Disclaimer: I own nothing of the Harry Potter characters.
Chapter Two: The Promise
Harry apparated to the edge of the Burrow's pond so softly that only the faint 'pop', a mere hint of air displacement, announced his arrival. Normally he would have arrived silently, but the wards over the Burrow's property were very strong to prevent just this sort of thing.
Bill Weasley must have spent long hours layering the wards around the property, ensuring a peaceful and private celebration of his youngest brother's wedding reception.
Harry stood perfectly still, listening to ascertain if any of the reception's revelers were about. He wasn't worried about being seen, he'd disillusioned himself before apparating in, but someone could have heard the faint 'pop'elicited from his having to break thru the anti-apparation wards. Besides, Bill was brilliant at charms, he could have very well set an alarm in case the wards were breeched.
Harry let his empathic senses flow out in an expanding radius. Several moments later, he felt satisfied that he'd arrived undetected.
He could feel the happiness radiating from the distant crowd.
Music played softly on the night's breeze. Fairy lights lit the Burrow's gardens.
He could sense all their friends in the area: Molly and Arthur were dancing, Hermione's parents chatting happily nearby. The twins were in the Burrow, no doubt concocting some new mayhem- he'd have to look into that later. He didn't want any of the twin's 'special surprises' spoiling his best friends honeymoon.
Bill and Fleur were snuggling at a corner table. Neville was dancing with Luna, Semus and Dean were boisterously regaling a crowd of men that included the Dennis Creavey and… Justin- Justin Finch-Fletchy?
Harry expanded his probes curious…. There! Susan was here too. Susan and…a..a.. he could sense a very small sentience… a baby.
Susan was showing off her and Justin's newborn to a gaggle of witches including the Patils, Lavender, formerly Brown, now Lavender Finnigan and… Ginny.
Part of him felt hollow regarding Susan, another part was truly overjoyed for her and Justin's good fortune.
Another part of him, a deeper part, felt a terribly longing. That part was Ginny.
Days became weeks and months as Ginny kept vigil at his bedside. Long after everone else had given up and moved on; Ginny continued to visit his dying body. He'd watcged impotently from purgatory as she poured her heart out to his lifeless form, willing him to remember and return.
He did remember,... remembered and fallen in love all over again. He'd mistakenly thought it another creul torment of Fate. Apparently; Fate, Merlin, or even God himself, wasn't done with him just yet. He returned, completely healed and more free then he had ever felt. Stronger too.
Maybe Fate, God or whoever had their plans, but he did too...
For the barest of moments he considered empathically probing Ginny, but no, that would be a personal invasion. He would not do that to her. He would only be reading her feelings, her emotions, but,.. She was entitled to her privacy. If he wanted to know how she was - he could ask.
And so he would.
Harry padded softly toward the lights of garden. In a way, he was coming home. Though he'd been gone six months, time had little meaning in the afterlife. Six months might have just as well been six days for all the notice the spirit world took of such things.
Time was infinite. What matter a half year compared millennia?
"Could you play Harry's song again?" Lavender asked her friend.
"Yeah, come on ,Hermione?. I fancy a turn with me wife." Seamus added, shooting his wife an appreciative look.
"Please, Hermione?"
"Oh, I'd love to hear it?"
"Me too"
"Yeah, play 'The Promise'."
That's what Hermione and Ron had decided to call Harry's parting gift: 'The Promise'.
Soon all those gathered were clamoring that Hermione indulge them by activating the charm on her pendent. Everyone was hopeful for a repeat performance of Harry's treasured final song,… his promise to Hermione to sing at her wedding.
Harry's disillusioned form grinned mischievously from the edge of the garden-Perfect, remembering the song melody he'd placed in charm form over Hermione's necklace when they'd last parted.
Silently he cast a wandless echo charm on his throat. His voice and would drift around them like a breeze.
"A-Alright" Hermione relented and reached toward her pendent to activate the charm.
Her fingers never made contact when…
"No more talk of darkness… Forget these wide eyed fears"
"Oh that's so beautiful" One of the ladies gushed
People began to dance to Harry's song- not realizing it was a live performance.
Everyone except…
"Hermione?" Ron questioned, noticing his wife's stunned expression. "What's wrong, luv?"
"I-I didn't do anything, Ron" she gasped puzzled.
"Pardon?"
"I didn't activate the charm." She clarified. Her eyes searching his for an explanation.
"Then how…?" Ron gaped.
"I'm here, nothing will harm you… My words will warm and calm you"
"There's no music this time." Ron noted, his eyes searching the dance floor. "It's just Harry's voice- no background orchestra's playing the melody."
"Let me guard your freedom…Let daylight dry your tears"
Harry continued the song, letting his disillusion charm slowly fade as he entered the dance floor and approached his increasingly anxious 'best friends'.
Instead of raising the volume of his voice at the songs finally, he let it fade softly as his form slowly -visibly solidified.
It gave him the illusion of walking into existence from the Great Beyond.
Technically he was.
"Anywhere you go… my-love-goes-too."
"Remember me…that's.. all.. I.. ask.. of..youuu…"
From Phantom of the Opera
Harry shrugged smiling, appearing just a few scant feet in front of his gob smacked friends.
Incredulous, if not downright frightened gasps sounded from the dance floor around the three of them, as couples stood gaping at the specter before them.
Harry reached out a tentative hand toward Hermione's trembling form.
She flinched back, pressing herself into the security of Ron's startled grasp.
Wands appeared around the garden-all of them pointed in Harry's direction. He raised a questioning eyebrow and quirked a half smile, chuckling… "Whew, rough crowd. Didn't like the song, eh?"
"Harry, i-is it r-really you?" Ron asked in a voice that hardly dared to hope.
Ever the cautious one, Hermione cut in, "Say something that only Harry would know." She demanded.
"Something only Harry would know." He parroted with a cheeky grin"
Hermione raised her wand a little higher and narrowed her eyes.
"Er, Constant vigilance" Harry quipped warily.
