Chapter 9
Secrets Revealed Redux, Part 3

Author's Note: So the rest of the discussions with everyone regarding secrets of the future and stuff got a little long. So I decided only that this chapter will be only be more discussions, and the story will continue next chapter.

Saturday, July 8th, 1995

Harry and Ginny were still cuddling on the sofa when Bill and Percy made their way into the room. Ginny's brothers stared at them for a moment, before clearing their throats and sitting in two chairs.

"So?" Ginny asked, "What do you want to know?"

"First off," Percy said, "I want you to explain why you kept this from us for this long. We're your family, Ginny!"

Harry sensed through the mind-link, that Ginny was about to explode. He knew she wanted nothing more to rant to anyone about that fact that she was not the daughter or sister her family thought she was. Harry gripped her hand and he felt her calm down measurably.

"We told you," Ginny said, "We couldn't risk it."

"So you knew about the Death Eater attack at the Quidditch World Cup?" Percy asked. "You lied to us about that. You told us there wasn't any chance of a Death Eater attack."

"We couldn't!" Ginny said.

"People died, Ginevra!" Percy said, "People who wouldn't have died if you had warned somebody!"

"Sirius already knew about it," Harry said. "He had more security there than last time. It was a quicker response this time."

"And still people died," Percy said, "People who could have –"

"I get it," Ginny said. "You saw Penelope Clearwater somewhere in our memories? Somewhere past the point that she had died in this timeline?"

Percy frowned, and his eyes watered. Harry knew he still wasn't over Penelope's death.

"I'm sorry about Penelope, Percy," Ginny said. "As you saw, the Dementor attack never happened to us, not in that way. We didn't know it was going to happen."

"Exactly," Harry said. "We've lied to a lot of people in these past four years. You and the rest of your family – except Ron – yes, we've lied. Believe me when I say it was some of the most difficult decisions we've ever made. But you saw what happened during the Battle of Hogwarts. Fred died!"

Percy turned away from Harry and Ginny, and stared at a wall.

"When we found out we had come back in time," Harry said, "We were discussing all about how we were going to rid the world of Voldemort the night he returned. We were going to save everyone who died. Fred, Sirius, Remus, Tonks – Dumbledore. But as you can see, Dumbledore and Snape are dead. We couldn't save them. Susan's parents, Penelope Clearwater, Daphne Greengrass, all of whom were alive when we came back in time – they've died in this – reality, I guess. We can't save everyone."

"No, you just try to save those whom mean the most to you," Percy said.

"How dare you?!" Ginny growled, standing up, "How many times do I have to say it. I'm sorry about Penelope!"

"Alright, everyone calm down!" Bill said, standing up.

The room went silent. Ginny sighed and sat back down. Harry wrapped an arm around her, and she leaned into him.

"Percy," Bill said, "Ginny's right. She and Harry couldn't have saved everyone. I agree with you, and probably with a few people out there right now – Ginny and Harry should have told us sooner. They probably should have told us all the day our family learned about their Bond. They definitely should have told us after the Death Eaters attacked the Quidditch World Cup, or possibly when Lucius Malfoy went on a rampage, or when Harry was put into the Tournament. But they didn't."

Percy stood up and moved to make his way out of the room. He brushed past Bill, who was blocking him. Then Harry stood up.

"Where are you going?" Harry asked.

"I'm leaving," Percy said, walking past Harry.

"Ah, I thought so," Harry said. "I thought you had changed Percy. I thought you were different from the old Percy I knew. He left! He left his family for three years! Even though he knew he was wrong! Even when he realized his family was telling the truth – that Voldemort had returned!"

Percy froze in the archway between the sitting room and kitchen.

"Yeah," Harry said, "You saw it, didn't you? You saw it all in the Pensieve. I bet you even told yourself as you watched him. You said to yourself 'I am not him' –"

"I'm not," Percy said.

"You're not?" Harry asked. "It was about this time in the last timeline when he left."

"A couple weeks from now," Ginny said.

"Oh, you see," Harry said, pointing at his Bond-mate, while still looking at Percy, "You broke his record. Or you will if you do what I think you're going to do."

