Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny made their way up to the headmaster's office after the feast. They stopped outside at the gargoyle that was placed in front of the headmaster's door.
"What do we do now?" asked Ron, staring at the gargoyle that didn't move when they had gotten close enough.
"Well, obviously there is a password!" Hermione commented frustrated.
"Ok so what is it?" Harry asked. "We are only first years, Hermione. You could hardly expect us to know the headmaster's password to his office!"
"Harry has a point," murmured Ginny, "We didn't even know how to get here until several of the Hogwarts's ghosts pointed us in the right direction numerous times."
"Yeah, that's weird." Ron looked frightened, "Those ghosts give me the creeps. Why are they still ghosts? They should be dead and gone, not still hanging around. It's just a bit weird."
"Goodness, Ron! Don't you read?" Hermione questioned exasperated. "Hogwarts's ghosts are ghosts because they don't want to go to the after life, where ever that may be. They are afraid to travel down that path, so instead they chose to remain ghosts forever. In some ways they are still alive, or to them they are. They interact with other humans and can do many of the things we can do, except perhaps eat. To them that's a relief."
Ron looked dumbfounded and started to say something when Ginny interrupted, "That's very fascinating, Hermione, but we still haven't figured out how to open the door. I, for one, don't wish to get into any more trouble then we are in and I don't want to be late."
Harry nodded. "Yeah, Hermione." Ginny glared at him as if to say "You're not helping at all."
Uh, I don't know, Hermione thought to Ron.
Well, that's a first. Ron stated.
Hermione glared at him. Harry and Ginny looked at each other.
Talking to one another? Harry smiled.
Ginny nodded, it would appear so.
"Mr. Potter, Miss Weasley, Mr. Weasley, Miss Granger? What, pray tell are you doing waiting here?" Professor McGonagall's voice sounded from behind them. "You could have gone up."
The four all whirled around; Hermione was the first to recover. "Pro-Professor? We were trying to figure out how to get up to the headmaster's office. It seems we weren't told the password to get in. There is a password, right?" Hermione looked around at the others, "because we don't know it."
Professor McGonagall looked at them all sternly. "All you had to do was tell the gargoyle why you are here, if you don't know the password, proven, of course, that you are honest in your intentions." She looked at them intensely. She then looked at the gargoyle. "Lemon drops." The gargoyle opened to reveal a staircase. "Up you all go."
The four trudged up the staircase, Professor McGonagall following close behind. They came upon a door at the top of the stairs. The door opened to reveal a desk, the headmaster sitting behind it, three plush chairs and many other things scattered around the room that they could hardly name. Dumbledore looked up as they walked in.
He cleared his throat. "Mr. Potter, Miss Weasley, Mr. Weasley, and Miss Granger please have a seat. Minerva, please have a seat as well." McGonagall took a seat to the left of the desk. That left the two seats that were positioned in front of the desk.
You can sit, Hermione. Ron nodded to one of the chairs.
Don't be silly, Ron, you sit, Hermione said stubbornly.
No, Ron grinned at her, careful to keep it within their heads. You sit you're the girl.
With a huff, Hermione sat down but pulled Ron down next to her. The chair was obviously big enough for both first years.
Meanwhile Harry and Ginny were having a similar argument.
You can have the chair, Ginny. I don't mind standing. Besides it's only proper. Harry said gallantly.
Oh no, the chair is big enough for the both of us, Ginny replied hotly. Don't be a stupid prat like Ron is. And no heroism or chivalry for me please! She sat down gingerly and pulled Harry down gently. She was a bit more graceful then Hermione was.
Dumbledore, who was waiting for them to sit, noticed the exchange between them. However he did not say anything. Many things puzzled him tonight and he had a feeling that most of what was not understood would not be solved tonight. He was not sure why Gortox felt the need to sort two people at once nor did he understand the part about Hermione and Harry missing there other half and the Weasley's being it. He was, some how, going to get to the bottom of this. Once he saw that the first years were settled, Dumbledore cleared his throat and started speaking.
"Alright, now that you are all here and ready to begin, how about we start with Miss Granger." Dumbledore looked at Hermione. "Could you please explain what happened, from your point of view?"
"Well, sir, as I sat on the stool when my name was called, Gortox, he, well he said my name and stuff and then said I was muggle born. He said I had much potential and then that was when he asked me where my other half was. I then-" Hermione was cut off but Dumbledore's voice.
"Ah yes, that's good for a moment. Let me ask Gortox something." He got up from his chair and walked over to a shelf. He picked up the hat that had been watching them for some time.