"Not good enough" Hermione snapped back flicking her wand meaningfully.
Harry's eyes hardened ever so slightly. "In McGonagal's office you watched memories of my last battle against Voldemort, but you, Hermione, saw one other memory that the rest of the family never saw, didn't you?" Harry's answer was more of an accusation, but his pointed words hit the mark.
Hermione's wand shook in trembling hands, her face paled.
"Would you like me to tell everyone here what you saw,.. What Ginny nearly saw last New Years before I intervened?" A gasp from behind told him that Ginny had heard his reference.
"No ,…please..?" Hermione begged. Ron's eyes shifted back and forth between the two of them, curious as to what Harry was referring to.
Harry's smile returned as he changed tact and jokingly suggested, "I know " He snapped his fingers in revelation. "How about I tell everyone what the mere-people saw in the lagoon on my island?"
Now Ron's face had paled and Hermione's was blushing fit to burst.
"Oiy, this one sounds like a winner, Gred. Look at Hermione's face? Lovely shade of Weasley red" George quipped to his twin.
"Better yet, take a look a ickle Ronniekin's mug? Last time I saw him pale like that was when we'd accidentally showed him one of the 'Play Wizard' magazines we'd found in Dad's shed." Fred chortled.
"Arthur!" Molly's voice rang out scandalized.
"Molly, really." her husband choked out hurriedly. "I only got one for purely informational reasons. I ,..er, needed some illustrations for when I gave the boys " The Talk."
"Must of given each of the six of us the talk twice then, dad." Bill mused from somewhere nearby. "Cause I remember their being a whole year's subscriptions being tucked away under your work bench."
Laughter broke out around the gathering.
"It's the couch for you, Arthur Weasley!" Molly Weasley threatened.
" Mollywobbles…?" Arthur Weasley whined.
"Don't you Mollywobbles, me"
"Thank you very much, boys." their father accused dejectedly.
"I rather enjoyed our "talks" father. The illustrations were most helpful." Percy chimed in.
"You're welcome, Percy." His father returned in a withering tone.
"Talks?" Fred emphasized the plural.
"Voracious learning capacity that one." his twin surmised.
"Ah"
Harry was beaming at Hermione. His eyes 'twinkling' in amusement. "Sounds like I've got the right audience for this particular tale. Shall I go on?" he challenged
"You better not, Harry Potter." Hermione shook her finger at him in warning.
"Now that we've established that it's really me." Harry turned his attention to Ron.
"Congratulations, Ron. You're a lucky bloke." Harry complimented, extending his hand.
Ron reached out uncertainly. His trembling hand met warm, solid flesh.
Ron yanked him forward pulling his friend into an ecstatic hug that outstripped anything his mother could produce at her best.
"Harry!"
Within moments the two were completely engulfed in a group hug of ecstatic men and joyfully weeping women,… save two.
Hermione remained separate from the others, her face a mask of uncertainty. She was overjoyed, of course, but she was also… ashamed.
Ginny was the other woman who didn't join in the group hug. She wanted to alright, but, she was feeling quite selfish in that she wanted Harry all to herself, and not just for a hug!
As the initial elation subsided, questions poured in on Harry rapid fire from every direction.
He held his hands up pleadingly. "I know you've all got a thousand questions, in Hermione's case, two thousand." he jibed pointedly. "Let me just say this for now; I only awoke this afternoon. The general public as such, does not yet know that I'm up and around- though I'm sure it's only a matter of time. I took care of a few personal matters, and then I came here to celebrate my friend's good fortune. "
"You're family's good fortune." Molly corrected him, still clutching his side as if afraid to let go.
"My… family." Harry agreed, smiling down at her. He silently realized that Fate had been kinder then he'd thought. He could touch his surrogate mother again without incurring harm.
"Personal matters?" Jane Granger questioned cautiously.
Harry's smile faltered and his eyes misted. "I-I needed to check on the elves and s-see to S-Shadow properly."
Jane Granger's hand reached out and gently brushed his cheek supportively. "I'm sorry, Harry. "
Many well wishers echoed the sentiment around him.
"Most of us were there for the burial." Arthur Weasley added in, squeezing his shoulder bracingly. "Draco Malfoy gave the eulogy at the gravesite. He was very eloquent. Hermione and Commander Hoag fashioned the tombstone."
"Everything was perfect, thank you,.. . Thank you all." Harry nodded appreciatively, knuckling a tear from the corner of his eye.
Seeing the concerned expressions on his family's faces he reassured them "I'm fine." Their looks turned incredulous, some even alarmed. "Really, it's alright. I-AM-FINE. This is a wedding, not a funeral. We should be celebrating, not mourning." he offered grinning.
"You were right to be cautious,' Mione, he's not Harry?" Ron joked in feigned alarm. Everyone chuckled, easing the tension of the moment, as Ron had intended. It was true though, Harry had found a new more positive attitude, and it showed; if his 'twinkling' eyes were any indication.
"'Mione?" Her husband looked around, suddenly realizing his wife was not among those gathered around Harry.
Hermione had maintained her place during their excited exchange, still gaping at Harry with the most pensive expression.
Harry turned his attention toward Hermione. He caught her eye as he shrugged off his many well wishers.
"Hermione?"
"H-Harry,.. I..?" her words trailed off hesitantly, she brushed her hands down he gown nervously, not knowing what to do with them.
"You'd thought I broke my promise." Harry finished for her, understanding her trepidation.
He knew his friend, knew her perhaps better than anyone, even Ron. In that knowledge he knew that Hermione saw her actions as a betrayal, one that was tearing her up inside now that she was faced with the certain knowledge of her short comings.
"Are you going to doubt me, Ever Again?"he emphasized with a half serious, half smirking expression.
Hermione shook her head, "No, Harry." She vowed. "Not Ever Again".
"Promise me" Harry demanded. "I know you'd never break your promise." His grin broadened, he enjoyed turning the tables on her.
