Harry's Future, Part 16
The swirling gray mist surrounded Harry like weightless wool. He knew he was dreaming but he couldn't figure out what he was dreaming about. He had no way of knowing in what direction he was facing or which way was up. He tried to push the mist aside but it simply flowed around his hands in indiscernible patterns. Odd sounds drifted through the strange fog. Muffled voices, mixed with low growls, waxed and waned and bounced around the grayness until they sounded as if they were all around him. Harry was getting annoyed with the growing incoherence of the dream, a dream he should have been able to control after all the work he had done with Dr. Medford and his visualization techniques.
As his annoyance increased the grayness began to take on a pale red tinge. Somewhere in the distance a deep, barely audible rumble began. Harry strained to see through the fog and as if the rumble had started a panic in whoever or whatever else was out there the babble rose in volume.
"Shut up, shut up, shut up," Harry thought to himself as he tried to figure out what was out there.
He could feel the anger welling up from deep inside. The fog was getting redder, not unlike the evening clouds had looked that day outside of Hogwarts when he had spoken to Firenze. The rumble was getter louder or closer or both and the panicky voices were now screaming in fear. Harry reached for his wand and couldn't find it as a ball of bright orange flared in front of him. In desperation Harry threw up his right hand like he did when he saved Ginny after she went adrift from the Firebolt. As he was preparing to unleash a spell, drawing in his will, he was jostled and heard his name called. He shook his head angrily and tried again as another bright orange plume flared towards him. This time he was shaken so hard he lost his balance and his troublesome knee gave out. He fell over with a shout and the grey mist dissolved and his eyes flew open as he bolted upright in bed looking around him.
"Harry, are you alright, sweetheart?" Ginny asked from next to him.
"Oh, what? Wow, that was weird," he said as he fell back against his pillow.
He turned his head to the side and saw Ginny propped up on one elbow, looking at him with a worried look. She reached out to touch his shoulder and pulled her hand back.
"Good grief, Harry, you're burning up. Are you sick?" she asked.
"I don't think so, but that was a very strange dream. Even that bunch I had when I was in hospital made a certain sense but this one didn't make any at all," he said quietly.
"Tell me about it," Ginny said as she settled back onto her pillow and draped one arm across his chest, his skin now just warmer then usual.
So Harry began to recount the scenario that had unfolded before his minds eye, capturing all the details that he could. Ginny listened without speaking, trying to envision what he had dreamed. When he was done he turned his head and looked up at the ceiling. As he had talked to her she had been able to feel his body continue to cool off. She looked at the profile of his face, softly illuminated by the moonlight coming in through the window. Without his glasses his eyes had a slight squint. She let her hand drift up to touch his face and said,
"That was a bit of a mess. I'd think that rumbling and bright orange had something to do with a dragon. As to the other voices and noises I don't know. The gray got redder as you got more annoyed, was that right?" she said softly.
"It seemed that way but I don't know which was which. Was it getting redder because I was getting more angry or the other way around," he said, frustration plain in his voice.
Ginny didn't posses the raw brilliance of Hermione Granger or Abagail Westwood, but she was still a very bright young lady who possessed a dogged determination about anything she was interested in. It was one of the reasons she had progressed to being such a stellar Quidditch player. And there was nothing in the world in which she was more interested than her Harry, as she usually thought of him. From the very first she absorbed every detail about him that she could, at first from a distance and then as time progressed, from ever closer vantage points. At this time in their lives she could read his moods and understand his feelings simply by watching his face; the flicker of an eye, the creasing of his forehead or the way the corners of his mouth would move. Even in the dim light of early morning she read his face like a well worn book.
"How has work been going, sweetheart?" she asked.
"Hmm?" he said, caught off guard. "Oh, alright I guess. We've got the Patrollers shaping up well. The whole cooperative thing I came back with from France has got a lot of attention and Hermione has said she's starting to make some progress with what she's been trying to do," he concluded.
"What about the investigations, the smugglers, that hybrid dragon?"
"The dragon has become something of a non-issue, really. Apparently the spooks in Mysteries have that one all tied up and I doubt we'll ever find out anything unless I gather up the DA again and we raid the place," Harry said with a wry smile. "The smugglers are proving to be a bit difficult to nail down. They were all caught dead to rights with all that contraband material so they'll all go away for some time for that. But they won't give up anything about what the overall plan was or who's behind it. I'm hoping that we can get some help from the French Ministry on that but I didn't get the idea that they had much to go on. They're probably hoping the same thing as I am. I have this feeling that there's much more to it then just someone trying to get rich on bootleg magic but I can't see it and it's frustrating."
"Don't you think that may be it then, Harry? The dream I mean. You feel that something big is out there but you can't see it. All that gray fog is blocking you from seeing who and what's out there. The details are floating around but you can't pull them together and it's getting you frustrated. You believe it's big and dangerous so you picture it as a dragon in the fog closing in on you. As for the red, have you ever seen your face when your temper starts to build?" she finished with a smile.
Harry turned his head to look at her and he squinted so he could bring her more into focus although she was still mostly a blur. Not that it mattered. He smiled and said,
"You really are brilliant, you know that?"
"Please, Harry, I spent my whole seventh year chasing after you and Hermione and I came in a distant third," she replied with a laugh.
"No, you didn't. In your own way you're every bit as smart as anyone I've ever met. Perhaps in a way that's more important and it's just one of the many reasons I consider myself the luckiest person in the world," he said as he reached out and pulled her too him and they nestled against each other. With her head on his shoulder Ginny murmured in his ear,
"No luckier then any of us who have come to know you, my dear man. Certainly not any luckier then that young lady we left at Hogwarts this evening. Abagail was practically floating when I walked her back to her dorm room. How in the world did you find her that book on fixing muggle cars so quickly?"