"Albus, I know what you are going to ask. You want to know why I asked where Miss Granger's other half was and why and how she was missing her other half." Gortox said mildly. "I do not know why or how she is missing her other half. The only thing I will say about that was that the Fates deemed it that way. Why I asked Miss Granger where her other half was, is because I could not sort her without it."
Dumbledore looked at the hat suspiciously. "You mean, you won't say anything else on why Miss Granger or Mr. Potter was missing their other half's." Dumbledore muttered.
"No Albus, I cannot say. It is privileged information that I do no even know the full extent of it. Mr. Potter is another thing all together that again I am not privileged to tell you. Miss Weasley's involvement is between Mr. Potter, Miss Weasley and Fate alone. As is Miss Granger and Mr. Weasley's. I am sorry, Albus, that is all I can say in the matter." Gortox looked at the headmaster regrettably.
"How come this has never happened before?" interrupted Professor McGonagall.
The hat looked at McGonagall, "Oh, but it has."
Dumbledore looked sharply at the hat. "When has it happened before?"
"Voldemort," the hat stated quietly. Everyone in the room gasped except Dumbledore.
"How is that possible, Gortox? I don't remember that happening when he was sorted into Slytherin." Asked Dumbledore even more puzzled.
"It didn't happen when I sorted him, that's why. It was later, Albus." Gortox grimaced.
"When did it happen?" demanded Dumbledore, who rarely lost his cool.
"I cannot tell you, Albus-"
"Yes, yes privileged information." The headmaster looked back at Hermione. "Please finish explaining, Miss Granger."
Hermione took a deep breath and started to explain from where she had left off. Finally she got to the point when she and Ron were getting sorted, Dumbledore asked Ron something.
"Mr. Weasley, do you understand or know why this happened to you?"
What kind of question is that! Ron huffed to Hermione.
I don't know. It's a stupid question, but go ahead and answer it, Hermione sighed.
"Well no sir, I don't understand." Ron said slowly. Then he stopped and thought about it for a minute. "No wait, I think I understand something." He paused, still thinking about it. Hermione gave him a quizzical look
"Yes, go on." Dumbledore pushed.
"When I sat down on that stool with Hermione, I got this feeling. I don't know why I was chosen to have a missing half or be the missing half of someone else, but I know the feeling of-of not having my other half. All my life I felt there was some missing part of me. I think the reason Ginny and I got along so well was because of the fact that we both seemed to be missing something. Of course we are both the youngest two and the closest in age, but there was something more to it. We could confide that we felt as if we didn't belong." Ron took a breath and looked at his newfound friends. They all nodded for him to continue. They knew Ron seemed to be able to get out what they were all feeling. "I didn't really think much about this as I sat up on the stool with Hermione, but as we have been talking here, I kind realized what it was. She is my other half, and I like having it that way. I know we have only been like this for a few hours but I know that the feeling I was missing is-well it's there now and I wouldn't trade it for the world." He stopped talking and looked at Harry, his other half and his baby sister who he loved so much. They were all nodding at what he had said.
"I see," murmured Dumbledore. He looked at the others. "Do you all agree, to some extent, what Mr. Weasley said?"
They all nodded. "Yes, Professor."
Harry looked at Dumbledore and said. "I think that is how we all felt growing up. I think, for me, it was a bit different, but only because I grew up with people, who might be blood related, but are not really my family." Harry looked at Ginny, who smiled slightly, though her eyes blazed with fire. "The Dursley's were not what I would have hoped for in growing up, but I understand a bit that they were my only 'family' for me to go to. I don't think growing up in an orphanage would have been any better."
Dumbledore and McGonagall looked at the four. Dumbledore spoke up. "I suppose it would be best to summon your parents here. We need to explain things to them." He looked at McGonagall and was about to ask her to go and contact the Weasleys and the Grangers and the Dursley's when Ginny said something.
She looked at her friends, who all nodded, "Um Professor, there is a bit more we need to tell you. Um, some stuff that took place while we were eating." She looked at the professors nervously.
McGonagall looked upset. Dumbledore looked a bit perplexed. "Alright," he said slowly. "What is it?"
Ginny gulped and looked at the others, "Well, since we were sorted into our house, we seem to, well, we can do stuff."
The headmaster looked at her. "Like what? Can you do some unheard of magic, or maybe fly without a broom? What kind of stuff are we talking about, Miss Weasley?" he said seriously.
The others laughed when he said that. Ginny smiled slightly, "No Professor, not those things, at least I don't think so. It-it has to do with our connection to our other halves."