"I Promise, Harry" She crossed her heart with her finger and chanced a half nervous half smile of her own.
"Well,… alright then." Harry accepted with feigned reluctance, before opening his arms beckoningly. Hermione flew into his embrace.
"Awes" and many sniffles echoed from the audience around them.
After several cleansing moments of tears, murmurings of reassurance and even a few chuckles, Harry pulled back and asked "Would the bride be so inclined to favor me with a dance?"
"A waltz?" Hermione suggested wistfully, beaming at him.
Harry pulled a face. "Nah, I've been sleeping for six months. I'm up for something a bit more,.. More. For what I have in mind, I'd like to dance with the real Hermione. You know, the one who tries to hide herself behind the prim and proper façade?" Harry smirked challengingly.
Hermione flushed brightly at his suggestion. "I-I'm not sure?" She demurred cagily, trying to ignore the chuckling and good natured prompting of her surrounding family.
Harry made to pull off his coat, already anticipating she'd go along with his suggestion.
Hermione quirked an eyebrow. "Rather sure of yourself aren't you?"
Harry smiled predatorily and clapped his hands rhythmically.
The audience around them picked up the beat and clapped along.
He snapped his fingers and a hot salsa type melody filled the air.
He began to circle Hermione's exasperated form, in a stalking, predatory like fashion. Very poised, very measured.
Another 'snap' and the hem of her dress shortened to her knees and her neckline plunged.
"Harry!" Hermione nearly shrieked, blushing furiously and clutching her hand over her cleavage.
"Woo Hoo!" Cat calls and jeers voiced approval of his alterations, causing a deeper shade of blush on her cheeks.
"Ron?" Hermione half pleaded for rescue, keeping one eye warily on her circling friend and the other pleading her new husband.
Ron shot her an incredulous look and shouted encouragingly over the rising din:
"Give her hell, Harry!" He too started clapping along with the beat.
He knew Hermione. She wouldn't back down from the challenge, especially not after his siding with Harry.
With a feral growl Hermione shook out her hair and hiked up the hem of her dress, shimmying to the beat. He arms extended over her head as she jiggled sexily around Harry, her hips moving in rhythm with the song's beat. .
"Will you look at that, Gred?" George asked his stunned twin.
"Always the quiet ones." His twin agreed nodding sagely.
"Ickle Ronnekins will have his hands full with that one."
"Lucky bloke." Fred nodded appreciatively, his eyes catching the sway of his new sister in-law's hips.
Ron was smirking proud as a hippogriff from the edge of the dance floor. Harry flung his jacket off in a toreador's stance. The jacket hit Ron right in his grinning gob.
"Thanks" Ron grumbled irately.
Harry slid on his knees across the dance floor coming to a stop just as Hermione's right heel landed provocatively on Harry's shoulder , giving him and the rest of the audience an ample view of her shapely legs, as she arched her back and flung her hair back in a passionate pose.
The two of them danced around each other, at times their bodies entwining at others separate and challenging the other to new heights.
Ginny watched from the other side of the floor, a knowing smirk on her face as she clapped along with Harry and Hermione's inspiring interplay. They looked magnificent together. Each complimented the other beautifully, like a male and female version of her own twin brothers, each played off the other with perfect timing.
The casual observer would think there was something there between them,… and they would be right, just not like they would be led to believe.
There was an intimacy between the two that transcended passion. They were kindred spirits. Each could bring out the best in the other, they'd always could.
She looked at the envious expression on her brother's face. Not jealous, but envious, and with good reason. Ginny knew, as did her brother, that this was the real Hermione that everyone was seeing, some of them for the first time.
Hermione was bookish and smart. She was also brave, loyal and incredibly passionate.
Harry was the same, except most never saw the Harry underneath the courageous exterior. Only a rare few had personal knowledge of the raging inferno that burned in Harry's soul.
Ginny had firsthand knowledge of this. The memory, of that encounter, still made her stomach do flip flops and her cheeks burn.
He was pretending to be oblivious to her presence right know. She knew he was pretending, because she'd caught him glancing her way on more than one of his rotations around Hermione, when he was goading her into letting loose,… and boy was she!
The dance ended abruptly with Harry smoothly turning her into a submissive pose. Hermione's back arched across Harry's knee, her hair brushing the floor. His body curled into hers, his forehead pressed into her abdomen at the point of her plunging neckline.
Both were panting from their exertions. Everyone was applauding madly, Ron loudest of all. The twins were cat calling in genuine appreciation.
Harry and Hermione took a bow, and then he escorted Hermione to her waiting husband.
He spun Hermione into Ron's arms with a flourish. "Your wife."
"Your coat." Ron returned formally, flinging the jacket back into Harry's face.
"Not wrinkled, I hope?" Harry questioned with a suspicious glare.
Ron's eyes scanned his wife. "She better not be?" He growled warningly.
"Prats" Hermione huffed, slapping her husband's arm and glaring at Harry.
They all broke into laughter. It felt so good to be laughing with each other, enjoying each other. This was the real Ron, Harry and Hermione. This was the 'Golden Trio' of Hogwart's fame.
"This was fun." Harry announced. "We'll have to do it again next year." He suggested.
"That's why it's called an anniversary, you git." Ron reminded chuckling.
"Really?" Harry feigned surprise. "How about we do that then, celebrate your anniversary, only next year at my house?"
"S'ok by me" Ron agreed happily.
"Great." Harry snapped up his acceptance, intentionally overlooking Hermione's input. He planned to draw her out though. "How about I take care of the party for the first ,… and the fiftieth anniversary. You both can decide how you want to celebrate the other forty eight."
He was grinning madly, enjoying the look of consternation on Hermione's face.
"Y-You realize that you're going to have to be alive in fifty years to hold the party for our fiftieth anniversary, don't you." She clarified in a near pleading voice, searching his eyes.
"Naturally" Harry shrugged as if that were an obvious conclusion.
"I mean it, Harry?" She turned serious.
