Disclaimer: I own nothing of the Harry Potter characters.

Chapter Twenty-six: The calm before the storm

"It serves you right ya overgrown Horney Toad!"

"Rooowrrrr"

"Oh you will, will you? That's a fine attitude and on Christmas yet, you ingrate."

"Grrr, rowrrr- brffft!" she complained

"Har...I think they look precious. Now you look like a proper princess... Fi-own-a!" he drawled.

Harry slapped his thigh and laughed uproariously at the spectacle. His dragon familiar was slipping and stumbling around her pen in a pairs of giant pink satin slippers that Harry had conjured especially for her as a Christmas present.

"All that's missing now is a pink bow for your lovely head." He quipped. "I know.." he snapped his finger in revelation. "I'll get one for your birthday,.. or is that hatching day? Har-Har"

"Grrr..." Foooph!

Harry ducked under a warning blast of Dragon fire that singed his hair in passing.

"Just for that...no flaming Christmas pudding for you!" he admonished his irate familiar.

"Rowrr, hmmm...grrf" the dragoness whined dejectedly.

"Oh alright" Harry relented, "But just a small one. You're getting rather flanky, Fi. Ha-Ha!"

This time Harry made a beeline for the safety of distance as a flaming ball of snot narrowly missed his retreating form.

Ginny came upon him as he was still chuckling and wiping at his tear streaked eyes and mumbling.. "Love that girl."

"Should I be jealous?" Ginny asked curiously in a mocking tone.

He started at that, having been caught off guard. "Probably" he recovered, adding. "You two could be sisters. Fiona's another fiery tempered red head. The place seems crawling with them of late."

Ginny's eyes narrowed as she asked in barely believed innocence... "Fiona...?"

Harry cocked his head at that. "You've not met, Princess Fiona, yet?"

Ginny's eyes widened as she stammered uncertainly, "P-Princess?"

"A Romanian princess." He clarified, going on to explain. "Her family goes back thousands of years to the time of the druids. One might even say they were founded by the druids. Would you like to meet her? I think you two would get on famously."

Ginny brushed her hands down her sundress uncertainly."I-I'm really not dressed to meet royalty? I don't want to make a bad impression...?"

"Nonsense," he reassured, taking her hand and folding it into the crook of his arm and leading her back the way he'd come. "We're very informal here. Allow me the pleasure."

Harry led Ginny over to one of the dragon enclosures and called out... "Oh, Princess Fiona?"

"Grruumpfff" Fiona groused, poking her head up from behind a copse of bushes.

"Milady" Harry fawned bowing formally to which his familiar snorted with an air of importance.

"What, that?" Ginny scowled bating away the arm she'd been holding. "Of all the stupid jokes!" she groused.

"Rooowrrr" Fiona growled low in her throat her scaled head angling down to confront Ginny's now alarmed eyes.

"Milady is displeased!" Harry fawned placating, fidgeting nervously as he placated. "Forgive this wretch, majesty? She is an uncouth peasant, unworthy of your magnificence."

Harry elbowed Ginny hissing under his breath.. "Bow, before she fries your arse."

Ginny abruptly dropped into a courtesy. "S-Sorry,... er, milady" She haltingly apologized, eyeing Harry suspiciously as she did so.

Fiona huffed, blowing smoke from her flaring nostril. She fixed a glowering eye on Ginny and snuffled expectantly.

"Gr, ruff, ffft"

"No , majesty,.. she has yet to produce eggs, much like yourself. She is unrealistically selective, also not unlike your majesty." He added knowingly.

Fiona glowered at that, barring her fangs at Harry in warning.

"I thought the Ukranian Ironbelly a nice enough chap and it's not like there have been other interested parties." He defended his remark.

"Ummmffff" Fiona snorted disdainfully.

She snuffled over Ginny again and grumbled and groused to Harry expectantly.

"Me?" he feigned incredulously, explaining to Fiona and a puzzled Ginny by proxy. "No, apparently a knight or even a humble Lord of the magical realm is unworthy of this simple commoner. I've entreated Milady many times only to be soundly rebuffed. She and her family find me both low and pretentious."

"What,.. huh?" Ginny stammered in surprise at Harry's dramatized a wounded look.

Fiona growled low in her throat, eyeing the girl with feral displeasure.

