Harry was getting the hang of traveling by portkey so when he landed he was able to keep himself from sprawling on the ground. He helped Ginny to her feet and then he glanced around. The moon was shining brightly so he could easily see they had landed in a small clearing in the middle of a dense forest.
"Where exactly are we?" Ron whispered. He helped Hermione up and adjusted one of their backpacks across his shoulder.
Hermione answered quietly, "According to Nadia, we were supposed to arrive about four kilometers south of town."
She took out her wand, placed it on the flat palm of her right hand and said, "Point me."
Her wand quickly spun around and stopped to point in a direction beyond her left shoulder.
"That is due north so it looks like we need to head that way," she said. Ron pulled out his wand and took hold of Hermione's other hand and they headed in the direction she had indicated.
Harry shifted their second backpack on his shoulder and pulled out his wand scanning the darkness.
Ginny whispered, "What do you think you are doing?"
"What?" he asked.
"Your wand. What do you think you are doing, pulling your wand out?" she asked.
"It's just a precaution," Harry replied.
Ginny scolded, "You are not supposed to use magic for at least another week, so put it away."
"But—" he began to protest.
"I said put it away!" Ginny hissed. "Let us deal with anything that comes up for once."
Reluctantly Harry replaced his wand in the pocket of his jacket but he positioned it to be easily accessible should the need arise.
They made their way through the trees and Hermione checked their heading every so often to ensure they remained on course. They had been walking for over half an hour when Harry and Ron simultaneously halted and pulled the girls to a stop beside them.
"What—" Ginny began to whisper, but Harry quickly placed his fingers to her lips to silence her.
Harry quietly opened his backpack and withdrew his invisibility cloak. He motioned for them to follow him toward a large fallen tree where they crouched together within its shadow. Ron and Harry positioned Hermione and Ginny closely between them and arranged the cloak so that it covered all of them. Silently they waited until they distinctly heard the sound of someone approaching. Soon, they began to make out several men speaking Romanian in hushed voices.
Five figures emerged from the shadows and halted within ten meters of their hiding spot; the men stood unmoving and seemed to either be listening intently or waiting for something. The four teens continued to watch them from beneath the cloak, barely daring to breath. Eventually one of the intruders said something to his companions and they headed on their way again.
After the men had left, Ron started to stand up, but Hermione placed a restraining hand on his arm and adamantly shook her head. Harry began to open his mouth to question her causing her to shake her head again. Hermione placed a finger to her lips indicating they should remain quiet.
They waited tensely until they heard a snap, like someone stepping on a large twig. They saw three men emerge from the shadow of the copse of trees directly across from them with their wands drawn. They men began to walk towards them, looking closely within the shadow of each clump of trees they passed. As they drew closer to their hiding spot, Harry pulled out his wand. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Ginny make a small flicking motion with her wand and then he heard a loud rustling far off to their right. The startled men hurried off in the direction of the sound.
They remained crouched under the invisibility cloak for another agonizing fifteen minutes until Hermione carefully stood up whispering, "I think they're gone."
Ron whispered, "Were they Death Eaters, do you suppose? And how did you know they were going to come back?"
Hermione replied, "Unlike you two, I took the time to learn some Romanian while we lived here for over four months. I'm not sure who they were but they were definitely looking for someone. They said something about trying to double back to catch whoever it was so I knew they would come back."
Ron stared at her amazed at how much she had been able to pick up from a language that had remained foreign to him.
It was then Harry's turn to question Ginny. "So what was that you did with your wand?"
In the moonlight, he was just able to make out the grin that spread across her face and she whispered back, "You obviously have never played hide and seek with Fred and George. It's a trick they often used to distract anyone who got too close to their hiding spot."
Harry grinned back and her, clearly impressed.
Eventually they came to the outer edges of the town but as a precaution, they kept to the shadows as much as possible.
They walked up the main street and Ginny took in the moonlit beauty of the quaint, old-fashioned Wizarding village. Individual cottages and storefronts lined the street and the only noise that could be heard came from a tavern that she could see at the end of a side street they had just passed.
Harry pointed and whispered, "That building up ahead is the library where Nadia and Ivan live."