Ron caught on to what was happening between his two best friends. Their byplay had serious connotations. Harry had never, ever, been one to even suggest that he would be alive next month, let alone in fifty years. The future never entered into the equation where Harry was concerned. He never dared plan for anything too distant.
"I understand." Harry answered her soberly without the slightest pause.
"Promise me?" Hermione demanded, nearly begging. Her eyes were fixed on Harry's, but her hand was grasping Ron's for dear life in hopeful anticipation.
Harry's eyes 'twinkled' "I promise."
Hermione squealed ecstatically and threw herself into Harry's arms. After a few intense moments, she pulled herself out of his arms and palmed his cheek saying."You don't know how happy you've made me, I mean us." She blushingly corrected, catching her husband's eye.
"Oh, I think I have some idea." Harry reassured her. "But I didn't just do it for you, but for myself as well. I intend to be happy and for a long time. I think I've finally found.. my… place …" Harry's words drifted off as he realized the connotations of his words.
His place was here. It always had been. Harry staggered, realizing the ramifications.
Then his heart? His heart is…
"I understand, mum." He whispered to himself, his eyes slightly out of focus.
"Harry, what?" Ron asked concerned. Both he and Hermione had grabbed a steadying arm and overheard part of his whispered epithet.
Harry's vacant gaze shifted toward his friends. He blinked several times gathering his wits.
His hands shot out and grasped Hermione's shoulders in an iron like, yet gentle hold, that caused her to grasp startled by the intensity of his eyes and his vice like hold on her.
" Hermione! I know. I know my place!" He blurted out excitedly.
Hermione's initial shock passed and she rolled her eyes incredulously. "Your place is here, it always has been." Harry was nodding his head dumbly at her in agreement, as if she had made a brilliant deduction.
"Really, Harry…" She groused trying to extradite herself from his hold, but something behind his shoulder caught her attention.
The edge of her mouth curled up feral like. "Oh, Harry?" She grated sweetly. " Ginny's looking this way and she has the most intense look on her face."
Harry's sobered immediately, his back went ridged. "Ginny, eh? Does she look furious or does she have that…?" he began to question, but Hermione cut him off with a smirk.
"Hard and blazing look, like after the winning the quidditch cup our sixth year?" She confirmed, sensing the direction of his thoughts.
Harry relaxed slightly and a faint grin appeared on his face, until Hermione added, "Definitely hard and blazing, but also, er,.. Something else… I can't quite place it?" She questioned almost teasingly, tapping her chin as if considering.
"I can." Ron added from next to them, having glanced over his shoulder. "I've seen that look before, on mom. Come to think of it, Fleur gets that look every now and again to. It's a Weasley women thing. She's working herself up into a right state, she is. She's jealous! Mum, gets a look like that whenever dad makes the mistake of mentioning some new secretary down at the ministry or some such. Weasley women tend to be a bit,.er,. Possessive." Ron clarified, tugging at the knot of his tie uncomfortably, under his wife's scrutiny.
Hermione huffed indignantly at his unspoken implications.
"Really? " Harry reiterated with a cunning smirk forming on his face, his eyes were 'twinkling' madly with mischievousness.
Hermione clucked her tongue disapprovingly, swatting his shoulder to get his attention. " hatever's going on in that little head of yours- FORGET IT! , and just what is with your eyes 'twinkling' like that? It's like what Dumbledore used to do, only more disarming."
Harry ignored her comment. She could tell by the look on his face that his mind was deviously hatching some new ill thought out adventure.
Hermione's fingers danced over the hilt of her wand meaningfully as she added. "Women, especially witches emotions are not play things for your juvenile amusement, Harry Potter. And that goes double for you Ronald Weasley." Ron's eyebrows shot up as he cottoned on to the implications of displeasing his wife.
Harry's grinned incredulously. "Oh, I don't know…they don't seem to mind having us on at the drop of a hat?"
Hermione's raised her nose, sniffing disdainfully. "Usually men deserve it for being insensitive prats." This did nothing to refute Harry's claim, if anything, it lent it credence.
"Just in case you're wondering, she's heading this way and the blazing seems to have morphed into something resembling fury." Hermione smugly warned.
"That's my cue." Harry bolted, blurring forward in magically enhanced speed, leaving his startled friends listing in his wake.
"Why that little coward?" Hermione scoffed.
"Where'd Harry go?" Ginny asked innocently from her shoulder, startled by his all but unnoticed departure.
"Er.." Ron shrugged noncommittally.
Hermione's eye narrowed and she scathed. "Oh, very nice Ronald, defend the coward and become one yourself in a single nonsensical utterance."
May I talk to you, both of you,.. Privately?" Harry added nervously, indicating Mr. and Mrs. Weasley.
The couple shared a rather knowing look before directing him to the Burrow's kitchen.
Harry held the backdoor open for them, Mrs. Weasley shared another look over her shoulder with her husband, before entering.
"Can I get you something to drink, Harry? Tea,.. A butter beer? You must be starving dear, all those months being fed by tubes, not healthy, that." Molly moved toward the cold pantry but Harry waved her off.
"I'm fine, really, don't trouble yourself. I j-just need to ask you and Mr. Weasley something. "
"Oh. It's no trouble, Harry dear." Mrs. Weasley began placating.
Noticing Harry's nervous appearance, Mr. Weasley kindly intervened in his behalf.
"Not now, Molly. I think what Harry has to say is rather important, isn't it, Harry?" Mr. Weasley gave him a supportive wink.
"I-It is yes." he stammered in confirmation.
"Perhaps we should sit, then" Molly's hands swept toward chairs at the table.
They'd barely sat when Harry blurted out in a rush.
"I'dlikeyourpermissiontocourt,Ginny?"
Arthur Weasley's eyebrows shot up in surprise, but Molly just stared puzzled. "Pardon?"
" Er,." Harry began blushing, fit to rival a Weasley. " I, er,.. said that I'd like your permission to court, Ginny?" He reiterated though still a bit rushed.