"What Ginny is trying to say, Professor, is that we share things." Hermione said simply. "We can talk to our half, and we share taste buds. For example when Ron and I were eating at the feast tonight we noticed that certain things should not be eaten together, such as broccoli and pumpkin juice. It just doesn't go. Basically we had to correspond with what the other is eating so we don't have to eat things together that don't taste good." Hermione smiled a bit at the memory of what had just happened not an hour ago. "We aren't sure if there is anything else we share but we know that we can talk to each other and our taste buds are the same." Just then Ron reached over and grabbed Hermione's hand. He squeezed it and something amazing happened. They both lifted into the air. Hermione gasped and Ron laughed. Harry and Ginny looked surprised but then quickly caught on and tried it. They both floated into the air along side Ron and Hermione.
Ron, who was still laughing and in the air with Hermione, said, "Sorry Professor, but you gave me the idea and I wasn't sure if it would work. I tried it by myself after you said it, thinking of flying in the air. Then I realized, after all the talk of other halves that I might need 'my other half' to fly." He looked down at the professors from above the chair with Hermione. "I just had to try it out." All four of them floated back down to their chairs. Dumbledore and McGonagall just stared at them.
"Well, that certainly is, uh, amazing." Dumbledore looked at the four of them. "Well, perhaps we should get your parents here." He looked at McGonagall, "Minerva, if you would please contact the Weasleys, the Grangers and the Dursleys."
Harry looked up at the headmaster when he heard the Dursley's name. "They are not my parents!" Harry growled. Ginny squeezed his hand. It's ok Harry; I don't think Dumbledore meant it that way, Ginny murmured, though it sounded strained.
Doesn't matter, Ginny, the Dursley's might be blood relatives, but they are far from being family or parents. Especially parents, Harry's voice hardened at the thought of the Dursley's being his parents.
I'll take care of it Harry, Ginny said soothingly. She squeezed his. She felt memories wash over him and they flooded her vision for moment before disappearing.
"Um, Professor Dumbledore, I don't think it's wise to bring the Dursley's here. They won't appreciate it and they don't care much about Harry anyway, so what would be the point." Ginny said with steel in her voice. She could feel Harry's pain and anger. She did not want him to loose control and do something he would regret. Ginny looked at the headmaster very sternly. She was very upset that Dumbledore found it necessary to bring the Dursley's in. It wasn't like they cared and Dumbledore needed to know that, besides hadn't Harry mentioned early that he didn't like them much, nor get along with them.
"Miss Weasley, do not tell the headmaster whether or not Harry's family should be here!" McGonagall said sternly. "The headmaster knows best. It would seem as if you were just trying to avoid getting in trouble for some reason."
"Minerva, calm down." Dumbledore sighed. "Ginny and Harry are right, Minerva, the Dursley's really would be upset to be brought here. They really don't want anything to do with him." He looked at Harry sadly. "We will not bring them here, Harry."
Harry looked at Dumbledore. It was the first time he had called Harry by his first name. "Thank you, sir." He said.
He nodded at Harry and then told McGonagall to floo the Weasleys and the Grangers. McGonagall left. Dumbledore looked at the four whose lives had changed dramatically in last two hours. They sat in silence while they waited for McGonagall to return with the Weasleys and the Grangers. Just then the headmaster's door opened and in came the Weasleys and the Grangers.
"Ah, Molly, Arthur, Dawn, Daniel. It's good to see you again." Dumbledore welcomed them into the room. He conjured up four more chairs and waved them into them. "Please take a seat."
They all took a seat. Molly was the first to say something, "Albus, what is this all about? What is going on? Ron and Ginny haven't done anything wrong, have they?" Molly started going into hysterics. Arthur grabbed her hand and pattered her back to calm her down. Molly was looking at her children. "Ron, Ginny you had better not have gotten into trouble." Their mother said sternly. Ron looked ready to faint but Ginny just shook her head and sighed. Her mother had a hot temper.
"Molly, Arthur, your children have done nothing wrong. In fact what has happened is rather extraordinary." Dumbledore looked at the four first years and smiled slightly.
Their parents looked over at them. It was then that Molly recognized Harry. "Harry, dear, it's good to see you again." She smiled at him.
Harry gulped, but smiled and said, "Hello Mrs. Weasley, it's good to see you too."
Molly looked at Hermione. "And who is this?"
Hermione smiled slightly. Ginny had told her a bit about her mum on the train. "I am Hermione Granger, Mrs. Weasley. Ginny and I met on the train."