Percy finally turned back around, but didn't move from his spot. He only stared at Harry, eyes narrowed, a frown crossing his lips.

"Now those gears are grinding in that mind," Harry said, "I used to wonder why you were chosen to be a Gryffindor. Why not a Ravenclaw? You're smart, almost as smart as Hermione. Then I realized. It was because all your family, your parents – your older brothers – all of them had been in Gryffindor.. Your younger siblings were a sure-shot in Gryffindor. You wanted to be like them. You found yourself so... different from all of them. This was your way to be one of the family. Be a Gryffindor. You value family, Percy, don't you? And yet, you want to leave them? All because you can't handle secrets being kept from you? I thought you were on a different path the day I learned you were going to be an Auror. I thought – that is the Percy I wish I knew when he was that age. He's brave. He wants to fight for those he lost. This is why the Sorting Hat put him in Gryffindor."

Harry stopped then, and stared at Percy, wondering if any of the message he said had gotten through. Then there was a scream coming from outside. But it was not a pained scream, or one of horror. It was a happy, cheerful kind.

"Mum?!" Percy asked. "Are you okay?"

"She's fine," Ginny said, "She just heard some good news."

"What good news?" Percy asked.

"You're an Uncle, Percy," Harry said, "But if you don't want to stick around, I guess you don't need to meet Charlie's daughter. I'm sure he'll be bringing her around sometime now that your parents know."

Percy's eyebrows raised. One of Bill's eyes twitched, as his jaw dropped.

"Charlie?" Bill asked, "He – he has a -"

"Yeah," Ginny said, "That was basically my response."

"Are you sticking around, Percy?" Harry asked.

Percy wiped a hand across his face, and Harry knew he had been on the verge of crying – whether it was from Harry's speech or this news about Charlie, he did not know. Percy nodded.

"I'm not him," he said.

Then he walked out of the house, presumably to find Charlie.

Harry and Ginny exchanged a look, then turned to Bill.

"So... is there anything you want to know?" Ginny asked.

"I saw a ring on Fleur's finger," Bill said, "And my own. And Shell Cottage, the one that had once belonged to Aunt Muriel. I'm guessing -"

"Damn," Ginny said, "We were trying our best to keep big family events out of there. We forgot the little things. You guessed right. Hold onto her, Bill."

Bill gulped and nodded. "I'm just going to go yell at my brother."

"Percy?" Harry asked.

"Charlie," Bill said, "We never keep secrets from each other."

"Seems to be going around lately, huh," Ginny said.

Bill smiled and walked out of the house. Ginny stood and wrapped her arms around Harry, hugging him.

"Thank you," Ginny said, "For making Percy see reason."

"I'm not entirely sure I did, Ginny," Harry said, "I think he was still going to leave until he heard the news about Charlie."

"It was still a hell of a speech," Ginny said.

Harry smiled, and Ginny leaned toward him and kissed him. Before Harry could lengthen the kiss, there was the sound of someone clearing their throat. Ginny backed away from Harry and they looked and saw Mr. and Mrs. Weasley standing there. Mrs. Weasley had tears brimming in her eyes.

"How about we all sit down?" Mr. Weasley asked.

"Sure," Harry said. "Do you want the couch?"

"We're fine," Mr. Weasley said; he took his favorite rocking chair, and Mrs. Weasley sat in one of the other chairs near her husband.

"So, Charlie, huh?" Ginny asked, as she and Harry returned to the couch.

Mrs. Weasley chuckled. "A grandmother. I just can't believe it!"

"Did you know?" Mr. Weasley asked.

"Not until he told us earlier," Ginny said. "He thought we knew already. He thought we knew about Hope in the future. We didn't. We made him tell us about her, and then we made him tell you."

"Thank you," Mrs. Weasley said. "While we're on that subject – did you two – you know – have children?"

"Merlin, no!" Ginny said, chuckling, as Harry shook his head, "I was nineteen, M-Mum. I wasn't ready."

"She was a part of the Holyhead Harpies Professional Quidditch team," Harry said, "A reserve, but I think she would have been much more – world famous even -"

"Harry!" Ginny said, blushing pink.