Harry smiled as he rested his cheek against the wealth of red hair that he so cherished.
"Well, when she spent all Saturday night talking to anyone who'd listen about Dad's new Popular I knew she was hooked so I slipped away to a muggle book store that I had been in while I was researching ideas for the new arrangements for the Law Enforcement Section. I knew they were open on Sundays. They had all kinds of books on cars. She and Dad will have a great time working on that thing together this summer," he said with a little chuckle.
As she lay there against him with her eyes closed, listening to his soft laugh Ginny marveled, not for the first time and certainly not for the last, at how easily he could act so quickly to make someone else so happy despite his own worries. She lifted her head up and used her hand to turn his to face her. Their lips met in a kiss that lasted well into the early morning.
*************
By the middle of the week that followed the wonderful weekend when Abagail got to meet the extended Weasley family, and in no small way started her journey to become a member, Harry's frustrations were in no way lessened by what he was being told by his deputy and chief investigator. Both men were easily twice Harry's age but they had learned very early that he was not some figurehead not to be taken seriously. They knew his background and had seen him in action. They knew he bore scars, visible and invisible, as a result of encounters with some of the mightiest dark magic ever known, and he had won. So as he sat behind his desk in the smallish office, his brilliant green eyes boring into them from behind the round dark rimmed glasses, they felt considerable unease.
"So, we certainly have enough evidence to put every one of them into Azkaban for a pretty long time, but we can't seem to crack the code of silence. Not one of them will give a hint as to anything bigger or who was behind it all," Milligan said, his tone level but his discomfort evident in how he sat stiffly in the chair as opposed to his usual loose jointed manner. "I'm beginning to think there may not be anything there."
"Oh, no. It's there, I can feel it. Travers was part of the link. I could kick myself for not being more careful that day," Harry said irritably.
"I wouldn't recommend it, not with that leg of yours," Maxwell said straight faced.
Harry just snorted. He stared up at the ceiling and then looked back at the two older men.
"As much as I hate to say it, I may have to bring in some help that I wanted to avoid, but I'm not quite that desperate yet. Hopefully, Minister LeClerq has something to offer. When are his people due here?" Harry asked.
"This coming Monday," Maxwell repeated. "He must be really worried. His chief investigator and two others are coming."
"Ok. What's happening with that portal? Did anyone remember to write down all those symbols, from both sides?" Harry asked.
"Yes, sir. They were recorded and a copy was sent by owl to Hogwarts on Monday. I understand that the spooks downstairs are pressuring the Director to get their hands on it but he's convinced the Minister that it's still ours. My guess is that the Minister puts a great store in anything you have to say," Maxwell said with a small grin.
"Hmmm, I suspect that will start to change if we don't start coming up with some answers. Alright, thank you gentlemen. I won't make you endure my foul mood any more today," Harry said.
"Yes, sir," the two replied in unison and then left the office.
Harry returned to staring at the ceiling and he wasn't sure how long he continued to do so. He was reluctant to bring Abagail into this. Not knowing the past history of the smugglers he feared what she might see and the impact it my have on her. She had been through some very difficult times and having seen how she reacted to the fears of being alone again it gave him pause. He was pulled out of himself when he heard a knock at his door.
"Come in," he called out.
The door opened and Hermione stepped into his office. She smiled at him and gave him an appraising look.
"You have that look, Harry," she said thoughtfully.
"What look?" he asked.
"The 'something is going on and I better figure it out soon or I'm going to explode' look," she replied.
"I didn't know I had one of those looks," he said looking at her.
"Oh, yes you do. I've seen it more then a few times. Fortunately you usually figure it out before the exploding part," she said with a smile as she sat down across from him.
"The smugglers?"
"Yeah, how did you know?" he asked.
"So far it seems to be the only thing you've got going on that isn't going so well. The reorganization, the French, the wedding, Abagail, they all seem to be working out so I figured it was the only thing left."
Harry laughed about and said,
"Yeah, you're right. I seem to be surrounded by brilliantly perceptive women and lucky that I am. I was just sitting here thinking that Abagail could probably be of help but I just don't want to subject her to what she might see. I don't think it would be fair to her."
"I can understand that, Harry. She could probably be of immense help yet at what cost? A real dilemma. I wish I had an answer for you, Harry, I really do."
"I know, Hermione. So, what was it you came to see me about? Or has my foul mood spread through the building and you came to cheer me up?" he said.
"Well, I hope you are cheered by what I have to tell you. The Centaurs have requested another meeting, Harry. They have some questions to ask to help their deliberations. They asked if we could come up on Saturday. Apparently the stars seem to suggest it would be a good day to talk," she said and shrugged.
"Hmm, that's odd. I had a talk with Firenze not too long ago and he suggested that the stars weren't that specific about things. But if they think it's a good day to talk, I can manage it. Ginny has a match so that'll work. You want to meet here and then go?"
"That would be terrific, Harry. Say at nine o'clock?"
"In the lobby at nine. Wait, I have a better idea. Come to the Black house at eight. Kreacher would love to see you again and we'll talk over breakfast how we'll handle things."
"Ok, Harry," she said as she stood up. "And thank you, Harry, if I haven't already said it. I know how much of this rests on your standing with the other races."
He gave her one of his half smiles but he suppressed the usual shrug. Ginny and Fleur must have been having an effect after all.