"Oh well it's nice to meet you dear." Molly looked over at the Grangers. "OH you must be Hermione's parents." She said delighted. "I am Molly Weasley. The two red heads are mine, and the raven haired boy is Harry Potter, my adoptive son." Molly smiled brightly at Ron, Ginny and Harry. "It really is a pleasure to meet you. Your daughter must be very delightful for Ginny to be friends with her." She shook their hands. The Grangers looked overwhelmed by Molly's welcome.
Harry gaped at Mrs. Weasley, "Wha-huh?" Ginny grinned and Ron looked utterly amazed.
"Alright Harry!" Ron said smiling broadly. Hermione smiled a small smile.
Dumbledore cleared his throat. "Um well yes, Molly that has yet to be decided." Dumbledore looked at Harry, who was still taking in what Molly had said. "Well now, on to business. There are some things your children need to tell you all. Now keep in mind that we don't know entirely how or why this happened, but both Minerva, I or the children will answer whatever questions you have."
Molly and Arthur looked startled. Dawn and Daniel just looked at Hermione. "Hermione would you like to start since you seem to have a better way of explaining what has happened to the four of you." Dumbledore looked at Hermione. She gulped and nodded. She looked at the others who nodded. Ron smiled gently and took her hand to comfort her. She smiled weakly at him.
Molly noticed the exchange and furrowed her brow. Hermione cleared her throat. "Um well, Mum, Dad, Mrs. and Mr. Weasley, we sort of have special abilities that we just got tonight at the sorting ceremony." She looked at the four adults and took a deep breath and the dived head first into an explanation of what happened early in the evening. By the end of her explanation, Molly and Dawn were very upset. The gentlemen seemed perplexed and surprised.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU ARE CONNECTED?" shouted Mrs. Weasley. "Are you telling me you-you can talk to each other, fly and-and share taste buds with each other? You have been missing your other halves you entire life and now you have them! This is insane!" she burst into tears. Arthur took her into his arms and whispered into her ear to sooth her.
"I don't understand." Dawn whispered, "Hermione, you have a boy in her head?"
"Well, yes, Mum, I suppose that is how it is." She looked at Ron who was still holding her hand.
"Oh my," Dawn said. "I wasn't prepared to have this stage start already. I wasn't expecting it until you hit your teens."
Hermione blushed at what her mum had said. It's not like that, she said to Ron. Why can't they see that!
It's ok Hermione, Ron said soothingly, they don't understand this any more than we do and it scares them. They're our parents and they worry.
Hermione had never known Ron to be wise, not that she had known him for long, but with what Ginny had said about her brother, she was a bit surprised to hear him sound so sure. I just don't want us to be separated from each other. I mean, we finally have our other half and then they yell at us like that and it scares me.
Ron pulled Hermione close. Dumbledore saw them and smiled slightly. Molly seemed oblivious; all her attention was focused on Ginny.
"Wait! So Ginny YOU HAVE A BOY IN YOUR HEAD!" Mrs. Weasley yelled at Ginny. "That is improper!" she looked at Dumbledore, "You have to find a way to make it go away, Albus! I'll not have my daughter labeled as a scarlet woman!"
"Molly," Dumbledore looked at her, "I'm afraid I have no power over this. The Fates have deemed it to be this way. Gortox did as he was told to, sorting them together. He cannot change that nor could he not have done it."
Ginny, by now was very upset. "Why is it ok for Ron to have a GIRL in his head but I can't have a boy in mine!" she yelled at her mum. "It's the same thing! So why am I getting yelled at! We can't change this and we DON'T WANT TO!" By now Ginny was standing. She was really upset and Harry had to stand just to get her to calm down. He pulled her into a hug and sat down with her in his lap.
It's ok, Ginny, he said over and over again. It's ok.
Ginny sobbed quietly into Harry's chest. She hated crying but she couldn't stop. Why can't they understand? You're apart of me now and they need to see that. They can't do anything about it. I know we haven't known each other very long, Harry but it seems I've known you forever.
I know, Ginny, I feel the same way. Harry's arms tightened around her.
Molly had stopped yelling when she saw or rather heard Ginny shouting. She was now watching her daughter sob into Harry's chest. They are just friends, she told herself. Just friends. Oh but she's always come to me for comfort!
Dawn was thinking along the same lines about her daughter and only child. She couldn't believe that this was happening. They had just gotten the shock that Hermione was a witch and now this. It was indeed a surprise. However, she seemed to understand that it was important. She knew her daughter had always been a bit off as a young girl. She now seemed much fuller then she was. Dawn, for one, was glad.