"Oh, Harry!" Molly's hand grasped his and she pulled him into a half hug from where they sat.
"I see." Arthur mirrored in speculation. "And if I refuse?" he questioned.
"Arthur!" Molly shrieked in mortification, but her husband's eyes remained fixed on Harry's now worried ones.
The fire went out of Harry's eyes as he answered in a monotone. "Then I shall, of course, honor your wishes."
Mr. Weasley nodded his approval at his answer. "Harry could you give us a moment to discuss this please?" Mr. Weasley asked formally.
Harry nodded his agreement and left the room.
Mr. Weasley cast a silencing charm around the room, not for Harry's benefit, (he knew Harry would not intentionally violate their privacy by listening in), this was for the benefit of their many guests outside.
It was a long time before Mr. Weasley came to retrieve him- alone.
"Come in to the parlor , please, Harry." Mr. Weasley offered him a chair then proceeded to pour them each a glass of fire whiskey.
Mr. Weasley pressed the glass into Harry's hand and they shared an unspoken toast.
"I respect you for asking our permission to court our daughter, Harry. Most young wizards don't honor or respect such practices anymore. It is perhaps one such custom that up till now, I've always appreciated. I asked Molly's parents you see? Her father was very stern with me, stern but fair. Molly had always been proud of the fact that I cared enough to ask. I think her daughter will feel the same."
"I-I have your blessing, then?" Harry assumed hopefully.
"Mr. Weasley pulled a pained expression. "I'm afraid the answer is no, Harry. At least,… not yet." he amended vaguely.
"Not yet..?" Harry echoed, his eyes falling dejectedly toward the floor, but still he clung feebly to the shred of hope Mr. Weasley apparently offered.
Mr. Weasley sighed regretfully. He knew he was breaking two hearts. Two hearts that he would move heaven and Earth for without a second thought, but this…?
"Harry, answer a question for me please? Do you intend to retake up the sword and resume your role as a Magical Knight in service to the Magical Races?"
Harry nodded
"Then I fear I must stand by my decision. Harry please,… please understand me on this?" He begged as Harry made to leave.
"As long as you are a knight, Ginny will be in danger."
"I'd never let anyone or anything hurt, Ginny. I'd die first." Harry vowed, his magic swirling around him like a contained vortex.
"Harry,.. That's exactly what I mean. What would happen to Ginny if you died? It's been terrible for her, these past brushes with death. It's been terrible for all of us, really, but, especially for Ginny. If you were to marry and be blessed with children, how much greater then would be the devastation if you left one day, never to return home?"
Harry slumped into his chair-defeated. His face in his hands. "I-I'll give up the sword. Never again.."
"No!" Mr. Weasley interjected, near panicked. "I don't want that either. No one in their right mind would want that. It is my fervent belief that you are what you were meant to be. You have served the world well in this capacity and I believe that you have only just begun to realize your full potential. If you were to truly give up the sword because it was what you wanted, you yourself, then I could very well reconsider my position on this?"
He paused noting the calculating look on Harry's face. "No, I am not putting the needs of the world over that of my own daughter, quite the contrary. As minister of magic 'I'm sworn to serve and protect the magical world to the best of my ability. In that capacity, I do of course consider it tantamount that you remain in your capacity as a Magical Knight. That said, let me add this: My family comes first. I would never put any job, including my role as Minister of Magic, over the needs of my own family. In that respect, neither would you, Harry. That's why I don't think you'd willingly give up your role as a knight, not as long as there was a family out there that needed your protection as we have so often before."
"I could still see her, you know." Harry intimated with a hint of defiance in his voice. "Ginny might still go out with me, even without your approval?" Harry conjectured. The implied threat was notable.
Mr. Weasley nodded sadly. "She would, of that I have no doubt, but you wouldn't." Mr. Weasley sighed somewhat sorrowfully. "I almost wish that you would ignore my wishes in this, Harry, but,… you won't. I know you, Harry. I know the kind of man you are. It's one of the reasons that you, and you alone, were appointed a Magical Knight. You're an honorable man, Harry Potter. As such, I know you are incapable of willingly defying my wishes in this respect, however much you may want to do so. Ginny would defy me in this, you know. She would do so without a thought in regard to her mother's and my wishes to the contrary. Part of me would applaud her for doing so. Part of me would be gladdened to finally have you officially part of our family. "
Harry's face rose up in dread hope before dashed them again.
"But the other part of me would not be happy on the whole. We, Molly and I, would never acknowledge the union, Harry. Nor would we acknowledge any children that the union may produce, if you should defy our wishes in this matter. Would you want that for Ginny and any children you two should have?""
Harry immediately shook his head in abject defeat. He abruptly stood, his eyes were vacant and his hands were convulsing. He plunged them into his pant pockets to ward off the urge to throttle a man he'd considered as his own father.
Mr. Weasley noticed the gesture and what it portended; he wouldn't have blamed him if the tables were reversed.
"I-I know this will sound hollow, cruel even on the face of things, but, I think you're probably the greatest man who's ever lived and I could think of no one more deserving of my daughter's hand than you."
Harry snorted disdainfully. "Bit of a contradiction in that you want me to have nothing to do with your daughter."
"It is, yes. It is not who you are but why you are that gives me pause, Harry. Can you truthfully look me in the eye and tell me that Ginny will always come first?"
"Yes" Harry blurted out impulsively without a second thought.
Mr. Weasley smiled condescendingly. "Are you sure? If someone, say-Hermione's life was on the line tomorrow and saving her would mean your life,… what would you do?"
"I'd find a way." Harry deflected.
Mr. Weasley's face was impassive, gratingly calm as he pressed his point. "Ginny is at home with two of your children and another on the way. Hermione is pregnant with your niece or nephew, and her and Ron have two more children at home…. It's your life for her safety, Harry. What -Will-You-Do?"
"I'm very fast , you know?" Harry sneered challengingly.
"Fast enough to be two place at once?" Mr. Weasley pressured… "Well?"