"Your majesty does me great honor, but I fear your entreaties in my behalf fall on deaf ears. Her father would never consent to allow her hand to one such as me." Harry swooned as if heartbroken.

"Pfft" Fiona huffed, blowing a puff of brimstone in Ginny's face before turning away and wiping her feet on the grass disdainfully and trotting away.

"Of all..the" cough..cough... "nerve!" Ginny coughed and gagged her displeasure at the obvious insult Fiona made at her expense.

"Her majesty is most wise." Harry responded appreciatively. "There are perchance only thorns wherein I blindly thought to see a rose before me." Harry quoted dramatically and swept away from her, leaving Ginny gapping stupidly in his wake.

All the families gathered for a sumptuous Christmas lunch. Harry dined with Draco, his family and Ron and Hermione's. Ginny tired to catch Harry's eye on a number of occasions, but he only waxed poetically, shunning her entreaties.

Having enough, Ginny stomped over to his table seeking an answer to his standoffish behaviors. Harry turned away dramatically, refusing to acknowledge her entreaties.

Draco relayed in his behalf. "Princess Fiona finds you unworthy and you are to desist in entreating Sir Harold forthwith." He pronounced with complete conviction, though Ron and Hermione snorted appreciatively at that.

"What're you playing at? Just because you name a dog 'prince' doesn't make him royalty. That's nothing but a stupid dragon." Ginny scoffed.

There were many intakes of breath and gasps of surprise at that.

Draco rose up from his table, throwing his napkin down on his plate as if it a gauntlet. "Fiona is princess and heir to the Great Queen Mother of all dragons."

Ginny goggled at that, but before she could even think to reply, Draco continued to lay down the law.

"Her word holds as much sway in the Dragon nation as Raynock's does the Goblins. As Sir Harold is Knight and Lord Protector of the Magical Races, he is her loyal subject and servant. If she finds you unworthy of his attention, then unworthy you are and until such time as you can prove yourself otherwise."

Ginny brandished her finger threateningly at Draco as she growled out, "If you think I'm gonna kowtow to some over sized petting zoo exhibit than you've got another th.."

"Er,...Gin?" Her brother Charlie tapped her on the shoulder, interrupting her before she could get up a good head of steam.

"What?" she snapped back, momentarily distracted.

"Er,.. Fiona is the heir to the Dragon Queen Mother and she.."

"You're having me on?" Ginny scoffed, though uncertainly because Charlie always tended to be straight with her.

Charlie gulped, shaking his head in earnest.

"Really?"

Charlie nodded.

"Oh, um...?"

"Hmmmfff!" Draco huffed haughtily. He and Harry left after shooting her looks of indifference and disapproval.

"I..I guess I better, er.. apologize?" Ginny suggested uncertainly.

"Flowers might be nice" Ron suggested before he burst out laughing, Hermione along with him.

Draco, I and a few interested friends are watching from a good vantage point, disillusioned, of course, as Ginny tentatively approaches Fiona's pen with a large bouquet of Red Roses-her favorites.

"EEEP!" Ginny shrieked as Fiona snaps up the proffered apology and munches away happily as Ginny bolts for safer ground.

Draco and the boys are howling in laughter, me... I'm just glad that Fiona was feeling generous and didn't nip off a finger or two.

That night; the five of us knights along with Abigail, Hermione, Bill Hoag and a few others are huddled in conversation which is a nice way to say that they're adamantly against my decision.

"I'll leave at noon with both Magical and electronic trackers in place, though I don't expect that contingency has not already been planned for and nullified." I've decide in a voice that brokers no further argument. Draco looks about to try, but even he knows this is something we cannot afford to ignore.

Hermione, bless her has no such compulsions. "Harry..." she behind tentatively, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear as she organizes her thoughts. "You aren't doing this because..." Hermione let off, not liking what she was about to say, but finishes the rest of the thought. "She wouldn't want that, Harry. You know she wouldn't and that wasn't her to begin with."

Hermione's eyes silently plead with me, in that she's not alone as Abby's expression mimics hers.

I couldn't love either of them more, but this is as much an opportunity as it is a trap. Emotions aside, it's a chance we must take and I've already pointed that out.

"I know it wasn't her,.. and you can say her name, Hermione." I admonish gently. "It was a monstrous representation of her devised solely to elicit some form of response from myself, if not to at least peak my interest. Susan would never willingly allow me to endanger myself, her death alone proves the validity of that."