And so it was that after an excellent breakfast on a warm and sunny Saturday morning, Harry and Hermione stepped onto the shielded porch of the Black house and with a final nod Disapparated to the spot in Hogsmeade near the memorial park. Harry looked over and promised himself he would visit after his time with the Centaurs had concluded. He and Hermione walked up to the gates of Hogwarts and saw the students starting to make their way down to Hogsmeade as Quidditch was done for the year and some pressure from preparing for exams needed to be released. It should be a profitable day for Weasleys Wizard Wheezes Harry thought. They made their way to Hagrid's hut and found their huge friend waiting for them, the nearly full grown Norbie frisking nearby. Harry noticed that while looking unchanged in most ways since they first met on his eleventh birthday there was a sprinkling of gray in his hair and beard.
"Harry, Hermione, wunnaful ta see yas. The Centaurs will meet us in the same clearing although ya do seem ta be moving better, Harry," Hagrid said with a smile.
"Not too bad, Hagrid. I tend to still carry this thing," he said waving the cane, "but it's mostly in case I get tired or have to climb a lot of stairs."
"In that case let's be goin'. Come along, Norbie," Hagrid said as he began heading for the path into the Forbidden Forest.
Norbie took point, bounding down the trail and then back again, snapping at the flying insects he stirred up. In less then ten minutes they entered the clearing where they had met Bane and Ronan the first time. As they entered from one side, Bane and Ronan entered from the other and proceeded to meet them in the center. Other Centaurs stood at the edge of the clearing but made no move to come closer.
"Harry Potter, Serpent Slayer, and friend Hermione. Welcome back to the forest," Bane said then turned and swept his arm to indicate the other Centaurs. "Others wished to be present to confirm those things we related after your first visit."
Harry bowed to Bane and Ronan and then looking to the others at the opposite edge bowed again.
"Thank you for this welcome. We are honored by your request and continued interest in this discussion. My dear friend Hermione tells me that you have questions for us. We will be pleased to answer them as best we can. If there are answers we cannot provide here today, we will pursue them and provide the answers as quickly as can be," Harry said.
Harry was keeping his attention on Ronan and Bane as courtesy required but Hermione was watching the other Centaurs and could see their expressions and how they would lean to whisper to one another. Then the questions came. While no one had thought to gainsay the Serpent Slayer, there were those who had wondered why the change in heart at the Ministry. They wished more details behind the question Hermione had asked of them at that first meeting. Harry deferred to Hermione and listened as she laid out in detail how the new leadership felt and how Hermione, beginning with her awakened sensibilities regarding the house elves had come to see how the whole of human relations with the other magical races was skewed and needed to be changed.
Harry took this time to observe how the Centaurs were reacting. He noticed some frowns which he took for concentration more then consternation as well as a number of nods or whispered asides. His observations where brought to an abrupt halt when a scream seared across his mind and a bright light flashed across his vision. It was Abagail and she was screaming for help. As the bright light faded he could 'see' her apparently being dragged down a side street by at least two men, a hand clamped over her mouth. He knew exactly where she was and he tried to Disapparate but couldn't due to the protections placed on the school and grounds.
Those that were looking at him saw him go rigid for a moment, his eyes going wide and his face white. At the moment that he tried to Disapparate Bane looked at him.
"Serpent Slayer, you are distressed, what is amiss?" the Centaur said.
Brought back to himself he practically shouted,
"Abagail is in trouble, at Hogsmeade, a kidnapping. I have to save her," he said and then turned and began to run back down the path, oblivious to the shouting behind him.
Before he went a dozen paces his leg began to shoot sharp pains in all directions. Before he hand gone another dozen the sound of galloping hooves registered and before he could react a strong hand gripped the back of his robes and he was swept up and over to come to rest astride the strong back of a Centaur for the second time in his life. Unbeknownst to the other Centaurs, Firenze had made his way near to the edge of the clearing off to the side of the others and when Harry had turned to run he bolted from cover and was down the trail behind Harry before anyone could react.
Harry held on as best he could as his friend and one time savior raced at full speed out of the forest and across the grounds of the school for the gate. His speed was only slightly less then what Buckbeak would have made in full flight and in only a few minutes Harry was outside the gate. Without thinking he disappeared off the Centaur's back and reappeared in the middle of the side street down which he could see two taller figures struggling to get a third, much smaller figure away. It looked like they were getting ready to pick her up when Harry took his already drawn wand and aimed it at the one trying to grab Abagail's flailing feet.
"STOP!" he bellowed at the two.
The one at her feet let go of the one ankle that he had managed to secure and went for his wand. Harry shouted,
"Expelliarmus."
Even from a block away the impact was enough to send the wand flying and the man crashing with a glancing blow into the building behind and to the side of him to land in a heap on the pavement. Abagail continued to struggle in the grip of the second fellow who was now staring wide eyed at Harry as he strode down the street. The would-be kidnapper almost appeared mesmerized but soon snapped out of his daze because at that moment the would-be kidnappee, now having her feet under her grabbed the hand over her mouth and was able to get it away just enough so that she could bite down on it with all she had. The man let out a shout and pulled his now bleeding hand away which allowed Abagail enough freedom of movement to twist about and with all the strength she could muster, drive her tiny but determined fist directly into the groin of her assailant. The man let out another bellow of pain, released his grip on Abagail altogether and folded up to land on the pavement on his shoulders and knees. Not finished, Abagail took a step back and landed a well placed kick into the man's crotch from behind that changed the pained bass groans into tenor cries of agony.
Harry was less then a dozen paces away as Abagail looked up, a smile of triumph on her face that drained away to be replaced by wide eyed shock as she saw Harry's face. She took several stumbling steps backwards as Harry bore down on the man laying on his side in the fetal position. He reached down and grabbed a handful of grubby collar and yanked up so that the man was facing him. Even through the slitted eyes, nearly blinded by pain and tears, what he was seeing registered and the fog of pain that enveloped his brain was burned away by abject terror. He stared back at Harry, who said in a voice that was as quiet as it was frightening,
"Who are you? Who ordered this?" Harry ground out. "Start talking or so help me, I'll light this thing and push it through one ear and out the other," he finished as he spelled the tip of his wand with 'Lumos' and a wand never burned brighter or hotter.