Harry turned away and spat contemptuously. "You already know the damn answer. Don't look so smug either. You'd do the same if you were honest with yourself, Ministry be damned!" Harry shot back irately.
Mr. Weasley nodded his agreement. "I would, only my circumstances are quite different. I have a good and full life. My children are grown and no longer depend on me. I would make such a sacrifice out of love. You would do so for anyone, anyone at all, whether love entered the equation or not. You would do it because it was the right thing to do. Don't get me wrong here, Harry? I'm not implying, not for a second, that it's a bad thing. It is perhaps one of the most noble qualities to which man can aspire."
"But?" Harry sensed that he had more to add.
"But selflessness to that extreme is hardly conducive to the responsibilities of a husband and father. You simply cannot provide love and guidance if you are not there to do .. I…" he struggled to continue but was cut off.
"Don't. Just… don't…. I get it. You hypocrite." he spat at Mr. Weasley. "It was okay for you to fight during the war as part of the 'Order, and you still had children at home that depended on you, but it isn't okay for me to do the same, right?"
Harry passed around the room speaking with his flailing hands as much as with his voice. "I'm a great guy-blah-blah-blah. The world needs me- blah-blah-blah. Because your such a great guy; and the world needs you so much: It's gonna get you killed, therefore, you can't see my daughter- blah- blah-blah. Is that about right?" Harry finished verbalizing his contempt for the situation.
His surrogate father paled."Not exactly in those terms, nor sentiments, but yes, that's essentially the situation." Mr. Weasley acknowledged his stance.
"You leave me with nothing." Harry spat venomously.
"I disagree, though I don't expect you to feel the same. I leave you with a family that loves and cherishes you. I leave you with friends that would move Heaven and Earth if it could bring a smile to your face. I leave you with the love of two mothers and fathers. They love you as much as they love any of their own children, perhaps even more so. I'd be lying if I didn't acknowledge that. Though they might vehemently deny it, every parent has their favorite."
"Who's yours?" Harry snorted derisively, expecting to catch him in a lie.
"You are." Mr. Weasley replied without pause and with such complete conviction that it totally stunned Harry.
Mr. Weasley chuckled softly at Harry's gapping face. "You entered my heart that first summer you spent with us, even after you and Ron stole the old Ford Anglia." he clarified with a chuckle. "You endeared yourself in my heart when you rescued our only daughter from the Chamber of Secrets that year."
Seeing the incredulous look on his daughter's love's face. He clarified his thinking.
"Don't think I take this lightly, Harry. This is perhaps the most important decision I've ever had to make. It's a no-win for me no matter what I decide. If I consent for you to court my daughter, I'll earn her undying gratitude no matter the outcome. For that alone I'm very tempted to say yes, even though I fear the future will ultimately bring her pain and loneliness. At the rate you're going, it's only a matter of time before someone gets lucky and kills you. Ginny would be devastated, and as such, would face a long life, alone with her memories. There may be children,… and they would be a great comfort to her, but it wouldn't be the same. If Molly were to pass tomorrow, I have no doubts that I would soon follow. Ginny's children would keep her alive, but her heart,.. her fire, would be gone. You're a tough act to follow, Harry. I hold no illusions that any could replace you in Ginny's heart were I to allow it to go that far."
"By denying your request; I've damned myself. Ginny will be beyond angry. Her love for me will turn to hatred. Her brothers may even follow suit. But, there is the vain hope that she will eventually find another who could replace the memory of your potential in her heart. She could still have children and a full life? One that was free of the worry that her husband would return whole and unscathed each night. Though it is small compensation, I shall try to be content with that last. It will have to suffice against the enmity that my decision will surely earn me from the rest of my children and my own wife."
Harry's head came up at that.
"Yes, you heard me right. Molly does not like this decision either. She doesn't agree with it, but she does accept the knowledge of the consequences that Ginny would surely face. For that, and for that alone, she also denies your request. It is killing her to do so and I fear in time, this decision will cost her- her health. "
"Please,… reconsider? Harry pleaded, knuckling a tear from his eye.
"As much as I want to, for now,… I can't, Harry.
Harry fell to his knees in front of Mr. Weasley. Shocking the man.
"I-I've never begged before, no-not even to Voldemort. I wouldn't give that bastard the satisfaction. I,… I'm begging you now, though. Please, Mr. Weasley? You can't know the future. It might never happen. It could be tomorrow or never."
Words began tumbling out of his mouth as he pleaded with the Weasley patriarch.
"I might live to see my children fully grown and marry before it happens, if it happens? Maybe I'll just be hurt and not killed. I could give up the sword, it's not worth it. Nothing's worth it!" Harry was sobbing by the time he was finished.
A hand softly squeezed his shoulder, though he didn't dare to hope that the man he'd loved as a father might have changed his mind.
"I- I could accept that offer ,Harry, and bless you for it, but what a disservice I'd be doing to the rest of the world. You're a gift to the entire world, Harry. A champion of light. A symbol of hope. Your image alone inspires others to rise above their station and aid their fellow man. I could easily accept your decision Harry. My love for my daughter compels me to do so, but can I really be that selfish? Not and live with myself I fear.
I-I'm sorry, Harry. I truly am, but the answer is still ,…no. "
A sob of abject misery blurted from between the hands covering Harry's face.
"I'll go and inform Ginny of my decision. It's my medicine and I'll take it. At least she won't hate you because of it.
"No!" Harry grabbed his sleeves as he began to rise and pulled Mr. Weasley back down into his chair.
"I-I understand, I don't agree, but…I-I understand. There's no point in destroying you're family on my account. I'll let Ginny down -easily. She need never know it's anyone's decision but my own. Y-You can tell Mrs. Weasley that I agreed with your stance. Tell her that in talking with me you changed your mind and gave me your blessing, but that I reneged."