"No arguments," Harry said, "You know you would have been."

"Anyway, I wanted to be a part of the league for a few years," Ginny said. "We had agreed to wait three or four years before we thought of children."

"Were there any other grandbabies?" Mrs. Weasley asked.

"Oh, come now," Ginny said, "Do you really want to know that? It would ruin the surprise for later!"

Mrs. Weasley chuckled tearfully and shook her head. "I suppose not. Hope will do for now."

"Ginny," Mr. Weasley said, "I want you to be perfectly honest with us. I know you told us that you were keeping these secrets from us because you wanted to protect us. That you believed you had your own mission you were on."

"We did have a mission," Ginny said.

"I realize that," Mr. Weasley said. "But I still see in your eyes that there is another reason."

Ginny sighed and leaned into Harry. He realized she needed comfort, for what she was about to say.

"I thought you would hate me," Ginny said. "A part of me wanted to tell you. I did. I wanted to tell you when you learned about our Bond. But you, Mum, you more than Dad, you were so upset about the Bond. I didn't want to see you even more upset. I was well aware that if we told you, you would have realized a lot of things. For example, why I wanted to live with Harry. Potter Manor is my home. I feel nineteen. I'm no longer this little girl. The Burrow isn't my home anymore. And I'm sorry. I wish that wasn't true. I know you want that little girl back. But I told you... I'm not that little girl."

"You're wrong," Mrs. Weasley said.

"I'm not," Ginny said, "Mum, I am about to get officially married again! At fourteen! When I was really fourteen, I had a boyfriend who wasn't Harry. I was so deep in denial that I was in love with Harry that I was trying to force myself to love another boy. But I couldn't. But I had to live with that secret fancy, because Harry hadn't been attracted to me yet. And here I am about to get married."

"Ginny, you're still our daughter," Mr. Weasley said.

"Dad," Ginny said, "I'm -"

"You're not?" Mr. Weasley asked, "Then why do you call me Dad. Why do you call her Mum?"

Ginny gasped. Then she sniffled and leaned into Harry's shirt and cried against him.

"I'm sorry, sweetheart," Mr. Weasley said, "I didn't mean to make it sound so harsh."

Ginny backed away and wiped the tears from her eyes. She sighed and looked at Harry, then back to Mr. and Mrs. Weasley.

"Recently we learned we're in what is known as an alternate reality," Ginny said, "We didn't change anything about the reality we came from. Sirius, Remus, Tonks, they're still dead. And so is... Fred. And... the battle in the Ministry, the battle that ended with Harry and I coming back in time. We also learned that my Dad... died."

Harry looked up at Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. Mrs. Weasley was on the verge of tears again, and she was looking at her husband, as if making sure he was still there. Mr. Weasley looked a bit pale again.

"Ever since we learned about all that," Ginny said, "I've been thinking about it a lot. I've even tried to keep these thoughts from Harry. We didn't change anything. They're all still dead. In our reality, Harry and I – we're dead too, or that is what they think. I'm never going to see them again. I'm trying to look past that. The same way Harry can look at Sirius and still see him as his godfather, instead of the man who had been dead to him for years."

Harry frowned. It was harsh but she was correct.

"So yes, I call you Dad and Mum," Ginny said, "I call the boys out there my brothers. But only so I don't go insane with thinking I'm never going to see my family again."

"Then isn't fair for us to see you as our daughter?" Mrs. Weasley asked. "I don't blame you for taking away our Ginny. I can't. You didn't do it deliberately. So... to me, to your father, to everyone else, you're our Ginny."

She's right, Ginny, Harry said, You wouldn't want them to go insane with thinking they're never going to see their daughter again, do you?

Ginny frowned. "Alright. That's fine with me. Can we talk about something else, please?"

"Why do you want to get married on your birthday, Ginny?" Mrs. Weasley asked. "Why not wait until next summer?"

"We're getting married out of respect for you," Ginny said. "When I turn fourteen, our Bond will heighten. It will force us to... become intimate."

Mrs. Weasley gasped. "Oh, sweetheart. I wondered, I feared, that this would happen before too long. I had just hoped – it forces you – at fourteen?"