He scowled at the quivering man in his hand who was at once trying to pull away from the wand and shake his head at the same time. Harry said a little louder this time,
"Talk, damn you. You think what that child did to you hurts, perhaps you'd like to feel some real pain, you bastard," he said as he let go of the man's collar, dropping him back onto the pavement and standing up straight.
He pointed his wand down at the fellow and the sound of Hermione shouting at him from the top of the street didn't even register. As he began to say, "Cruc…" he was brought up short by a voice that never failed to get his attention.
"No, Harry, don't you dare," Ginny said firmly. "That's not what you're about."
Harry turned to face Ginny, his wand still pointed down at the kidnapper, barely registering the sight of the redhead standing beside Abagail, one arm protectively around the slight girl's shoulder, the other reaching towards him. She got a look at Harry and it frightened her but she had always been the one who could deal with him no matter what. She could see the whites of those beautiful green eyes blaze with red as his rage consumed him. He looked back down at the target of that rage, his wand quivering as was his entire body, his entire being.
"No, Harry. Back away. Let the others deal with these two. Abagail is safe and that's all that matters right now. The rest can wait until later. Step back and come to me," she said, her voice not betraying the fear that gripped her soul.
He looked at her again, seemingly recognizing her for the first time. The red faded from his eyes and he blinked, the wand falling from his hand to clatter onto the pavement. He was suddenly aware that there were others watching him as well. He recognized that there were a number of red heads behind and off to the side of Ginny. Some of the other Weasleys had arrived. Hermione was standing a ways up the street, her wand out and ready, her eyes wide. Behind her was Hagrid and a number of students. He looked back at Ginny and his shoulders slumped. He turned to walk to her but he sagged as his outraged knee sent bolts of pain up his thigh. Both Ginny and Abagail hurried forward to hold him up. Regardless of the pain he knelt down in front of Abagail and no words were exchanged, there was no need. He pulled her to him and held her tight as Ginny rested a hand on each of them.
After a few moments someone coughed uncomfortably from behind him. Harry turned his head and found two Aurors and four Patroller trainees standing behind him. The older of the Aurors looked meaningfully at the figure still curled up on the pavement.
"Shall we take these in hand for you, sir?" she asked.
Harry nodded and said quietly,
"I suggest you take them up to Madame Pomfrey if she's agreeable. Neither one is in particularly good shape."
"Harry," Abagail whispered close to his ear. "Should I 'look' at them first?"
"No, little one. I don't think I want you to do that. Who knows what they've done in the past. I don't want you exposed to that just yet."
"But, sir. After what they've done, I don't care what I see. I want you to be able to stop all this," she said, a hint of steel behind the airy words.
"I know you're angry about what they did and tried to do to you, Abagail. But now is not the time for that sort of thing," he replied looking at those big dark eyes.
"I didn't mean about me, sir. I'm so angry about what they almost made you do. And they actually made me afraid of you, just for a bit, and I won't ever forgive them for that. Please, sir. Let me."
She looked so determined Harry couldn't refuse her. He looked up at Ginny who just nodded, her lips drawn tight. Then he looked at Abagail and said,
"Ok, you win, but first you have to do something for me."
"Anything, sir."
"Help me up," he said quietly. "The knee refuses to cooperate."
Abagail's eyes flew wider for an instant and a giggle tried to push past her clamped lips. Both she and Ginny took an arm and helped him stand up, Ginny taking his arm and wrapping it around her shoulder. Abagail stepped over to where the man was laying still curled up in a ball of pain and fear. She looked down at his face and her eyes lost their focus. Harry saw her fist ball up again and then she began to speak softly.
"His name is Stefan Rostov. He's a cousin or something of that man who worked in the potions shop. They wanted to trade me for him and the others. They know you and I are close but not why. He came to England about a month after you arrested all those smugglers and has been trying to come up with a way to free them. This was the third weekend they were up here. That other one is a friend and they both are part of the smuggling plan but they worked back in their home country. I don't think they know too much about the bigger plan, but there is something going on."
When she finished her eyes focused again and she swayed a little but Harry pulled her close and helped support her. He looked at the Auror trainer and said,
"Ok, they're yours. Once they are ready, take them in and turn them over to Milligan. Tell him I'll send a message along with what you just heard," he said then his gaze swept the other five of his subordinates. "Understand what you just saw and heard is confidential. It's worth your jobs if I find out you've talked about it. Am I clear?"
"Yes, sir," they all chorused.
They then moved in, one team to a man and bound them and began to move them up to the school and to Madame Pomfrey. Now that the crisis had passed Harry was able to take stock of what was going on around him. Hermione and Hagrid had moved closer from their end and the Weasleys who had arrived came from the other. He saw Bill, Charlie and Ron. He cocked his head at Ron with a questioning glance.
"Off duty today, Harry, no dereliction here," Ron said with a bit of a smile.
Harry nodded and then looked up the street and Hagrid caught his eye.
"Alright there, Harry?"
"Not sure, Hagrid. I think I undid a lot of my physical therapy running like that. And I left my cane back in the clearing," he said as he shifted to ease the weight on his tortured leg.
"No worries, Harry," Hagrid said and then raised his fingers to his lips and whistled.
It was answered by a muffled bark and after a moment or two, the big brindled Mastiff yearling shouldered through the crowd with Harry's cane in his mouth. Harry gave a tired half smile as Hagrid retrieved the cane and gave Norbie a treat from his pocket. He took out a square of rough cloth and wiped a fair portion of dog drool from the twisted wood and carried it over to where Harry stood.