Harry's words became more determined and came out in a torrent. "Tell her that I insisted. That after considering everything I felt Ginny wasn't worth it. Hell, I could even play the cad for Ginny, that way she would be well shed of me. Her brothers and their wives may not be pleased about it, but we'd still be friends, maybe. I could still see them. That's something at least."
"Harry …." Mr. Weasley sighed beaming proudly. "I couldn't. I love you all the more for trying to protect me in this, but …I couldn't."
"I can't have you destroy your family over this,.. Over me,.. I'm not worth it. Please, Mr. Weasley? At least let me do this for you. If not for your sake, then for Mrs. Weasley's?" Harry begged desperately.
Mr. Weasley placed his palm on his cheek and smiled appreciatively into the green eyes of his favorite son, thinking about the irony that he wasn't even born of his own blood.
"Thank you, Harry, but no. I can at least do this much for you and salvage your honor."
Harry shook his head sadly. "Then you leave me no choice- Obliviate!"
Harry erased the entire episode of having asked to court Ginny from his memory and then
he went and did the same to his surrogate mother.
What he did, sickened him, but the consequences of not doing it outweighed the revulsion he now felt.
There was but one more detail he needed to attend to, well… two actually. He had to arrange a suitable change in plans for Ron and Hermione's wedding night. He'd overheard enough from the twins subtle conversations, to realize that Ron and Hermione were in for anything but an enjoyable honeymoon.
Harry apparated to Gringott's to seek Griphook's services. A half hour later, a more confident Harry Potter strode onto the dance floor at the Burrow, amidst a roar of greeting from his friend and extended family.
"Where have you been?" Hermione hissed in his ear when he ventured close.
Harry smirked mischievously, his eyes twinkled fit to shame Dumbledore's by their intensity.
"I've been attending to details, Mrs. Weasley, important details that required my immediate attention. I fear the Weasley twins have made some rather dubious plans concerning your honeymoon celebration. I was forced to make some alterations that I trust will be to your approval in keeping with the spirit of the festivities." he answered in a near perfect imitation of Dumbledore's voice and manner.
Hermione glared suspiciously. "I don't like the sound of that, any of it. And I most certainly don't like the look in your eyes either, Harry James Potter.
"A most curious stance, Mrs. Weasley, however, I fear I must act for the 'greater good'. He grabbed hers and an approaching Ron's hands and pressed a portkey into their grasping palms.
With a loud "POP", the two port keyed away to the adventure for which he'd spent the last half hour planning the first two phases of while he was away at Gringotts.
They would arrive at his private island, where they would find a full larder and a suitable wardrobe for a short stay on his island get away.
Another port key was waiting for their use after. It would activate in two days, transporting them for a week in the Swiss Alps. All their needs would be catered to, if not pampered, luxuriantly so. No expense was to be spared. Everything was to be charged directly to his Gringott's vault.
At the end of the week- The Greek isles, awaited their pleasure, and so on and so on for an entire month.
The D.O.M. had graciously extended Hermione's leave for a month, (at Commander Hoag's insistence). Frankly the man was so thrilled with Harry's survival that he could have asked for a year, but a month should be sufficient to guarantee the continuation of the Weasley line.
The twins weren't the only ones that could plan with ulterior motives. A simple deactivation spell had been wandlessly applied to Ron and Hermione's wands, keyed to any common prophylactic charms. The twins had originally cast a charm that would switch a prophylactic charm to a fertility charm.
Knowing that Hermione's sharp mind would catch the change in the spells sensation, Harry had simply expanded upon the twins original idea and negated the prophylactic spells effectiveness. It would feel the same on the surface, but would have none of the "teeth". With any luck they'd have a new Weasley on the way before Hermione thought to test their wands. He almost pitied the twins when that happened. Harry had altered the charm wandlessly but had left the Weasley twins wand signatures intact. Hermione would assume they were solely responsible for putting her in the maternity way. When that happened, Australia wouldn't be far enough away to open a new branch of WWW.
Getting Ron a month off had been a little more difficult. The Canons had just barely edged into the play offs and Ron was due back for practice on Monday. Giving him and Hermione a miserly one day honeymoon at Godric's Hollow.
The location had given the twins ample opportunity to ensure their one day as a new couple would be shared in anything but wedded bliss.
The Weasley twins would soon learn the folly of their unromantic ways. Harry had made a quick side journey to Godric's Hollow and had taken it upon himself to deactivate some of the twins more bothersome pranks and tweaked a few others to provide for a more interesting result.
In regards to procuring time off for Ron, Harry made a hasty deal with the Cannon's management. One that would upset Ron initially, but he would come to appreciate next season.
Harry had to pledge his services to the Cannons, he'd never played as keeper before, but if that was what was required of him, (so that Ron and Hermione could share this time together), than a keeper he would become. That was just the first half of his promise. He also was obligated to return as their starting seeker next season. It was hardly an obligation as he missed playing and it had the added bonus that it served his rapidly evolving plans quite well. Quite well indeed.
The second detail was the beginning salvo in what would undoubtedly be his most risky gambit. Now that Hermione and Ron were safely away from the twins clutches and with any luck- out of touch with the local presses,… Harry could launch his desperate plan to secure the Weasley Parent's future blessing for their daughter's hand at their own volition. Actually, what Harry had in mind would hopefully result in their insistence on his courting, if not marrying Ginny outright.
I suppose I could just woo and intentionally impregnate Ginny? He'd considered briefly. But that would only disrespect her and force the issue with her parents, neither of whom would ever trust or respect him again. No, he had to go about this in a totally different way. One that would compel Arthur and Molly to make the suggestion themselves. For that to occur, he had to get Ginny's attention. The best way to do that would be to ignite that famous Weasley passionate side-their fire, unfortunately their infamous temper came with it. He was walking the proverbial tightrope, but, if what he had in mind worked, Ginny would be raving made by the end of the year.
To win Molly and Arthur's support, he'd have to prove that he could survive whatever the Wizarding world threw at him -unscathed. He'd need to remain positive, and above all-injury free.