Ginny saw a small, two-story stone building whose windows were completely dark with the exception of one that was lit by a lone candle.
They approached the building and Hermione walked up the stone stairs to the door and knocked three times. When there was no response from within, she proceeded to wrap on the door two more times.
This time they heard the sound of bolts pulling back and the door opened a crack. An old man with a long gray beard and gray hair peered out at them.
He said something in Romanian to which Hermione replied, "Ivan, it's us. All four of us are here."
The door was suddenly snatched open by an old woman with long graying hair who exclaimed, "Hermony! Come in! Come in, all of yu!"
"Nadia! It's good to see you again!" Hermione said stepping through the doorway to give the woman an affectionate hug. She then bestowed the same upon Ivan.
"Ah, Young One," Ivan said to her, "we are both very happy you have come to see us again!"
Ron entered the door directly behind Hermione and received an embrace from Nadia who said, "Ronald! Come in! Yu are looking well."
Her keen dark eyes looked beyond Ron's shoulder to rest on Harry. She took him by the shoulders to hold him at arm's length and looked him up and down to carefully inspect him.
"Ah, Harry! The spell worked as Ivan assured me it would. He told me I was foolish to have had the slightest doubt and he was correct. Come here!"
She pulled Harry into an embrace and after they moved apart, he shook Ivan's hand and said smiling, "It's good to see you again. Hermione tells me that I have you both to thank for my recovery."
"Nonsense!" Nadia admonished before Ivan could respond. "It was the bond between yu and your friends that yu must be thankful for."
Not wanting to interrupt, Ginny closed the door behind her and quietly watched the exchange. She noticed the foyer was much brighter than she expected due to several lit torches mounted on the walls along the corridor; the library's windows must have been charmed to keep light from within the building from showing through. Taking in her surroundings, she realized the interior of the old library had also been charmed to be much larger on the inside because she saw a vast room filled with many long, tall shelves of books; it was no wonder Hermione had fallen in love with the place.
With their initial greetings complete, Harry looked around to see Ginny still hanging back by the door. He took her by the hand and brought her forward to make the introductions.
He said, "Nadia, Ivan, I'd like you to meet Ron's sister, Ginny."
"It is very nice to finally make your acquaintance, my dear," Ivan said, bowing gallantly to her. "We have already heard quite a bit about you."
There was something about Ivan that Ginny liked immediately. She smiled back at him and replied, "Thank you both for including me in your invitation to visit. Hermione and the guys have told me much about the two of you as well, and I am very happy to finally be able to meet you, sir."
Nadia had been watching Ginny closely while Harry brought her forward. When Ginny turned from Ivan toward her, Nadia took the younger girl's hands into hers and looked into her face. The scrutiny the older woman bestowed upon her startled Ginny until a satisfied smile spread across the wrinkled face.
Nadia nodded and said, "Had I met yu beforehand, I would not have worried nearly as much." She patted Ginny's hand affectionately and continued, "I am so very happy that yu decided to visit us as well."
Nadia looked pointedly back at Harry and said with satisfaction, "A much better choice, I think."
Confused by Nadia's words, Ginny looked at Harry who suddenly felt an uncomfortable warmth begin to flow from his neck to the roots of his hair. He dared not look directly at Ginny, but instead, he cast a warning look to Ron and Hermione who were both having difficulty trying not to laugh.
Ivan cleared this throat and said serenely, "I am sure you must be tired but we have prepared some relaxing herbal tea and a light snack. Perhaps we should adjourn into the parlor for a spot before you turn in for the night."
"That sounds like a marvelous idea," Hermione said, happy for the change of subject for Harry's sake. "But first, I'll be very relieved to give this back to you."
Hermione rummaged through the backpack on Ron's shoulder. She pulled out the box that contained the Mandora Amulet and handed it to Nadia.
Nadia took the box from her and said, "Thank yu for returning it, Hermony. Now yu must tell me all about what happened when yu performed the spell."
They all went into the parlor and Hermione launched into a full account of what transpired when they revived Harry.
