Oath Of Devotion

Chapter 3

Disclaimer: Alright, I own nothing. All belongs to J.K. Rowling.

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Lamplight flickered off the wet pavement as Harry stood looking at the tavern in front of him. He released a deep breath he didn't know he was holding and stepped up to the front doors. Over the archway was an ancient sign that read Leaky Cauldron. Before he could touch the door handle, it flew open releasing a warm gale of light and smell. The air was suddenly filled with deep laughter and a high pitched sequel of a woman and the deep throaty laughter of men. Out of the lighted archway stepped a portly little man in purple bowler cap. After a second glance Harry knew this man as non-other then Cornelius fudge, Minister of magic. Harry clenched his jaw, he did nothing wrong it was accidental magic. Many things flew through his mind at that moment like 'Was he to be expelled? Did it matter that the fat cow deserved it? Who still wears a bowler cap?'

"Harry, my boy. There you are!" Said the little man in a jovial voice. "Glad to see the Knight Bus picked you up dear boy, look at you! You look like a boy that could eat let us step inside the leaky cauldron." Harry felt a slight shove which brought him out of his angry musing. A tall lean man in a black tuxedo again pushed him toward the minister. Minister Fudge then gave him another gentle shove toward the arch way. Harry found himself steered toward the counter of the pub. The place looked busy as patrons seemed to be spilling out of the booths and onto the floor.

"A private parlor if you would Tom. Don't worry Harry I had all your things brought in and will have a room set up for you." Harry turned to see two people carrying his heavy trunk up a set of stairs. A small pink haired girl with a cute heart shaped face, and a scary looking large black guy with arm muscles the size of himself. He felt the Minster apply a little more pressure into his shoulder to get his attention. "This way, dear boy." he found himself leaded into a small side room. A fire busted to life as they entered, Harry hoped it would help warm him after all he was soaked to the bone. "my dear boy, you look cold here take the chair by the fire." spoke Minster Fudge who shoved Harry into the large red chair closest in front of the fire. Harry brows clenched tighter, he hated to be manhandled. But, if this could get him out of expulsion from Hogwarts, then he would keep his trap closed.

"You probably were wondering who I am, I am Cornelius Fudge." With a slight pause he continued "Minister of Magic." With a fatherly smile Cornelius spoke again "You had us worried my dear boy. But, fret not I personal have my best wizards working on your accidental blow-up." Fudge buttered a crumpet and passed it over to Harry. "You should eat something Harry, I promised your Aunt I would see you well cared for. Now were was I, Ah yes, I dispatched a team to fix the lovely Miss Marjorie Dursley. Everything should as of this very moment be right as rain. Now Your relatives are as expected angry, But I got them to agree to take you back IF you stay out of their way until next summer break. That means no holidays with them, you will of course spend them at Hogwarts. I have set up a room here at the leaky cauldron for the next two weeks." Harry frowned, this man seemed to have taken over his life. With a mental laugh he thought, I can't even run away without causing problems for people.

"Sir, What about my punishment?" Harry spoke softly

"Oh, my dear child I think being away from your love ones for almost a year should be all the punishment you need." With a jolly little laugh added "We won't send you to Azkaban for a little accentual magic." Harry was about to speak again, reminding the man he was brought up on charges for a house -elf smashing a pudding. Then the door opened.

"Hope I am not interrupting Cornelius." Spoke Albus, Harry sighed the headmaster always seemed to get him out of trouble. He hoped he would get him out of this conversation.

"Albus, No of course not. I was just about to send word with one of my Aurors." Albus waved off the excuse and responded. " I am certain that was the case, but as Lady Luck happen to have me in the area and I saw Hedwig fly in to Tom the Barkeep. After a few words he was gracious enough to tell me Harry was checked in. I hope you don't mind if I spoke to Harry alone, for just a minute."

"Certainly, you are by all means his legal magical guardian."

"Yes I am. Also I hope you didn't scare the boy with useless information." Albus held the door for Minister fudge so he could exit. "Of course not!" he grunted as he removed himself from the chair. Hsrry noticed he was nervously turning his bowler cap in his hands. " No need to scare the boy. I'll see you later Harry." Fudge exited after a tilt of his cap to Harry.

Harry watched carefully, they both seemed tense and a little odd at the moment. Why was the Minster involved in this, waiting for him as well? Why was the Headmaster worried about the Minister scaring him with information?

"I see you are in one piece Harry, care to explain what happened to upset you so?" Harry stared into the headmasters eyes as he sat down in the ministers vacated spot. He started to explain, he stopped a few times to get his anger under control before he started again. But in the end he finished his story with the Headmaster coming in.

Albus slowly let his mind drift as Harry started to explain about what happen. His mind brushed Harry just briefly, not enough to violate his mind, just enough to detect truth over lies. What he found scared the one hundred and fifty seven year old Headmaster. Harry's thoughts were gone, most people were like a book set open for anyone to read. Masters in the art of the mind could open and close the book, grandmasters could even rewrite what was inside to fool someone poking around. Very few masters were alive, even fewer grandmasters of the art. Snape was the only other grandmaster he knew, other then himself. Tom was well on his way before he died. But, Harry didn't have a book, his mind seemed empty, almost dead.