Harry mate, you're going to have to learn to be careful. No more reckless impulsivity. Merlin, Ginny was probably going to murder him anyway, with what he had planned.
"How about another song, Harry?" someone cheered out from the gathering, drawing him out of his contemplation of the last two hours.
He chanced a glance Ginny's direction. She still had that 'blazing look only now mixed with rising irritation. She was waiting, albeit impatiently, for him to make the first move.
And so I shall
"A-Alright" Harry agreed hesitantly. His mind had already fixed upon a song that would be perfect for the first salvo in his new Weasley war.
"Any suggestions?" It was manipulative on his part to ask the crowd's opinion as he knew they characteristically enjoyed ballads.
"Something romantic!" came a female suggestion.
"Something fun." a wizard chimed in.
"Something meaningful." an all too familiar voice sang out sweetly.
Ohh, Ginny… you don't know what you've just done? Harry smirked cunningly.
"Hmm, romantic, fun and meaningful, eh?" He tapped his chin as in contemplating their suggestions.
"I know!" He pretended to have a sudden insight.
Harry conjured a makeshift stage and charmed a set of drums and two guitars to start up a melody on his cue, ( it was a common practice at wizarding wedding to have a full orchestra, sans musicians. One only need to think of a song, cast the charm and the instruments would play it in the order it was received).
Harry tossed his jacket aside and proceeded to unbutton his shirt, revealing an immodest portion of his well muscled chest. He didn't need to glance her way; he could feel Ginny's eyes burning him with their smoldering gaze. That and mixed with a modicum of jealousy over the notice other witches were taking.
He rolled up his sleeves and cued the magical band.
The instruments struck up a very fast pitched, rock n' roll tune and Harry began shuffling sexily to the beat.
On cue, he somersaulted from the stage amidst startled gasps and excited cheers from the remaining guests. As soon as his boots hit the floor he belted out the first chords of his well chosen ', fun and meaningful' song:
I want my share of love….
It might as well be known.
But I aint thinking of..
One girl to love alone.
He danced among the audience as he sang, wooing every witch within range; using his body and his voice to their fullest allure. He worked the crowd shamelessly, every witch, young and old, fell victim to his charms. No one, married or no, was exempt,… except of course, Ginny.
That aint the way it's gonna be….
I'm on my own and I am freeee.
I just wanna be satisfied…
So I don't wanna be tied!
Somebody's loving arms..
Could be sweet, I've found.
But I don't want no one's arms…
To ever hold me down.
Once I get caught inside a web,..
I'm gonna find another beddd.
I'm gonna run and hide…
Cause I don't wanna be tied!
The 'fun- meaning'of his song was brutally apparent- Harry was on the market.
He finished the song dancing with not one, but two witches, who were shamelessly sending the message that they were definitely interested in a more 'personal' encore.
Raucous cheers and catcalls of appreciation came after. Harry stole a brief, but smoldering kiss off his two recent acquaintances.
The second of the two, (the blonde hussy- from Ginny's vantage point), clamped her hands on Harry cheeks and prolonged the catcalls followed his departure. The girl swooned when he broke away,.. and Harry?
Harry blew a bubble and chortled, "Thanks for the gum."
Another round of catcalls and wolf whistles followed his departure from the dance floor.
Harry pretended to chance unexpectedly upon a furiously gapping Ginny Weasley.
"Hey, Gin! " Harry grinned winningly. "Gosh, you look fantastic. Where've you been? I would have loved a chance to dance with the prettiest girl here." he remarked without the slightest hint of duplicity.
Ginny did a double take. He couldn't be this thick,.. could he?
She wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt,.. But not a word in greeting all night?,.. And then that song and those…. Those…, scarlet women!
Her temper won out.
"Who're your new friend s, Harry?" She growled in barely contained fury.
Harry for his part didn't seem to notice the warning in her voice. His eyes turned back toward the two witches, who're still sending pointed looks his way.
"Don't know, but they sure are friendly." he agreed.
Ginny's blood boiled at his innuendo.
"Can you believe it, one of them slipped me a note with a lipstick kiss on it, and her floo address written inside the kiss. The other one gave me her gum." Harry smacked his lips.
"It's strawberry I think. The flavor kind of reminds me of the way your lips used to taste." Harry paused blushing furiously. "O' course ,your's were naturally sweet that way." He colored bashfully.
Ginny's eyes went wide; her anger completely vanished as she goggled stupidly at him in total disbelief.
Is the insensitive git, really this clueless? First he's consorting with those ,.. Those,… bi-witches. Now, I think he's actually flirting with me?
"Well, that's it for me; I'm completely knackered, still recovering, you know." Harry made his excuses and turned to leave, seemingly oblivious to her state of shock.
As if in parting afterthought, "Merlin, you really do look beautiful ,Gin." He exclaimed breathlessly, his eyes roaming over her appreciatively.
"See ya, soon." Harry brushed his hand gently down her arm, raising goose bumps in the wake of his fingers. He smiled and left her there,.. gapping stupidly.
Ginny stood there for minutes, an hour even. Her mouth working soundlessly, a blush on her cheeks.
What was that?
Harry caught sight of the twins, summoning their attention in a disarming fashion. He appealed to their greed.
"My esteemed partners! " He barked out cheerfully. "I've got an idea for a new product that'll make you millions."
George and Fred had been beating a hasty retreat when they saw Harry heading their way with a cunning smirk on his face. Their pace had quickened when he called out to them. The mention of 'millions' had them drawn like doxies to old robes. They just couldn't resist.
"Do tell?" George crooned. "I'm all ears, thanks to you good sir.
"What's your idea , our fifth and bestest brother." Fred oozed flatteringly, but his eyes danced excitedly at the prospect of new pranks and subsequent wealth.
Wellll ?" Harry began slapping each on the shoulder in a one armed hug; planting the port keys he'd palmed.
"I call it: Hilarious Honeymoon!. The port keys activated at his spoken 'key word' and the twins 'popped away' for an unexpected adventure of their own, original devise.