Hermione nods, wiping at the corners of her eyes as Abby pats her other hand supportively across the table.

Three Hours Earlier...

Warning claxons are blaring throughout the entire facility, ones that we never thought we'd ever hear used, but we installed just in case.

"Perimeter alert section one, perimeter alert section one! All ancillary personal and civilians are to report to designated shelter and evacuation points. All Knight Watch personal we have a perimeter breech in section one!"

Ginny stood in the hall practically being trampled as Knight Watch members scrambled to their lockers and briefing rooms. It wasn't that she was frightened, alright,.. she was- a little, but mostly-she didn't know what she was supposed to do.

"E-Excuse me...? Can.. you...?" She was being bumped and jostled unintentionally, but receiving no acknowledgement for her trouble. She was about to run off in search of Hermione when a hand snaked out and clamped on her wrist in a vise like, yet oddly gentle grip.

Startled, she turned and was captured by blazing emerald green eyes that stole her breath away.

"This way." Harry intoned, pulling her along in his wake.

Angelina Johnson was on his other side, already in full battle gear, snapping Harry's glimmering wrist guards into place as he carried her along, oblivious to Angie's ministration or the activity around him. Not that he needed to bother as everyone parted before him as he strode down the corridor with a purpose.

Once Angie secured his guard, Harry tapped the insignia at his lapel and called out over the din... "This is Phoenix, base, give me tactical?"

"Bill- here, Harry. We've got a breech in sector one, a single entity calling out for you by name. Female voice and figure, but no heat expenditure or life signs register on our sensor.. I repeat- no life signs. Assume Dead Light . Repeat- Assume Dead Light- Acknowledge?

"Acknowledged, command. Will move to intercept. Have Knight team rendezvous Section one, point Gamma in three minutes- Acknowledge?"

"Three minutes- point Gamma-Acknowledged. Lives Come First, Harry. Remember?"

"Lives First, Bill, understood. Phoenix Out."

"What'd he mean about lives first?" Ginny asked worriedly as he pulled her inexorably along. "What's a Dead Light? Where point Gamma or even Sector One for that matter?" Ginny babbled, her wide eyes continually swiveling back in forth in consternation at the activity going on around her.

"Here" Harry announced, delivering her to Emergency Medical Bay-1, by a route she hadn't recognized and was infinitely shorter than the one she was used to.

"Stay here. Stay safe." He commanded, his eyes holding hers as Angie set to fastening his ironhide cloak in place at the shoulder joints of his breast plate.

For the first time she was able to take in his entire appearance. He was in full battle armor and to say he was stunning was the understatement of the millennia.

Powerful arms jutted from gleaming breast plate that seemed adhered to his torso in such a way that it rippled when he moved as if it were steel skin. His gleaming cloak flowed around him on a nonexistent breeze. Great waves of magical energy flowed from him like waves of heat that rippled through the air catching dust motes that sparkled like fairy lights, dancing on a nonexistent breeze.

His sword; Potter's Providence blazed into being, filling his open hand as if he were reaching into another world to claim it. His glowing green eyes glanced down the blade, expertly searching for the slightest anomaly. Satisfied, he snapped his wrist and the blade turned over in his hand like lightning. He perused the reverse side, once satisfied; he twirled the blade between his fingers as if weightless. It spun in the air like the blades of a muggle fan-it was moving that fast. With a snap that defied all sane reason, the blade slid home into its scabbard without the slightest hitch despite the immense speed with which it moved.

George had been understating things when he intimated that his handling of a blade was as nothing compared to Harry. The most shocking thing of all was that she knew he wasn't even trying to be impressive, (like George had), he just was.

He was absolutely breathtaking!

Ginny found herself growling low in her throat in spite of herself. Way to go, Weasley. You idiot! She admonished herself, coloring like a school girl.

Harry smirked at her knowingly with a cocked eyebrow that only made things worse, or would have, if he hadn't turned to leave as quickly as his smirk blossomed.

Ginny's hand shot out holding his forearm back. Her own fingers trembled from the contact. By the look he gave her he noticed this and frowned slightly.

Merlin, she wished she had the time, let alone courage, to really tell him just why she was trembling.

"Y-You stay safe too." She commanded, but with less certainty that he had shown before.

Harry smiled reassuringly, glancing down where her hand rested on his arm, rubbing the pad of her thumb across his flesh affectionately.