Harry followed behind everyone with Ginny who said, "They really are very nice. No wonder you enjoyed your stay here with them. And look at all those books! There are so many and they look older than anything we had at Hogwarts!"
Harry said, "I'll bet you anything Hermione beats us all up in the morning and we'll come down to find her behind a stack of them. And both Nadia and Ivan really are great. Believe it or not, they probably know as much, if not more, about magic and old spells as Dumbledore did. Ivan taught me quite a bit during the months we were here. But I think Hermione learned the most because she spent so much of her time with her nose in some old book or other."
Soon everyone was sipping tea and snacking on biscuits while Hermione continued to recount the events that had happed before and after Harry regained consciousness. Nadia and Ivan listened intently to the tale and occasionally, Harry, Ron or Ginny would add something from their standpoint to the story.
They all had nearly finished their second cup of tea when Nadia noticed Ron trying to stifle a yawn.
She said, "Yu have had a long trip and it is getting late. We will have several weeks to catch up and talk so off to bed with yu now!"
They got up from the table and picking up one of the backpacks on the way, Ron followed Hermione toward the stairs that led to the two bedrooms on the second level. Harry followed closely on their heels carrying their other backpack. Ginny remained behind, still in conversation with Nadia and Ivan. On the top landing, Hermione went into the room to the left she had shared with Ron during their last stay.
Ron started to follow her but Harry grabbed his arm to halt him and whispered, "Where are you going?"
"To bed," Ron said, yawning again. "I'm tired."
Harry replied, "You must be. Either that or you really have turned around about the idea of me sleeping with your sister. I certainly won't mind but I'm not sure what Ginny will think about it."
Harry's grin grew wider when it dawned on Ron what he meant.
Barely masking the disappointment in his voice, Ron said, "No, that would definitely not be a good idea."
Ginny came up the stairs just as Ron poked his head through the doorway through which Hermione had crossed and said, "Good night, 'Mione, I guess I'll see you in the morning."
Nadia had left a lamp lit for them in each room and over Ron's shoulder Harry saw that Hermione had already started to pull down the covers of the large feather bed.
She looked up, and asked, "Where are you going? I thought you were coming to bed, too."
"I am… in Harry's and my room," Ron said tossing her a meaningful look and nodded between Harry and Ginny.
"Oh, right," Hermione said, sounding disappointed herself.
Harry turned and walked into the other bedroom shaking his head as he went. He opened the backpack and started pulling out its contents.
Harry heard someone enter the room behind him and said, "Hey, Ron, would you mind doing the counter spell to put everything back to normal size?"
He heard Ginny's voice say, "If you wait for Ron it might be a while. I'll do it for you."
Harry turned around and said, "Sure, thanks. Where'd Ron go?"
Ginny smirked and answered, "He's saying good-night to Hermione. The way they're snogging, you'd think it was going to be eight years before they see each other again instead of eight hours."
She pulled out her wand and within seconds all their belongings were back to normal.
Ginny said, "Please don't think I'm as priggish as Ron but I don't fancy watching my hypocrite brother snog his girlfriend any more that he wants to see me with my boyfriends. How on earth did you deal with those two for so many months?"
Harry laughed and said, "I spent a lot of time with Nadia and Ivan and a few other friends we made while we were here. But they weren't usually too bad whenever I was around. Although, I made sure I placed silencing charms around myself when we were camping."
Ginny said, "I hope you don't mind if I stay in here until the coast is clear."
"Not at all," Harry replied.
He separated his things from Ron's and placed his clothes into the drawers of the dresser by the bed.
"So, any plans for tomorrow?" Ginny asked.
Harry said, "I'm sure Hermione and Nadia will want to show you around the library and museum downstairs."
At the face she made, Harry said, "I think you'll enjoy it more than you'd expect. Nadia and Ivan really do have a brilliant collection of books and old-magic artifacts." Grinning and making an exaggerated bow before her, he continued, "But I promise to do my utmost to rescue you should I see that boredom threatens to overcome you."
Giggling at his antics and making a show of curtseying before him, she said, "Ah, the ever fearless knight prepared to come to my rescue. I thank you for your most welcome protection from boredom as well as from the traumatizing scenes my brother would thrust upon me tonight."