"Thanks, Hagrid, and to Norbie."
"Well after what ya blurted out and then takin' off like that, I just hoisted Hermione up and followed after. The other Centaurs came ta the edge of the forest but wouldn't go no further," Hagrid replied.
"I hope this hasn't made a mess of things with them," Harry said.
"I don't think so, Harry. That bunch has a lot o' respect for ya, and this was about family and they take that sorta thing very seriously."
"Well, let's get back there and see if we can salvage something," he said then looked at Ginny. "Aren't you supposed to have a match today?"
"Yes, in about two hours. But I can at least get you to the gate. Come on," she said.
Harry looked back over his shoulder and the Weasley brothers.
"Thanks for being here. Is there any chance you could come to the Black house tomorrow? I'd like to find out how you knew to get here. I'll even feed you lunch," he said with a small smile.
"Sure thing, Harry, we'll be there," Bill answered for all of them.
All in all it was a long walk back to the clearing in the woods. Ginny reluctantly left him at the gates to the school. She promised she'd see him later after the match was done. By unspoken agreement Abagail remained with Harry and Hermione. Hagrid escorted them back to the clearing. Oddly enough, Norbie walked along besides Abagail without any of his usual antics. When they returned Bane and Ronan were still in the clearing, but the group around the far edge had grown considerably.
"Serpent Slayer, all is well with you?" Ronan rumbled.
"For the moment, Ronan, thank you for asking," Harry replied softly, clearly drained by recent events. "Two men tried to abduct Abagail here, but she called to me and I was in time. She even managed to lay one of them out quite nicely."
When Harry saw the quizzical look on Ronan's face he proceeded to tell them how Abagail subdued her assailant. Ronan and Bane both nodded and then Bane stepped forward to stand before her, looking down from his imposing height.
"This is the gifted one?" he asked.
"Yes, she is, and pardon my poor manners. This is Miss Abagail Westwood of Ravenclaw house. Abagail, this is Bane and that is Ronan. Two individuals I am honored to call friends."
Abagail had to bend backwards a bit to maintain eye contact at this close range but she did so and managed a bit of a curtsey as she said,
"I'm very pleased to meet you both, sirs," she said.
"A voice like a breeze hides the heart of a warrior. We welcome you to the forest, young one."
Bane came around to stand closer to Harry.
"In your absence we discussed your answers to our questions and we agreed that in due course we will present a proposal to friend Hermione Granger to be taken to your Ministry. We will let Hagrid know when we are ready," Bane finished and began to turn away.
Ronan took a step forward and looked closely at Harry as he leaned on his cane, Hermione holding his other arm.
"Have a care, Serpent Slayer. Your peril was great this day, perhaps more then you realize. You are poised on a path to greatness but such paths are often the most dangerous to travel," he said then turned and moved off to join the others of his herd who had already begun to fade into the woods.
"Well, that was a bit ominous," Hermione said quietly.
"Yeah, but I think I know what he was talking about. I pretty much lost control there. Who knows what that could have started? I think I need to get to the hospital wing to check on our two friends and see if Madame Pomfrey has some ice for this knee."
"I'll walk you up there, Harry," Hermione said.
"Me, too," piped Abagail.
Harry just nodded as he walked slowly behind Hagrid with Hermione propping him up on one side, the cane holding him up on the other. Abagail walked just behind with Norbie close by her side. Harry noticed what was going on and he said,
"Hagrid, what's with Norbie? He's usually chasing bugs and running ahead."
"Dunno exactly, Harry. Critters be awful perceptive sometimes. Maybe he feels young Abagail needs lookin' after," Hagrid replied over his shoulder.
Abagail looked at the big Mastiff and reached over to rub the huge blocky head just behind his ears.
"Thank you, Norbie," she said and let her hand rest on his neck as they continued to walk out of the Forbidden Forest.
It took some time but Harry finally arrived at the hospital wing and knocked on the door. He could hear footsteps approaching and the door swung open to reveal Madame Pomfrey.
"Harry. I wondered if I'd see you today. Are you here to see them?" she asked with a definite and unpleasant emphasis on the last word.
"Yes, Madame Pomfrey. But I'm also here to see if you have any ice I can put on this knee. I managed to aggravate it pretty badly this morning."
"Oh, dear. You wait right there," she said and bustled off to return a moment later with the wheel chair. "Sit yourself down."
"Uh, I don't think I'm that bad off, Madame Pomfrey," Harry said.
"Young fellow, the moment you walked through that door back there you came under my care and my direction. So with all due deference to your being Chief of Aurors you will sit down in this chair," she said firmly.
"Yes, ma'am," Harry replied, his face flushed.
So he sat down and was wheeled into the ward where he saw two beds occupied with the attempted kidnappers. Arranged around the bed were a group of senior students and the older of the two Aurors who were on duty that day in Hogsmeade. As Harry was wheeled over she took a couple of steps to meet him.
"Sir," was all she said.
"How are things going with our prisoners, um, Stanton, isn't it?"
"Yes, sir, that's right," she replied. "The one you took down still hasn't regained consciousness yet. Madame Pomfrey said he took a nasty knock on the head and it may be a while. The other one had to be sedated. He was in a lot of pain but he was also nearly incoherent from fear. Kept mumbling something about demons. You really scared the hell out of him, sir," she said.
Harry looked over at the two men and then back at the witch in front of him. He recognized her from the meeting at his house. She was the one who suggested no one begrudged him his recovery time after the battle with the mutated dragon. He just nodded and said,
"Well it seems our Miss Westwood here is something of a street fighter. I don't know where she learned it but she knew where he was must vulnerable. As for the other, I didn't exactly cover myself with glory with that loss of restraint," he said shaking his head.