"Yes," Ginny said. "It is fine, Mum. In my mind, I'm not really fourteen, you know. I'm experienced this before."

Mrs. Weasley frowned, and a pink tinge invaded her cheeks. After a few moments, she nodded.

"Alright, dear," she said, "The wedding is on."

"Thanks," Ginny said, "We'll discuss it more later. We have a few plans already."

"I think it is best as well if we leave that discussion for later," Mr. Weasley said, "I am sure there are others who wish to speak to you."

Mrs. Weasley nodded. "I wouldn't want to keep them away."

"There's nothing else you want to know?" Ginny asked.

"There are several things we'd like to know," Mr. Weasley said, then smiled, "However, Voldemort is dead. It is very likely most of what we've seen in your Pensieve will not happen. There are still Death Eaters out there. This war is not over. We all know that. But, even then. It won't be as bad as it was from your memories. I assume the only things you didn't show us had to do with personal things, such as the future of our family. So, it is as you said – if you told us too much, it would ruin the surprise."

Ginny chuckled. "Alright. But if you think of anything, just ask. I feel a huge weight from my shoulders now that we can tell you stuff."

"I promise," Mr. Weasley said.

Ginny smiled, stood and walked over to her parents. They stood up, and Ginny hugged both of them.

"Thank you," she said, "Thank you for not reacting too harshly to all of this. I know today has been very difficult."

"It is true," Mr. Weasley said, "But we're a family. All of us. We'll get through it."

Mrs. Weasley broke apart from her husband and daughter and walked over to Harry. Harry stood, and Mrs. Weasley hugged him.

"Thank you," she said, "For everything you've done. You've had a rough life, you didn't need to go through it again. But you did."

"Thanks, Mrs. Weasley," Harry said.

"Dear, it is Mum," Mrs. Weasley said, "I will never, and could never, replace what dear Lily could have been to you, but I will do what I can."

"Alright," Harry said, "Thanks... Mum."

Mrs. Weasley chuckled wetly against Harry, then backed up, as new tears formed in her eyes.

"Come, dear," Mr. Weasley said, "We shouldn't keep the others from their time with Ginny and Harry."

Mrs. Weasley nodded, and joined her husband, then walked out of the room. Ginny wiped her face and walked back over to Harry.

"That was easier than I thought," she said, "Harry, I'm sorry I've kept those thoughts from you. I'm sorry I said that about Sirius -"

"It's alright," Harry said, "You're right, somehow. I'm just... stronger than you. Ow!"

Ginny had punched him on the arm.

"Only in some ways!" Harry said.

"Prat," Ginny said, and pecked him on the lips.

Once again, the sound of someone clearing their throat was heard before Harry could lengthen the kiss. Ron, Hermione, Susan, Neville and Luna had returned.

"Alright," Harry said, "I think we should all sit down."

Harry and Ginny took the couch, while their friends took various spots in chairs and on the floor. Harry was rather amused to find that Hermione was sitting on Ron's lap in a chair.

"Hermione wanted to punch you, Harry," Ron said, "I'm doing my best to stop her."

"Ron!" Hermione growled, then looked at Harry, "I did not. I promise."

"Uh-huh," Harry said.

"You have kept a lot of stuff from us, Harry," Hermione said, "If I did want to punch you, you would have deserved it."

"Let it out then," Harry said, "All of you. What do you want to know?"

"One rule, though," Ginny said. "We won't tell you anything that might affect the future."

"I got one," Ron said, "It's been bugging me for a little while now. Did he – my other self, you know – did he really think you were in love with Hermione?"

Hermione blushed furiously, and Harry cleared his throat.

"What you have to understand about that," Harry said, "is this – the alternate versions of the two of you, Ron and Hermione – utterly oblivious to each other's romantic feelings about one another for what seemed like an eternity!"

Susan, Neville and Luna all snickered.

"Sounds kind of familiar," Neville said.

"Oi!" Ron said. "I'm not that bad!"

"But you could have been," Susan said, "We all saw it."

"Yeah, you saw it," Harry said, "Or most of it. It was pretty bad – and they were both at fault. If Ron had stepped up and asked Hermione right away to go to the Ball, they could have saved us all a bunch of grief."