They burst into laughter just as Ron entered the room.
"What's so funny?" he asked.
"Nothing," Ginny said, still laughing. "You and Hermione done so can I go to bed now?"
"Yes," Ron said somewhat defensively.
"Good." Ginny turned back to Harry, stood on her toes and placed a kiss on his lips. Harry was about to respond with a more thorough kiss of his own but Ron cleared his throat and they stepped apart.
She smiled up at him and said, "Until tomorrow, sir knight."
She walked across the room and said, "G'night, Ron," and disappeared through the door.
Harry glanced at Ron wondering whether he would have to deal with any kind reaction to even that briefest of kisses; but all Ron said as he began to change for bed was, "Shall we try to get some sleep then?"
Harry replied, "That sounds like a good idea." Neither spoke while they changed for bed and in less than five minutes, Harry blew out the lamp.
Harry rolled over and as he drifted off to sleep, fantasies of being with Ginny in a much more private location played through his mind.
Harry's prediction turned out to be correct. Nearly every morning for a week, they found Hermione already up and at one of the library's tables with multiple old books open before her; next to these were always several stacks of other books she deemed on her must-read list.
This morning turned out to be no different and Hermione barely looked up when Harry and Ron came down the stairs. Ron went over to sit next to her and gave her a peck on the cheek.
"How long have you been down here this time?" he asked.
"Several hours," she replied. "Not everyone likes to waste a good part of the morning sleeping in. It's nearly noon."
Ignoring her comment, Ron asked, "Aren't you afraid your head may explode, reading so much?"
Hermione replied in an exasperated tone, "You know, if you tried reading something besides Quidditch magazines, you might actually discover that there are a lot of other interesting things worth learning about. We're only going to be here for a little while and there are so many things I still want to hone up on."
It looked to be the start of a conversation similar to the ones they had been having each morning since their arrival, so Harry decided to continue toward the back door of the library. This led out to a large garden where he knew he would most likely find Ginny with Nadia.
Nadia was an avid gardener whose flora collection included many plants, flowers and rare medicinal herbs. Ginny had discovered that she found the older woman's knowledge of the history and uses for each fascinating.
Ginny had also found Harry had been correct in that many of the tombs and artifacts Hermione and Nadia had shown her during the first few days of their visit had been as interesting as they were remarkable; but it turned out the garden was the thing that had captured Ginny's interest the most. She had already spent many hours of each day in the garden with Nadia while Harry and Ron spent their time with Ivan. Ivan was attempting to teach Ron the wandless disarming spell, with less than stellar results. He had also started working with Harry on wandless shielding charms.
When he stepped through the doorway, Harry saw Ginny and Nadia in the far back corner of the garden leaning over a waist-high yellow and purple plant. It was a warm, sunny day and Harry stopped to admire the sight of Ginny surrounded by exotic flowers and the sun reflecting off her hair like a golden-red halo. She was wearing an above the knee sundress that showed off her figure sublimely. Ginny turned toward the library and when she noticed him standing there, she smiled and waved. Realizing he had been staring at her, he waved back and walked toward them.
"Good morning, Harry," Nadia said pleasantly when he came up to them.
"Good morning," Harry replied.
"More like 'good afternoon'," Ginny said. "You're getting to be about as bad as Ron and my other brothers, sleeping in so late every morning."
Harry retorted, "I'm still recuperating; doctor's orders, after all."
"Hmm, right. So what's going to be your excuse tomorrow then?" Ginny asked.
"What do you mean?" Harry queried.
Ginny looked at him in surprise and said, "As of today your energy levels should be completely back to normal. You no longer have to refrain from using magic. Don't tell me you forgot."
"I haven't forgotten," Harry replied and a grin spread across his face. "I just thought maybe the rest of you might."
Ginny said, "I wonder what the Wizarding world would think if someone let it slip to the Daily Prophet just how lazy the supposed 'Chosen One' really is."
"I am not lazy!" Harry huffed good-naturedly. "Did you ever stop to think that maybe some bad Weasley habits are starting to rub off on me?"
Ginny's eyes sparkled and she replied, "Then maybe you haven't been spending enough time around the right Weasley."