"Sir?" Albus pulled himself out of his musing. " Am I in trouble?" asked Harry

"I think not Harry, While your aunt and uncle were quite adamant that you be expelled. I did reminded them that you would have to stay with them year round, and would have to pay for another school out of pocket. As per your parents' will the money is allocated to your tuition at Hogwarts whether you went there or not. You Uncle seemed to come to his senses and will welcome you back after the school year." Albus stood up and offered his arm to Harry, "Now I believe the Weasleys have been most insistent that I bring you to see Guinevere." Seeing the scared look on Harry's face Albus added. "I agree with them, one should be with their loved ones at such unsettling times. And Harry, The Weasley would of come and gotten you if I didn't promise I would bring you tonight." Harry smiled despite himself as he thought of the weasley boys out side his window with a flying car.

XZC

Harry stirred in his seat. The weight of disconsolate souls, lay heavy on the occupancy of room 305c. The room had one twin bead with pink sheets and covers, in them a pale sleeping girl, four white chairs, and a long worn-out black leather couch. The floor was surprisingly worse looking with its vibrant orange and sun browned tiles. The decor almost made one vomit.

Harry tried to shack off the heaviness of his eye lids, his lack of sleep finally catching up with him. No one was speaking to him, or anyone else for that matter. No one has spoken since his arrival yesterday, and then only enough to thanks him for coming to support the family in their greatest time of need. He would of felt slighted if Molly hadn't grabbed him and hasn't left go since his arrival. His stomach clenched with worry as he turned to look at Ginny, she has yet to waken.

Her milky skin glowed and her straight red silky hair shined under the hospital lights, she looked like a marble statue. He was vaguely aware of the blush that inadvertently came to his cheeks as thoughts of sleeping beauty came to the forefront of his mind. Thoughts of their conversation at Hogwarts were she asked him to be her Prince Charming, to kiss her if she fell into such a sleep as she was in now. Harry shock his head to ward of such inappropriate thought, what would Arthur and Molly think. He looked at them, sitting and watching their youngest child slowly slip away from the living. They have been like parents to him. How could he think such things about someone who is like a sister to him.

Harry watched as Arthur reached out and slowly whipped the sweat that had beaded on Ginny's forehead. He watched as Molly moved away from him to comfort her husband as sobs once again overtook him. The once strong Wesley head, crushed. Harry slowly whipped tears from his face.

Harry turned when the door opened, hoping one of the other children have returned , being sent home to wash and make sandwiches. It was Mary the floor nurse, also the woman who has been asking for a picture Harry thought angrily. "Doctor Keen will speak with you know" said the nurse with a small smile fling his way. He sat up, his back growling, in the uncomfortable hospital chair as Arthur and Molly got up to leave. Doctor keen said he would speak with them today about allowing Ginny to be moved back to the Borrow. Harry felt guilt overwhelm him as he wondered if he would be allowed to go, home. With no one around to watch the young hero, he allowed his tears to fall. " So much for taking command of my life" he whispered.

Sleep finally took him after his checks were stained with tears of loss.

XZC

"Why do you cry?" asked Ginny her voice low, intimidating.

Harry gave no response, just continued staring forward at the prone girl in the hospital bed, his eyes flat, his face expressionless. "Now what would make someone like you cry?" asked Ginny again.

Turning in his chair Harry's cold gaze shifted from the world's sweet loving elbow in the butter dish Ginny, forever asleep, to the Ginny of his nightmares, fucked up bitch who tortures him almost nightly while he sleeps. "Go to hell" he spoke in a soft dead voice.

Flipping her hair over he shoulder Ginny moved to the hospital bed. "What is wrong with her?" he voice was low, almost kind. He moved to stand next to her, to both of them. "She is dying, the doctors say her core is slowly leaking and when it empties out she will die."

Ginny watched him closely his voice was not of a thirteen year, but of someone who has lost everything in this world, of someone who has seen to much pain, someone like her. "This is why you cry?"

"Yes" he spoke

silence engulfed them.

"Are you her?" harry asked

Ginny frowned "No wizard, I am no mortal."

"Then why do you look like her?"

Harry watched as her face shifted from one emotion to another until she spoke. "Why would you ask me? It is your mind that chose this image for me."

silence engulfed them again.

"Wizard, why don't you just heal her?" Ginny paused, giving him time to respond. Silence. "Do you not care for her?"

"Yes" he roared, his voice trembling. "Don't you think I would if I could, I would give my life, my magic to see her smile again. She deserves to live, she has a family who cars for her." his voice dropped off to a whisper. " I would give it all for who would miss me?"

"Then why don't you?"

She watch, waiting for a response. Her anger surged within her until she saw a single tear drop. She watched it slowly roll down the sleeping girls cheek and land on her pillow. Then Harry spoke the vow he gave in the chamber. She was shocked when he turned toward her with his face covered with tears. " How?"

She watched him closely, maybe she could use this to be free. If he over extended himself he would die.

"Here is what you need to do." she spoke trying to keep the gleam from her eye.