"So that is why you prodded Ron to ask me," Hermione said.

"I didn't know he was going to ask you," Harry said.

"Yes you did," Ron said.

"I hoped!" Harry said. "But I wasn't sure. Anyway, because he didn't ask her. She went with Viktor Krum. Mind you, this was the real Krum. Duck-footed, not evil but still a git."

Ginny snickered.

"They went on one date," Harry said, "But Hermione and Krum remained friends. They would hang out together when she wasn't hanging out with me and Ron. Then Krum asked her to write to him. And they became pen-pals. Only, Ron believed it was more than pen-pals, and Hermione wouldn't tell him the truth, that they were pen-pals, and nothing more. So there was more fighting, which led to more denial. But you see, Krum had kissed Hermione at the end of the Yule Ball. And Ron found out about that a bit too late. Like... nearly two years too late. And... Ginny? This is where you come in."

"As you saw," Ginny said, "I was dating Dean at the time. Ron caught me kissing Dean once in one of the corridors and got annoyed. So in my rage, I told him he was jealous because he'd never kissed nothing more than Auntie Muriel."

"You didn't!" Ron gasped.

"I did," Ginny said, "I regret it now, because as you saw, Ron and Lavender Brown became a couple. Just so Ron could prove he could kiss someone. Just like Hermione did. We all knew he was just trying to make Hermione jealous. Hermione just seemed to think, as smart as she is, that he was just annoying her."

"Ron and Lavender broke up later, and Ron and Hermione were still friends," Harry said, "Only friends. Cue our hunt for the Horcruxes. The locket. Well, you saw it. We wore it, and it played with our emotions. It got Ron the worst. And... it all blew up. Hermione started focusing on the hunt a lot, and of course so was I. There were times when we would discuss it for hours. Only..."

"Ron thought the two of you were snogging," Luna said. "And maybe even -"

"Thank you, Luna!" Harry interrupted.

Ron and Hermione blushed deep red. Harry thought Ginny might retaliate some way, but she just ended up snickering.

"Yes, that is probably what he thought," Harry said. "Because that bloody locket made him think it. And... well... you saw our argument. He left, Hermione stayed behind."

"She could have left with him," Hermione said, "But she knew she needed to stay and help you with hunting for the Horcruxes."

"I don't know if that was a mistake or not," Harry said, "Hermione was in no condition after Ron left. She was depressed."

"I don't blame her," Hermione said, "If that ever happened to me -"

"It won't," Ron said, "I promise."

Hermione smiled and pecked him on the lips.

"So does that answer your question, Ron?" Harry asked.

"Yes," Ron said, "He was an idiot. Thanks, mate, for telling me about the Yule Ball early."

"You're welcome," Harry said, "Believe me. Anyone else?"

"Dumbledore's Army," Susan said, "I know you created it because of that bitch Umbridge. But – do you think we could create it again? Even with Remus returning."

"We could," Ginny said, "There are still Death Eaters out there. There could still be a war coming, even without Voldemort. We'll discuss it later. We have too much going on right now."

"I understand," Susan said, "It just seems fun."

"It was, definitely," Ginny said, "It sure helped a lot of people."

"My parents," Neville said, "They never did recover, did they?"

"No, Neville," Ginny said, "I'm sorry."

"It's alright," Neville said, shrugging.

"What about you, Luna?" Ginny asked, "Anything?"

"No," Luna said, shaking her head. "Besides, everything we saw, it doesn't have to happen like that. And it won't happen like that. Voldemort is dead. The future is already changing."

Harry saw a look in Luna's eyes, and knew she might not have been telling the truth.

I see that too, Ginny said. We should talk to her in private.

"Any other questions?" Harry asked.

"I have one," Hermione said, "I wasn't sure I wanted to ask. But I need to know. My parents. My other self, she said – she wiped their memories."

"She sent her parents to Australia," Harry said, "Good thing too, because she said they found the house ransacked after she and Ron brought them back from Australia with their memories restored."

Hermione nodded. "It is good to know that somewhere they have a good life."