"Well, Albus, what happens now?" Dawn asked.
Molly looked up at Dawn and her children. Just then she realized that Ron was holding Hermione just like Harry was holding Ginny. Ron, who was so thickheaded and a wise crack, to be holding Hermione and being sentimental, it was all too much for Molly. She burst into tears again.
Ginny got up out of Harry's arms to try and comfort her mother. Even though Ginny knew her why her mother was upset and was going to try and comfort her didn't mean she wasn't still upset.
"Mum? Don't cry." Ginny gave her a hug. "I know you don't like this, but we are growing up. You have to understand, Mum; we're not five any more. Though we always will be your babies." Ginny sniffled and so did Molly. "We do love you, Mum. Always and forever." Molly looked up at her daughter and gave her a watery smile.
"I know, dear, it's just a lot to take in at once." Molly murmured sadly. "You're all growing up so fast." Ron got up from his chair and Hermione went over to her mum. Ron came over and gave Molly and Ginny a big hug. Arthur got up and they had a big group hug. Hermione went to hug her parents too.
Harry sat down and watched the scene unfold. He was glad they had finally come to terms, but Harry was still a bit sad. He didn't know what it was like to have a family or to be apart of one and he felt somewhat out of place. As he watched Ginny and her family hug and whisper to each other, he wondered if some day he would have a family like that. He looked over at Hermione and her family. Harry had an awful feeling he would never have what they had.
Ginny, who was whispering and laughing with her family, felt Harry's pain. She looked up at him and saw him staring at his hands. That's when it hit her. Harry had no concept of family and he has no one here. Ginny felt like a selfish idiot. She pulled away from her family and rushed over to Harry. She plopped into his lap and gave him the biggest hug ever.
And so she held onto Harry, who had been surprised when Ginny sat down on his lap, but welcomed the warmth, with all her strength and promised him that she would be his family. He was never to doubt it. Harry smiled a small smile and hugged Ginny back. Then both Weasley's and the Granger's came over and enveloped Harry and Ginny in a big group hug. It was nice, the nicest thing Harry had ever felt.
Dumbledore watched the events that unfolded and was not surprised that it all worked out. But he had one more thing to talk about with them and he wasn't sure it would bode well with Molly or even Dawn. He cleared his throat and the group broke apart.
"Sorry, Albus," Molly smiled. She still had tears in her eyes.
"It's all right, Molly." Dumbledore smiled. "We have a few more things to discuss and then the children can get off to bed for they have a long day tomorrow." He looked at the four first years, then back to their parents. "I have decided that instead of the girls sleeping in the girl's first year dormitory and the boys in the boy's first year dormitory, they will share their own." Molly looked ready to throw a fit. "Now Molly, before you get into a huff about it, hear me out." Molly looked daggers at Dumbledore but she stayed silent. "Now I think we should do this because of their special abilities. If someone were to find out about this, it could mean bad news, especially," Dumbledore looked at Harry, "for Harry."
Molly was silent. She knew what Dumbledore said was true but that didn't stop her from being upset.
"Yes, the students will raise questions about them sharing, but I have already had a room prepared and have had special wards in tacked in the room. They will have their own bathroom and can only and I put emphasis on only, change in the bathroom. The wards allow no different. There are four beds and nightstands and they have a small common room area. The reason I am doing this is not only for their protection but also because I want them to be able to practice their abilities and find out whatever others they might have. This is important so we know what can hurt them or hurt others but with out doing so and so they can insure absolute privacy while doing it." He looked at the children. They seemed calm about this, which he supposed was normal. Molly looked ready to burst. "Does this work for everyone?"
"I WILL NOT ALLOW MY DAUGHTER OR MY SON TO-TO SHARE A ROOM WITH BOYS AND GIRLS A LIKE!" she shouted. Arthur looked at Molly and sighed. He stood up and pulled her over to him. He whispered to her for five minutes before she looked at Dumbledore.
"Alright, Albus." she sighed.
"Well now that's settled," Dumbledore looked at McGonagall. "Can you please show the students to their room? They have a long day tomorrow."
McGonagall nodded her head and the four children hugged their parents and with whispered words disappeared out the door with McGonagall.
"You will watch them, Albus!" Molly said sternly.
"Yes, Molly I will."
Molly and Arthur stood up and said goodbye to the Grangers and then left through the door. The Grangers said goodbye to Dumbledore and they also left.
Albus Dumbledore sighed, it was going to be a long year, he thought.