"I think we are ready so yes," Molly said.
"Very well," Kingsley replied. "We will start with Harry shall we? As he is the victim in this case he should be able to provide the clearest picture."
"W-what do you want to know?" Harry asked.
"I need to know everything that they did to you," Kingsley replied. "I know that it will be hard but you can take as much time as you need; we're in no hurry. Start with how they treated you as far back as you can remember."
"I remember asking about my parents," he whispered. "They told me they were useless people and so was I. They told me not to ask questions and threw me in my cupboard."
"Cupboard? Did they put you there when you were bad?" he asked.
"Yes," said Harry. "They put me there whenever something weird happened. They never explained why."
Kingsley made a note.
"What was your room like?" he continued. "Did you have many toys or other things to play with?"
"That was my room," Harry said and Kingsley did a double take. "They didn't let me have toys; they said that I wasn't allowed to have any. They would always take away anything I got."
"The healers said that you were not eating properly," Kingsley said clearly looking disturbed. "What would you usually get?"
"Some crusts and water if I was good. They sometimes gave me a piece of bread to have at lunch when I was at school; apparently one of the teachers said something."
"Was that breakfast lunch or dinner?" Kingsley asked.
"Which ever it was when they gave it to me that week," Harry said.
"WEEK?" he cried. "How often per week would they feed you?"
"Two or three times if I did my chores and wasn't locked in my cupboard," Harry said shrinking away slightly at Kingsley's raised voice. Ginny responded by pulling him closer and Harry relaxed a bit.
Molly leaned over to whisper in Kingsley's ear. "Don't raise your voice around him," she said. "He said that he always got hurt when people raised their voice around him." Kingsley nodded trying to get a hold on his emotions.
"What happened if you didn't do your chores," he asked, not really wanting to know the answer.
"Sometimes they would yell and make me do them again and more," Harry said in a small voice. "Sometimes..." he trailed off shaking slightly while Ginny blanched at the memories that were going through his head. Harry clutched his stomach and curled up slightly.
"Did they hit you often?" Kingsley asked quietly. Harry didn't answer. "Harry?"
He nodded.
Ginny spoke up. "They would hit him if he didn't do his chores right or if he didn't do them fast." She said. "Sometimes his uncle would hit him when he got home from work and say that things were his fault. Sometimes he would hit him if he got better too fast."
"How do you know that? Did Harry tell you?" Kingsley asked.
"I saw what he-" started Ginny but Dumbledore interrupted.
"Ginny and Harry share a connection," he explained. "I won't go into the details but it lets them share consciousness to a degree in addition to shared memories. She remembers everything Harry does and vice versa."
Kingsley looked shocked. "So everything she says that happened to him really did happen?"
"We can see no reason for her to be lying so yes," Dumbledore responded amiably.
"You see everything in this job," Kingsley murmured. He looked up at Ginny, "Could you clarify some points Miss Weasley?"
"Clarify?" she asked looking confused.
"He means explain dear," Molly said.
"Oh," Ginny said understanding lighting her face. "What points are those?"
"The things that his uncle blamed him for; what were they?"
"When a deal went bad or someone had an accident," she said. "He would get angry at Harry, and would get his belt and hit him. Sometimes when he was hitting Harry, Harry would fall down and wake up in his cupboard."
"How long usually passed before he woke up again?" Kingsley said, really dreading the answer.
"Sometimes the next day sometimes longer," Harry said quietly rejoining the conversation.
"What was the longest?"
"A week I think," he said. "I kept waking up and going back to sleep again when I was in there, I don't know exactly it was dark and it hurt..." he trailed off.
"What sort of injuries did you get?" Kingsley asked trying to hold in his temper and the urge to apparated back to HQ and kill the muggles on the spot.
When Harry looked like he wasn't going to answer Ginny spoke up again, "Sometimes his arms or legs wouldn't move," she said to the horror of the listeners. "Sometimes they were bent wrong and it hurt him to move them. Sometimes he hurt in his chest like he was at St Mungos and he hurt to breathe."
Molly stood up and walked outside. Everyone watched as she conjured a life sized wooden model of each of the Dursleys and proceeded to perform several pieces of magic that left the males wincing and vowing never to cross Molly Weasley again, even though Arthur had seven children, Harry wasn't watching and Dumbledore was too old. She walked back in sat down and said "continue."
Kingsley took a few seconds to gather himself and look through his notes. "You said that he would be hurt if he got better too fast; the healers mentioned that his magical drain was potentially the result of healing many minor injuries. Can you explain that please?"