"I doubt anyone of us would have acted any differently under the circumstances, sir. You're just capable of doing a lot more damage," she said with a half smile.
Harry just nodded a bit and then looked up at the students.
"What's with them?"
"Ravenclaw six and seventh years. Seems they took offense at these two trying to make off with one of their own. They sort of formed up on us as we brought these two up. I figured they could help watch them while the rest of ours went back to work in Hogsmeade," Stanton replied.
Harry looked up at them and said,
"Thank you, I appreciate your help. You're all a credit to your house."
There were a number of 'thank you, sir' and 'yes, sir' and each stood just a tad taller and straighter. While the conversation was going on Madame Pomfrey came back with what looked like the heat bag but a different color.
"Here you go, Harry. This is similar to the heat bag but in reverse. The cooling affect is gentler then just slapping on a bag of ice."
She elevated his leg using the adjustable foot rest and then placed the bag on his ravaged knee. It was slightly cool to the touch at first but then it gradually became colder but not uncomfortably so. Harry leaned back in the chair.
"That does feel better. Thanks again, as usual, Madame Pomfrey."
"You're welcome, as usual, Harry. Just let that stay there for a while," she said and then she went to check on the two detainees.
Abagail had moved up to Harry's side and asked,
"Are you feeling any better, sir?"
"A little bit, Abagail. I'm sure it will feel a lot better in a while. How are you feeling? This has been a pretty tough morning for you," he asked in return.
"I'm starting to feel a little tired right now. I think I could use a nap."
Harry looked up at Hermione and asked,
"Could you see that Abagail gets back to her room okay? I'd feel better if she wasn't alone."
"Of course, Harry. Then I'd like to get back to the office and write all this up. Will you be okay here by yourself?" she asked.
"Of course, I'm not really by myself as it is and Ginny will be back later," he replied with a smile.
"Excuse me, sir," one of the students interjected. "If you can spare me here I'll go back with Abagail as well. We'll keep an eye on her for you," the young witch said.
"I would appreciate that very much, thank you."
Abagail came over and gave Harry a hug which he returned and then she left with Hermione and the Ravenclaw witch. Then he looked back at Stanton.
"Keep an eye on these two and when Madame Pomfrey gives the word take them in."
"Yes, sir."
Harry then looked over at Madame Pomfrey and asked,
"Would it be ok if I went outside to that balcony? It's a really nice day out and I could use the quiet."
"Of course, Harry. We'll go now," the healer replied and proceeded to wheel Harry out through the double doors to what was more a patio then a balcony. It was rather roomy and was catching plenty of afternoon sun.
"You just stay here, Harry, and try to relax. If anyone comes looking for you I'll send them out if it's important or chase them off if it's not."
"Thanks."
Harry leaned his head back against the chair back and closed his eyes. He tried to think of nothing because he felt anything else that came to mind would be far too troublesome to let himself relax. He tried to use his visualization skills and after a couple of tries was able to cleanse his mind of everything but the sounds of the breeze and the few birds that could be heard at this height. He wasn't sure if he had actually fallen asleep but he had been able to slip into a fairly restful state for a while until her heard the door swing open and some light footfalls. A hand came to rest on his arm.
"'arry?"
He turned and looked up to see Fleur standing next to his chair, looking down at him.
"Hello, Fleur. Thanks for coming," Harry said with a small smile.
"You are welcome, 'arry. I would 'ave been 'ere sooner, but Bill eensisted I calm down first," she said with a bit of an embarrassed grin.
"You got excited? No, not you. You're always so calm and level headed," he replied straight faced.
Fleur laughed and knelt down next to the chair.
"You are such a bad boy, 'arry. I stopped to see Abagail but they said she was fast asleep. 'ow ees she?"
"She was tired but calm when she left here. She seemed more angry then anything. It's funny how the women in my life seem to have such bad tempers," he said with a grin. "I must bring it out in them. Anyway, I think it helped that she did such a good job of handling herself during the whole thing. She was able to stay calm enough to reach out to me and then when the opportunity presented itself she took matters into her own hands."
"'ow so, 'arry. Bill did not know all the details."
Harry retold the story of how Abagail had dropped the one named Rostov. Fleur's eyes went wide as Harry told her how the tiny witch used very nonmagical methods to free herself. He mentioned what Bane had said about her as well.
"Eet ees strange, 'arry. She seems so gentle, so frail."
Harry just nodded and decided against mentioning what went on once he had Rostov in hand. He suggested that Fleur sit on one of the benches built out from the low wall and he wheeled over to sit by her.
"So all I really managed to do was aggravate the knee some more and we know how to deal with that," he said as he tapped the cold bag. "Ginny will be along after her match and she'll make sure I get home ok. But I do appreciate you coming out here to see me. I really don't mind a little motherly concern now and again," he said with a smile.
"I am glad to 'ear you say that, 'arry. You seem to need a great deal of looking after and we cannot leave eet all to just one person," she said with a laugh.
They sat and talked for a while about this and that when Fleur posed a question.
"'arry, where are you and Geeny going to spend your 'oneymoon?"
Harry blinked and said,
"Um, to be honest, Fleur, I don't think we've even thought about it. I guess it is something important. I don't think just hiding out at the Black house would go over too well. I know George and Angelina just went to Blackpool for the weekend but they both have businesses to run. Any suggestions?"
"Yes, I do. My aunt and uncle 'ave a very nice 'ouse not far from Beauxbaton. They do not use eet during the late summer. 'alf of Europe seems to descend on the area and they go elsewhere but you and Geeny would find eet very cozy I theenk."