"I'm sorry, Hermione," Harry said, "If I had known -"

"You didn't," Hermione said. "None of us could have known. I don't blame you. Umbridge is in Azkaban, where she needs to be. She won't be hurting anymore Muggleborn or Muggles. As much as I wish I could see my parents, it was that sacrifice that saved a bunch of other people. I'm okay now. I can move on. I'll never forget them, but I can live my life."

Ron hugged Hermione, comforting her. Harry smiled.

"Is that all the questions?" Ginny asked.

"It is like Luna said, isn't it?" Neville said, "We've changed the future. Anything that happened then, it might not happen now. You told us that when you first told us your secrets."

Harry nodded. "Alright. Let's go outside, eh?"

Their friends agreed. Susan, Ron, and Hermione made their way outside, but Luna lagged behind.

"Go on, Neville," Luna said, "I need to talk to Harry and Ginny about something."

Neville raised his eyebrows in question, then shrugged and followed his friends outside. Luna turned back to Harry and Ginny.

"What's wrong, Luna?" Ginny asked.

"I know you asked us to ask you nothing about the future that could do some serious changes," Luna said, "I know that. I understand why. But I need to know. My other self – were she and Neville romantically involved?"

Harry looked at Ginny. I don't know what to tell her. She's an Aura reader. If she's anything like Bill, she knows when people are lying.

We can tell her, Harry.

Harry nodded, then looked at Luna. "Neville was engaged to Hannah Abbot at the time we fell into that pool. We – err – learned that after the fact, he had been cursed during the battle, and was in a coma for two years. Hannah was pretty worse off because of it. She tried to kill herself. Neville woke up, and he and Hannah married. Hannah became pregnant after a year of trying, and they had a daughter. Hannah died during childbirth, and all we know is Neville was with his daughter, but he looked depressed."

Luna nodded. She was very dry-eyed, but she did not have a dreamy stare.

"Do you know if the other Luna found someone?" she asked.

"We don't know," Ginny said.

"It is safe to say she did then," Luna said. "She found someone and married, and had children. Neville's daughter, my children... little souls that may never exist if things go differently."

"What are you saying, Luna?" Ginny asked, "Are you going to break it off with Neville, because of Hannah?"

"I don't know," Luna said. "I have to think about it. Do I sacrifice those little souls for my love, or the other way around? It is a hard choice to make. Maybe I am too young to make it right now. Neville needs me right now. I saw how he was through most of Hogwarts in that Pensieve. Unsure of himself, lacking the willpower and self-respect to do well in school, and well in magic. I can't do that to him. Not right now. Thank you, Harry, Ginny. I must go to Neville now."

Luna smiled, turned around and skipped out the door.

"I do believe that was the saddest thing I have ever heard," Ginny said.

"It ranks up there," Harry said. "Do you really think she'll break it off with Neville."

"I don't know," Ginny said, "She's a strange girl. But she is also one of the smartest girls I've ever known. Even smarter than Hermione in some ways. I just don't know where her mind will take her."

Harry nodded. He took her hand, but before he could lead her back outside, she pulled him back to her.

"You owe me a kiss," she said, "and if anyone interrupts us again, I am cursing them."

Harry grinned, and kissed her.

Nobody interrupted them for a few minutes.

Decided to end it there! I know, I could have had more stuff happen, but it can wait until next chapter.

I am aware some of you probably wanted them to talk to Remus, Sirius, Tonks and even Amelia. But I just couldn't figure out a discussion for them. If ideas come for questions later, I'll put them in somewhere.

I did not want to discuss anything about the future when it came to marriages and kids, and stuff like that. But then Luna decided she wanted to be her own character even out of my writing, and things got depressing. This is why you don't discuss stuff like that! Especially with Luna! I am sure you're wondering where I will go with Neville and Luna. I have some ideas for a storyline for them sparking from the scene in this chapter. I might even do it. You may hate me for it, but I promise it will all work out in the end.

Next chapter: Everyone meets Hope. Tonks talks to Charlie. And the Animagus training begins! And more! The wedding will come in less than five chapters! I promise!

Hope you enjoyed this chapter!