Ginny looked confused for a second but Harry spoke up again. "When I was hurt I tried once wishing that I would get better and in the morning I would be. Bruises always went away within a day or two but I was always tired afterwards. When they saw I was better they did the same things again and put me back in my cupboard for the week."
Kingsley decided that that was enough and said so. "I think that we should stop there," he said his voice shaking slightly and turned to Molly. "This is a report that the healers made of the injuries that Harry sustained as a result of the attack earlier today; it also includes your version of events that you described to the healers. It has already been signed by healer Symworth and Evernson so we have the medical knowledge of the injuries, we need you to read through it and sign it if that is what you saw so we can submit that as your eye witness testimony."
Molly read through the report turning green and red alternately as she read through the medical section and eventually signed her name at the bottom.
"That's everything in order," Kingsley said. "I will file a report to director Bones and charges should be laid within an hour or two."
"That's excellent Auror Shacklebolt," Dumbledore said warmly. "I will make sure that the Wizengamont resolves this case as a matter of urgency." He turned back to the children. "There is another matter that we need to sort out with you two and I am sorry to say it is not pleasant."
"We're not in trouble are we?" Harry asked nervously.
"No Harry," Dumbledore told him. "The problem that we have is that your magic is very powerful; too powerful. You probably won't be able to control it."
"What does that mean," Ginny asked. "I thought being strong was a good thing and we did magic before that we didn't mean to."
"That's right," Dumbledore said pleased. "But the problem is that your bond has made you so strong that your magic could hurt others if you got upset; what happened in the hospital was a good example. When the bed was set on fire and when your mother was thrown across the room. Those things if they happened here could get your brothers and parents hurt."
"What do we do?" Ginny asked with tears in her eyes. "I don't want to hurt Mummy or Daddy or Bill or Charlie."
"You will need to wear these," he said holding the bracelets. "These will contain your magic until I am around to help you to control it in a couple of days. It will feel bad but it won't be for long and I'll take them off as soon as possible."
"Those aren't Restrictor Bands are they Albus," Kingsley asked looking slightly angry.
"They are and don't get angry," he said knowing Kingsley was about to explode. "I have discussed this with Molly and Arthur and they have agreed, albeit grudgingly, for them to wear the bands for the next two days till I arrive so as to protect the rest of the family from high powered outbursts."
"I still don't like you putting those on children," Kingsley growled. "They are meant for the worst of criminals; like the Lestranges or other Death Eaters."
"We're not going to Azkaban are we," Ginny said frightened. "Please don't send us there."
"It's all right Ginny," Molly said. "You won't be going anywhere. You will still sleep and live here it's just that you will be wearing those."
"It won't keep us from speaking to each other will it?" Harry asked tentatively. "I don't want to stop that."
"It won't affect that at all."
Ginny and Harry looked at each other, nodded and stretched out their arms as if they were volunteering them to be cut off. Dumbledore reached out and slipped the bracelets, first onto Harry and then onto Ginny, muttered a Latin phrase and the bands resized so they were snug, but not tight.
Both of the kids gasped and recoiled. Both grabbed the bands and tugged and the bands glowed brightly before Dumbledore spoke up.
"I know those are uncomfortable," he began.
"They're horrible," Ginny said. "It makes me feel like I'm trapped, like something is holding me in place and I can't move. But I can still move."
"Me too," Harry piped up. He looked at Dumbledore, "Wasn't there any other way?"
"I'm afraid not," he said sadly. "The reason they keep your magic in check is they prevent it from leaving your body. This means that you still have magic and it is not diminished yet it won't actually be able to work outside of your body."
The bands began to glow brighter and Dumbledore's eyes widened.
"You need to calm yourselves," he said. "I know the sensation is uncomfortable but you need to relax. They are glowing because your magic is fighting against the wards and spells placed on the bands and trying to break them would be bad. Try to concentrate on each other and ignore the feeling for now."
Harry and Ginny looked at each other and closed their eyes. The glow quickly diminished and eventually disappeared.
"I'll be getting back to the ministry; have you notified the auror department that you have placed and activated those," Kingsley asked gesturing to the bands.
"Yes I have," Dumbledore replied. "I have cleared it with Amelia with some difficulty and they will be removed in two days time."
"Thank you, I'll see all of you at a later date and feel free to ask about this case if you're around at work Arthur, you obviously have an interest in the case."
With that Kingsley turned and walked out the door disappearing with a 'pop'.
In the kitchen Molly realised that she hadn't started dinner and immediately jumped up and raced over to the stove and began cooking.
Harry and Ginny were still sitting at the table and Harry suddenly looked up quickly followed by Ginny both looking worried and embarrassed.