"Wow, that would be wonderful Fleur. Maybe I could arrange a visit to the Academy while we are there. Ginny would love to see the palace and the gardens. She's going to be here in a little while, unless the match runs long, and we can talk about it," he said excitedly.
"The match didn't run long and I'm here so what are we talking about?" Ginny said from the doorway.
"Hey, come here and sit down, love. Fleur just exposed a flaw in our wedding plans, well post wedding plans and offered up a great solution. Go ahead and tell her, Fleur."
Fleur repeated her idea of the house on the French coast near Beauxbaton for their honeymoon hide-away and Ginny got very excited.
"Oh, Harry, that would be so great. Do you really think your aunt and uncle would let us use it?"
"Oui, Geeny. They are very nice people and they do adore me, after all," Fleur replied with a straight face and then started to laugh.
"Will the team allow you that much time off, Ginny? With all my mishaps you've spent a far amount of time away this past year," Harry said, concerned.
"I think so, Harry. They have a rather large soft spot when it comes to you, you know. And we picked up a new reserve chaser because they know I won't be back after my option is up and this will give her some playing time. Um, that reminds me Harry. I'd like to invite the team to the wedding, including Ms. Hapnafl. I think we'll have the room."
"Of course. Is that something Mum has worked on or do we need to do something about it? I'd imagine the invitations would have to go out pretty soon, wouldn't they? We have less then two months, right?"
"Mum has the list for the Weasley side worked out and I told her I'd ask you about the Harpies. I figured you'd want the DA and probably your Quidditch mates," she said.
"Our Quidditch mates, you mean, you had a fair amount of time on the team, right? I'd also like to include your family Fleur if they weren't already part of the Weasley list."
"Merci, 'arry, I believe Muum put them down but eet ees sweet for you to theenk of them," Fleur said with a smile.
"Oh, we should include Madame Maxime. I think that would be a good gesture between the schools. Hmmm, do you think if I invited Kingsley Shacklebolt and Abernathy Grimsson it would be too much like I was playing up to them?"
"Oh, I don't think so, Harry. You've already proved yourself. I don't think that would look bad at all. Let's see, we have to remember the Hogwarts directors and faculty," Ginny said and then looked at Harry with a serious expression. "What about the Dursleys?"
Harry let out a long breath and looked at Ginny.
"I can think of a thousand reasons not to and only one to do it but that one outweighs all the others."
"Family, 'arry?" Fleur asked.
"That's right, Fleur. Whether I like it or not, and as bad as it might have been, they provided the sanctuary that kept me alive until I could get here to Hogwarts. If I think about it enough I guess they are the reason you two have so much work to do where I'm concerned. But that doesn't really matter so yes, we'll invite them. They probably won't come but that's beside the point."
"Hang on, Harry. This is getting to be kind of a lot. Let me see if Madame Pomfrey has a piece of parchment," Ginny said and she hurried back inside.
After Ginny had disappeared inside Fleur looked at Harry and noticed the care lines on his forehead and around his eyes. Not yet twenty one and already he was showing the signs of care and stress. Her eyes began to tear and she turned to look out over the low wall down at the green lawn and the lake. It took her just a moment to regain her composure and she was looking at the door when Ginny came back out with a small lap tray that had parchment, quill and ink. She sat next to Fleur on the bench and arranged everything on her lap.
"Madame Pomfrey says she uses these for students who are sick so they don't fall behind in their work. Can you imagine, sick in bed and still having to do homework," Ginny said with a mock shudder.
She proceeded to write down the list of individual names and groups that they had discussed. They pulled the DA list apart to separate those that would be included in the family list like Angelina, Hermione and Ron from the names of friends. Harry looked down at the ground for a moment and then looked up at Ginny and Fleur.
"I've had a thought but I'm not sure if I should mention it," he said.
The two young women looked at Harry and saw the pained look on his face. Fleur was sitting closest to him and she took hold of his hand.
"What ees eet, mon frere?"
"Yes, Harry, out with it. You aren't allowed to hold back anything from us, you know that," Ginny said, her face a mask of sympathy.
"I think we should have places set aside for the family and friends who can't be there with us. But I think that it might be kind of depressing. I don't know how we should do that," he said, his voice subdued.
Ginny set the lap tray aside and came to kneel at Harry's side opposite Fleur. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and held him tightly for a moment and then let him go. She looked into those bright green eyes that were looking haunted at the moment.
"I think that would be a very touching thing to do, sweetheart. Let me talk to Mum about it. She could probably think of a way to do it that would keep everything in balance," she said with a smile.
Fleur reached over and took Harry's head into her hands and pulled him to her so she could kiss his cheek. She chose not to say anything. Harry took a deep breath and let it out.
"Ok, so can you think of anyone we might have missed? We have more than enough room," he said.
"Let's take the weekend to think about it and we'll make it final by Monday, how does that sound?" Ginny offered.
"Sounds like a plan, love. Um, that reminds me, how are you coming with the whole bridal party thing? Have you figured out who they're going to be?"
"Yup, I've asked Luna to be my maid of honor, and Fleur, Hermione, Angelina and one of my teammates, Eleanor MacManus to be the other attendants. How about you? I know you've got Ron as your best man, how about the rest?"
"Well, let's see that leaves four, so I'll make it a clean sweep and ask the rest of your brothers," he said.
"What about Neville? He's been your friend almost as long as Ron," Ginny asked.
"Well, you have the four attendants. I can't leave out one of your brothers. That could cause all kinds of issues. I know Percy and I had our differences but that's ancient history now. So I'm kind of stuck unless you come up with one more."
Ginny had taken her seat again and she chewed on the end of the quill as she thought. She looked over at Harry and then at Fleur and her eyes opened wider and a little grin shaped her lips.
