginny's foot impacted his shin.
"I must stress how important it is for this knowledge to remain outside of the public knowledge for as long as possible," said Dumbledore.
"What about the record at the Ministry?" asked Mr. Weasley.
Dumbledore opened his mouth and then shut it as if reconsidering his words, "We can't stop anyone from checking the book, but the regular schedule for Ministry inspection will not pose a problem – an Order member has seen to it."
More questions were about to ask when Dumbledore cocked his head and then said, "I think that is enough for today." Harry thought Dumbledore looked troubled, "Besides, I believe Miss Granger has arrived."
Dumbledore waved his wand removing the charms placed on the door just in time to hear Ron's jubilant cry, "Hermione!"
This was quickly followed by Hermione's voice, which was too soft for anyone to make out. However, the two voices that followed pronounced every word clearly and loudly.
"Ahhh! Isn't that just…" It was one of the twins, who had made their way quickly out of the kitchen in time to see Hermione's entrance.
"Isn't that the sweetest thing you have ever seen?"
"Verily! I think our little Ronnikins is growing up!" Harry could almost see Ron's ears and then his face turning red.
"Yes, I agree. But LOOK! So is little Hermy and I think Ronnikins has finally noticed!"
Harry and Ginny were both sure that given the opportunity the twins would have continued, but two voices started yelling a mixture of obscenities, demands, and threats. From the look on Mrs. Weasley's face, Harry thought that both Ron and Hermione were lucky they were both yelling otherwise their words might have been decipherable.
Everyone began filing out of the kitchen. Bill placed a hand on Ginny's shoulder and motioned toward the other door. Harry was following Sirius when Dumbledore stopped them both.
"Harry," Dumbledore extended his hand. It was holding an envelope Harry recognized as the one Percy had given him. "These are a summons." Sirius' face immediately darkened. "You should read it, but I want to assure you that there is nothing they are charging you with that we cannot defend against. It really is a rather weak attempt by Fudge and, I daresay, the goal is to discredit rather than convict." Harry looked down at the envelope and sighed. "The trial date is set for December 28th. I suggest you push this out of your mind – I will take care of the defense. Enjoy your holiday and," a strange expression crossed Dumbledore's face as he seemed to peer around the room searching for something, "…why don't you and Ginny take the Weasley's to Potter Manor for Christmas – I'd like for you to stay here most of the time, but a few days at the Manor I don't think will hurt. I will be back shortly after Christmas." He smiled at Sirius and Harry before turning to leave.
"Dumbledore's worried about something," Harry stated hoping Sirius had an answer.
"Yes, but what?" Sirius responded and cast a look at Harry.
"The trial?"
"No, I trust Dumbledore when he says he can handle it. It's something else. He's been getting tenser since the start of term," said Sirius.
It was then that Harry remembered he had wanted to ask Dumbledore about the sneakoscope. "Sirius, do you know anything about sneakoscopes?"
Sirius gave him a funny look at the sudden change of topic and had to mentally shake himself. Except for the eyes, Harry was almost a mirror image of James and he even had some of the elder Potter's mannerisms. James also had a habit of changing topics rather quickly, granted most of the times it was to monologue about Evans. "A little."
"Ron gave me one in my third year and I took it out last night – it acted like someone untrustful was nearby," Harry could not believe how good it felt to get even this little secret off his chest. There seemed to be a lot of secrets lately.
Sirius looked through one of the kitchen's walls, which also happened to be in the direction of the boiler. "Well, Kreacher is in the house." Sirius and Harry considered the possibility, "And the evil, little pigmy has been acting strangely of late…"
"Strangely?" asked Harry, he thought Sirius' orders would force the house elf to be trustful.
"He's not nearly as repugnant as usual…and he's been cleaning," said Sirius. "Since you destroyed the portrait of my dear mum the change has become even more pronounced."
"Not Kreacher then?" Harry asked.
"I want to say it is, but…I don't think it's possible for him to lie or betray us anymore – I've made my orders very specific…and I think having Dobby and Winky here over the summer scared him. I think he now thinks that I might replace him." Sirius smiled at the notion. "Before you arrived I would have suggested mum," a wry smile crossed Sirius' face. "You know, I think I'll frame that scorch mark."
Harry chuckled and they both left the kitchen to welcome Hermione.
In one of the private sitting rooms, Bill was sitting across from Ginny. He had not said a word since leading her into the room. Ginny thought he was struggling to find the right words. Aside from Ron, Bill was probably her most protective brother. His age made his relationship with her a cross between father and brother.
"You and Harry….Ginny, do you understand all of the implications of being bonded to Harry?" asked Bill.
Ginny was not exactly sure what her oldest brother was getting at, but decided to start with what she guessed would bother him the most, "It means were married."
Bill waved his hand dismissively and then froze, "Married? I didn't know…" Bill seemed flustered and Ginny knew her brother well enough to know that he was striving to control himself. "No, not that. I mean it's dangerous – with You-Know-Who back. We know he's after Harry because of some prophecy and I think it would be best…"
Ginny's anger started to stir; it must have shown on her face because Bill immediately backtracked, "I'm not saying you shouldn't be with Harry! I just want to make sure that you know what to expect." Ginny felt Harry's emotions swirl at Bill's words.
Maybe…
Shut up, Harry. She knew what he was going to suggest and it was ridiculous as far as she was concerned.
"And just what should I expect?" Ginny was not sure what he was getting at.
Bill again fumbled for words; he had obviously not planned this out. "I only want you to understand that you're going to have to be protected…" Bill's voice trailed off as he watched Ginny's face flush and groaned. Ginny hated it when her brothers were overprotective – it usually ended up with a hexing. "…just like Harry has to be protected. Please don't be difficult about it."
The eldest Weasley son closed his eyes and waited for the hex. His reaction caused Ginny to release a small giggle, "I'm not going to hex you."
"You're not mad?"
"Not as long as you don't say that I have to stay away from Harry," answered Ginny.
That goes for you too! She mentally sent to Harry.
Bill smiled and then his brow furrowed, "Now what do you mean married?"