"Dad," Ginny said. "How will me and Harry use the bathroom and have a bath? We can't let go."
"That is going to be a problem," said Bill. "They will need to hold hands the whole time."
"We can simply conjure a screen to prevent them from seeing each other," Arthur said. "That should solve the problem."
"But we can see through each other's eyes," Harry said. "We can't stop it or control it. We don't know when we will be able to see or not." He looked scared and dropped his gaze. "I'm sorry; I didn't mean to cause trouble."
"Harry you aren't causing trouble," Dumbledore said gently. "This is a problem that arose from a difficult situation and you never wanted either the situation or the problem. So it is not your fault and you have nothing to apologise for."
It's ok Harry, Ginny thought to him. I'm not angry at you and neither are my parents or anyone else, at least not really; just try not to look and that's all I want.
Thanks Gin, he thought back. I don't mind if you see anything by accident, I trust you.
Your welcome and I trust you too.
"Thank you sir," Harry said finally.
"You don't need to thank me Harry," Dumbledore said gently. "Just keep going and remember; if the bands start to glow brightly try to calm down and make the glow go away. I'll come back in a few days to get them off and then I'll start teaching you magic."
"Are we going to Hogwarts?" Ginny asked excitedly. "I would love to go!"
"No we won't be going to Hogwarts," he replied. "There are still some people at Hogwarts even though it is summer and we should keep your bond as much a secret as we can. Particularly as you are so young."
"Ok," Ginny said looking a little disappointed.
"Don't worry Ginny," Harry said. "We should be going to Hogwarts in a few years."
"Indeed you will," Dumbledore said with a smile. "By the time you are old enough to go to Hogwarts you will have mastered a fair amount of magic and will have good control. I look forward to teaching you. And now I must leave; wizengamont business must be attended to before I can begin with training. Goodbye Arthur, Molly your servant"
With that Dumbledore walked out the door and disappeared with a pop. The rest of the evening passed quickly with Molly quickly whipping up a cooked meal for the family. It will remain a mystery to the universe exactly how she managed to turn the food she had into a good meal that could be eaten by children without said children being under duress. Harry on the other hand had to be convinced that he didn't have to help and was allowed to eat more than a few bits and pieces.
"The healers said that you are severely malnourished dear so we need to feed you as much as you can hold," Molly said to him kindly. "You desperately need to get some meat on your bones. They mentioned a couple of potions that you could take but they would be a last resort; they would probably harm your magic if they were taken after you had been so badly hurt."
It was only at the urging of Ginny via their bond that he accepted and managed three helpings and didn't do all the dishes. Ginny managed to take control and make him walk out of the kitchen before her mother could hit him with a full body bind and drag him out. Molly thought that it was ironic though not even remotely humorous that where her children needed to be dragged away from the food to clear up, Harry needed to be dragged away from clearing up and practically force fed. She vowed that she would look to get the Dursleys the Dementors kiss when the issue came up in court.
While Molly cleaned up after the meal Arthur headed up the stairs to assist Harry and Ginny in their attempts to bathe and use the toilet before they went to bed. He was fighting a miniature battle with himself the whole way up the stairs, his sense of propriety that was demanding that the boy who was going to sleep in the same bed as his nearly six year old daughter needed to be flayed alive unless he was physically restrained. On the other hand his need to protect his daughter from the forces currently in play combined with logic was telling him that the said arrangement was the only way that Ginny could exist at all. In the end his propriety was satiated by the compromise and the knowledge that Harry was only six and so wouldn't do anything that he would have any reason to get angry about.
His decision was at least partially vindicated when Ginny and Harry were in the bath. Harry was very much embarrassed by the arrangements and it was obvious that he would give quite a lot to be somewhere else. A screen between them allowed their feet to touch and left their hands free to wash themselves while making sure that they wouldn't die of mortification and exposure (pun intended). Both of them reported that their bond had switched before they entered the bath and could barely feel each other's emotions and after where their bands began to glow as magic threatened to come out, lighting the room like a pair of miniature suns before they focused to control their emotions and magic.
The thing that Arthur found most shocking was the smoke coming off the bands after. He knew that those bands could hold the most powerful and skilled witches and wizards, containing their abilities so that they could not so much as light the end of a wand, let alone cause those restraints to light the room like that! He decided to ask Dumbledore about it when he arrives in a couple of days. I can see what Dumbledore meant that their power needed to be contained, he mused. This is unlike anything I have ever heard of.
Harry and Ginny were curled up together on Ginny's bed, arms around each other and their foreheads pressed together.