"Fleur, I would imagine that your parents would accept the invitation, right?"
"Oui, Geeny. I 'ave mentioned eet to Maman et Papa and they would be 'appy to come. Gabi ees very excited about eet," Fleur replied.
"How excited would Gabi be to be in the wedding, as the fifth attendant?" Ginny asked, her grin turning sly.
"Ginny? You'd ask Gabi to be in the wedding?" Harry asked, sounding very surprised.
"Why not? She'll be there as a guest and it would really give her something to talk about at the first meeting of the Harry Potter Fan Club in September," Ginny said.
"Oh, Geeny. Gabi weell faint dead away. Do you weesh to ask 'er or do you want me to talk to 'er?" Fleur said excitedly.
"Would you please, Fleur?" Ginny asked.
"Avec joie, gladly," Fleur replied.
"Wow," Harry said.
"Wow, what, sweetheart?" Ginny asked.
"I was just visualizing your bridal party. That's going to be one stunning line up. I'll be able to wear any old thing because no one is going to pay me any attention," he said with a smile.
"Oh no you don't, my dear. You will be dressed to perfection because I won't be looking at anyone or anything but you."
***************
Harry stood on platform nine and three quarters at King's Cross Station awaiting the arrival of the Hogwarts Express. He had not thought he would be doing this until sometime well into the future, probably another dozen years or so at least, when he and Ginny's first child was old enough to attend Hogwarts. Now he was awaiting the arrival of Abagail, his fourteen year old legal ward. It seemed to Harry that he had moved into the adult world a lot faster then was really fair. He didn't have much of a chance to dwell on this seeming injustice as he heard the chuffing of the steam locomotive as it rolled into the station. He watched expectantly as students began to pour off the train, some into the arms of waiting family, others who were most likely muggle born, heading straight for the wall that led to the outside world after they secured their luggage.
Harry finally saw Abagail exit a carriage apparently bracketed by two significantly larger students. She looked around and finally caught sight of Harry and broke into a huge smile and waved. She walked slightly ahead of the two young wizards that followed behind. Fortunately Harry's knee had improved significantly in the days that followed the attempted kidnapping so he was able to absorb the impact of Abagail rushing at him and flinging her arms around him.
"Hello, sir, I mean, Harry. It's so good to see you again," she said airily.
"I'm happy to see you too, little one," he said happily and then looked up at her two companions with a questioning glance.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Potter. The Ravenclaws decided we'd keep an eye on her until she was with you. She's something of a house favorite these days," one of the young men said.
"Thank you, guys. I really appreciate your concern," he said and recognizing them as seventh years he added, "and congratulations on graduating. What plans do you have?"
The larger of the two replied,
"I'm coming to work for you, sir. I qualified at the tryouts but like you told us, I finished school. I report in two weeks. Whipple's the name, sir."
"Oh, yes, I recognized you from my lectures. Glad to have you with us. And you?" Harry asked of the other student.
"Summer off, sir and then I start Healer training in September."
Harry nodded then laughed as he said,
"I wish you the best of luck and hope I don't have need of your services anytime soon."
"Yes, sir," the young wizard replied with a smile. "It was good seeing you again, sir," he said then looked down at Abagail. "Have a good summer, Abagail. Take care of Ravenclaw for us."
"So long and thanks," she said as the two smiled at her and then walked off to find their families.
Harry helped Abagail recover her trunk which the porter placed on a cart for them. Next came a caged owl that was still on loan from the school. When all was satisfactory Harry pushed the cart with Abagail walking along beside, her hand resting on top of one of his.
"Where are we going, sir?" she asked, raising her usual whispered voice above the crowd.
"We'll start at the Black house and get you set up in your room and then we've been invited to dinner at the Burrow.
"Oh, good. I can't wait to see what Mr. Weasley has been doing with the Popular. I've read the book you gave me and want to try a couple of things."
"You know, Abagail. If you were a muggle you'd probably wind up as an auto mechanic. Maybe you can be a broom technician for the Nimbus company," Harry said with a laugh.
"Well, I don't know. The Ministry has cars that they use and there's the Knight bus so I'm sure there are magical mechanics somewhere but that's not what I'm going to do. I want to come work for you," she said, looking up at him with big dark serious eyes.
Any further discussion was interrupted by their passage through the barrier wall and then the need to be discrete among the muggles. They rolled the cart out onto the pavement and saw one of the aforementioned Ministry cars waiting for them. The driver got out and opened the boot and helped Harry put the trunk in. The owl was carried into the back seat by Abagail and Harry climbed in next to her. As the car pulled away and insinuated itself into the traffic Harry looked over at Abagail and said,
"Are you really sure about that, Abagail?"
"Yes, sir. I thought I was sure for a while now but I was positive after what happened in Hogsmeade. There are some pretty nasty people out there and even if they aren't on the same level as Voldemort they could still cause so much trouble for our world. I've been able to help you with my abilities without even trying very hard. I'm sure I could be a lot more help if I was doing it full time," she said looking at him.
Harry took a deep breath. The small size and wispy voice could be very misleading. Abagail was growing up and her view of the world and her place in it was gaining clarity.
"I understand how you feel and I appreciate it but you still have four years of school to go and you might change your mind," he said.
"Only two, Harry. I don't intend to go past my OWLs. My talent doesn't have much to do with going to NEWT levels and this way I can start sooner if it's okay with you," she said a bit tentatively but her eyes were still serious.
"You'll have to give me time to think about it, little one. We'll talk about it some more over the summer. But most importantly I want you to have fun this summer, ok? That's what summers are for," he said with a smile.
"I can't wait to get started," she said with a grin.