"Oh, really? What do you suggest I do about that?"
Listening to their banter, Nadia smiled to herself. She had spent quite a bit of time with Ginny Weasley over the past week and she was happy to find her initial assessment of the girl had been accurate. There was an openness and honesty about her as well as a common-sense intellect not often found in one so young.
Nadia and Ivan had also noticed a change in Harry from the last time he and his friends had visited. He now smiled often and he seemed to be much more relaxed and at ease. Contrary to Ivan's suggestion, Nadia was certain the positive change had much more to do with the presence of the girl who was now walking with them than with his near-death at the hands of the Dark One.
Harry and Ginny had stopped walking while Nadia continued toward the library. Without looking back she said, "Ivan will be back soon, but yu should have plenty of time to find a resolution to Harry's problem."
They stared after Nadia for a moment until Harry decided to take advantage of the fact that he was at last alone with Ginny— something that had rarely happened in the past week, which had added to his ever-growing frustration.
"Well?" he continued their conversation. "I am correct in assuming you have an idea which Weasley would be a better influence on me, right?"
"I might," she replied. He noticed a blush had crept into her cheeks.
Crossing his arms and trying his best to give her the wickedest grin he could muster he said, "Go on then. Enlighten me."
He saw a mischievous gleam come into her eyes. He had seen that look before but usually when Fred or George had presented her with some particular kind of challenge.
"Okay," she said and took his hand.
She pulled him under a vine-covered trellis where they were out of sight of the library.
She stepped closer to him and placed one hand on his chest and the other behind his head. She drew him forward until their lips met and quickly escalated into a very passionate kiss. Harry pulled her closer to him so he could better enjoy the sensations that the feel of her body molding to his was awakening within him. He brought his hand caressingly up her body and the heat of their kiss and embrace continued to grow until they heard someone come up beside them.
"Oh…er, s-sorry…." Ron said uncomfortably and turned his back to them.
Harry broke their kiss but his eyes remained transfixed on the smoldering brown ones before him.
Trying to mask his annoyance and without looking away from Ginny, Harry asked, "Is there something we can do for you, Ron?"
"S-sorry," Ron stammered again, still with his back to them. "They, um, wanted you to know that Ivan is back and lunch is almost ready. I'll, um, just go and tell them you'll be along in a bit…"
Harry replied, "That will be fine, thanks."
Ron walked hurriedly away and Ginny let out a nervous giggle and said, "Do you suppose we traumatized him?"
"He'll get over it," Harry said still slightly annoyed. Softening his tone he continued, "I'm more interested in that influence it seems you have on me."
He pulled her back to him and kissed her again.
"So you did find it a positive influence?" she asked smiling up at him when they reluctantly ended the kiss.
"Most definitely," Harry replied.
They walked hand in hand back into the library still laughing when Harry asked her in a hushed voice whether she wanted to bet how red Ron's face would still be. She was about to reply when Harry stopped suddenly beside the table that contained the many opened books Hermione had been reading.
Ginny looked up at him questioningly and the expression she saw on his face startled her. No sign of the laughter they had shared only moments before remained; instead, there was a mixture of anger and fear.
"Harry? What's wrong?" she asked growing concerned.
He did not answer her. He reached down and turned one of the books toward him.
"Harry, what is it?" she asked again and looked at the page in the book that held him transfixed.
On the top of one page was a sketch that Harry was running his fingers over. Ginny looked closer at the drawing of a human skull engulfed in flames with a winged serpent encircling it like a crown; the mouth of the skull was open in a perpetual scream and several tear shaped markings were just below the skull's hollow, empty eye sockets.
"I've seen this before…," Harry said in a barely audible whisper. "I didn't remember it until now."
"You've seen it? Where?" Ginny asked.
"On the table when I took my wand and our things…" Harry continued, still in a whisper. "I was pretty out of it and I only saw it briefly; but I'm sure this is the same mark."
Ginny asked gently, "You mean you saw this mark just before you escaped from Voldemort?"
Harry nodded. Understanding his sudden reaction, Ginny wrapped her arms around him tenderly and found that he was shaking.