Do you think that everyone will be alright with us being linked like this, Harry fretted. It's so strange; I know from you that this doesn't happen to everyone and they looked like they wanted to break the connection. His mind instinctively flinched at the suggestion, he couldn't bear to go back to the life that he had before after having someone who knew him like Ginny.
I couldn't either, Ginny thought back. I don't know why they want to break this; it feels right! They don't know that we know each other better than I know my best friend, better than mum and dad know each other, or the twins and they do everything together. We'll just ha...
"The link is going," Ginny whispered realising that Harry wouldn't be able to hear her thoughts like before.
Harry paused. "That's strange," he said. "I can't feel your emotions right now."
"I can't too," Ginny said.
"I wish that we could hear each other all the time," Harry said. "It's nice to know that you can help me whenever I don't know what to do. I like how you think."
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"If our minds were linked you could see," he breathed back. "I don't know the words to say it."
"It's nice for me too," Ginny said. "I never really was able to talk to anyone except daddy. My brothers love me but they don't play with me. They always do things together and mum makes me do things with her."
Harry smiled. "I'm glad I got a friend," he said.
"Best friends forever." And with that the two drifted to sleep with their arms around each other and their foreheads pressed together.
Dumbledore was pacing his study, thinking. Everything had been going well in his plans; the Dark Lord had been vanquished temporarily some years before, the Death Eaters had mostly been rounded up and those that weren't were keeping a low profile, the Wizengamont was easy to deal with and Harry was in his place at the Dursleys. His placing of Harry at the Dursleys was a master stroke; it let him take the place as the figure-head of the light, kept him out of harm's way, made sure that he wouldn't get ideas of his own so he would accept Dumbledore's plans, the Potter will was safely sealed and Harry wouldn't know the contents nor would he get the opportunity and it made him more submissive and easier to mould into the martyr that he could use to end Voldemort once and for all. He was sad that Harry would have such a short life, but the prophecy was clear and the horcrux in his head clinched the deal.
He had planned on the Weasleys getting involved with Harry when he got to Diagon alley, or perhaps on the train. He could see that Harry and Ronald would most likely be friends and Ginny could be a girlfriend. He aimed to push Ginny and Harry together before the end of Harry's schooling and have Ginny get pregnant so the weeping widow and child of the martyr could live under his protection and finally drive evil from the world. It was a complex plan and he had been carefully moving his pieces for some time: using subtle legilimency to put the idea of Harry as a partner for Ginny into Molly's mind so she would accept the idea and push it subtly to Ginny. The typical star-struck nature of Ginny would help there and no one would suspect. He'd even nudged Ginny herself once when he saw that the fascination with Harry was waning.
Normally he abhorred such actions, legilimency on a minor and this sort of outcome wasn't what he wanted. The boy was innocent as was Ginny and there was much suffering in their way. The problem was that The Greater Good demanded his sacrifice and Ginny bearing both a child from him and the pain of Harry's loss. The political clout she would gain as well as the child would enable the next few generations to clean house of the corruption and bigotry in the ministry and take the wizarding world into a new era.
Now that plan was in tatters.
Harry was well aware of his status and had Ginny to guide him as well as Molly and Arthur as probable guardians. He was no longer going to be easy to mould into a weapon, would possibly develop ideas that would not be in keeping with The Plan and their power could make them independent. Not only that but Harry and Ginny would die together, there was simply no other way. There would most likely be no child to guide and no widow to point in the right direction, the soul bond would see to that. What's more, Harry wouldn't be able to go to his death without stiff opposition from Ginny and the rest of the Weasleys. They were people of the light, highly gifted as Bill, Charlie and Molly show and very well known. Quite apart from the lack of good manpower that would be lost by alienating them if they moved against them it could weaken the whole movement and allow the dark to slip through and win.
This soul bond was the crux of the matter; it tied Ginny and Harry's destinies together to tightly to fit.
If the bond is the crux of the matter then it is the part that needs to change, he thought.
Simply breaking it is out. As he had told Molly; that would be a death sentence for both of the two children. Could weakening it to the point that Ginny wouldn't die work? No with the strength of their bond it would take centuries of effort and he simply didn't have that long if it could work at all. He could see that there was no other way to counter the effects of the bond so he had to look at the other options and work with the bond.
There was the possibility of pairing off Harry with another girl to have the child but there were no suitable candidates and Harry wouldn't do that, Ginny would never allow it. Harry dying was fixed and so by extension was Ginny; he just needed a way for him to capitalise on Harry's fame and pass it to the next generation to begin the cleansing. It was time to scrap the old plan and start from scratch.
He popped a sherbet lemon into his mouth and began to plot.