"I will" he returned with complete conviction and a smile to match.

Ginny nodded after a moment and Harry's hand shot out grasping Angelina's arm and they disappeared in swirl of his golden cloak like leaves on the wind.

A gentle breeze stirred the air in his passing. She couldn't be sure, but she could almost swear she heard the faint strains of Phoenix song drifting away.

Harry and Angelia emerged in a swirl of gold within a gentle breeze.

Draco and the rest of his armored brethren already awaited them.

"You're updated?" They spoke in hushed tones.

Draco nodded. "The party has remained still and continues to call out for you and you alone...I don't like it, Harry." Draco added worriedly in a near whisper.

Harry yes scanned his fellow knights, two nodded their agreement with Draco. Jimmie pulled his own sword and offered: "Let me take care of it before it, whatever it is, ruins the rest of the holiday?"

Harry smirked. "How rude, and after it asked for me personally, and in my own quarters yet?"

Jimmie chuckled, but silenced immediately at a sharp look from Draco.

"Johnson, Rawlings; you two hang back. At no time are you to engage-Understood."

"Roger, yes sir." The two squires acknowledged.

"First and foremost your responsibility is to evac wounded knights. Your mentors are your first priority, understood?" With this Draco fixed, Angelina with a significant glare which she gulped and nodded her understanding to.

Harry came first. Everyone knew it. He didn't like it, but that's how it is. Not a member of Knight Watch, the world over, would let harm befall Harry Potter whilst they still drew breath. It was an unspoken law amongst them; one that they were deeply honored to obey, though Harry gave them no opportunity to do so, much to their chagrin.

Harry nodded toward the door to his quarters, just meters away."I take point, Rafe my right, Jimmie my left. Kevin you and Draco..."

"I stand at your right." Draco growled coolly in reminder. The other knight rolled their eyes as this was an ongoing tug 'o war between the two as each tried their best to shelter the other. It served no end other than to aggravate each other.

Harry smirking, altered his orders accordingly.

Draco and Harry flanked the door of his living quarters moments later. The rest of the housing units had been evacuated. A quick hand signal and they entered the door with Harry in the lead and Draco and the others on his heels.

Standing before him was the last person Harry would have ever expected to see again.

He sheathed his sword and made a half step forward before Draco's hand clamped on his shoulder holding him back as he hissed..."That's not her, Harry."

Harry nodded. "I know" he verified. "But someone or something went to a lot of trouble to get my attention and I want to know how much."

Harry shrugged off Draco's hand and took a step forward toward the waiting female. Once female, now an undead facsimile. His brother Knights stood gapping with swords drawn at the ready, expecting anything.

"What do you want?" Harry asked coolly.

She looked up at him with once soft blue eyes that were now pale reminders of what they once were, though the rest of her looked as he remembered, except a bit more mature and broader through the hips. Her strawberry blonde hair was styled prettily, but it lacked its former luster.

"Harry" the creature that was once, Susan Bones, smiled and move a half step forward with reaching arms to embrace him.

A wall of threatening steel stopped her in her tracks as the points of each Knight's sword came forward in warning.

"H-Harry...Please?" She beseeched him.

"You are no more Susan Bones than I am." He answered stoically, returning to his original question. "What do you want?"

Susan smiled coyly at that and folded her hands together. "You" she answered.

"What for?" Draco asked from his right before Harry could.

"That is between him and my master." Susan returned evasively. "He makes you this invitation to meet. He will not make the offer again should you refuse. Please don't refuse, Harry." The warning tone and slight shudder that rippled through her at that verified his own concerns that her 'master' was not someone who took rejection well.

"When and where does he wish to meet?" Harry asked having already decided to accept.

"That is only for your ears to hear." Susan instructed.

Harry nodded his understanding before asking a question of his own. "Why did he, or she, choose you to play messenger?" He suspected he already knew the reason, but he wanted to hear it just the same.

Susan smiled coyly, but this time it was bereft of the affection her former self possessed.

"You and yours were difficult to find, but found you he has. I was chosen because he needed someone who could find you, Harry. Someone who was once close to you. He thought to use your mother, but she is naught but bones and dust now. Your familiar, Shadow, I believe she was named? She was another, more viable option."

Harry nodded confirmation at this, but his eyes were cold fire as he growled out... "Is your master responsible for spiriting away Shadow's remains?"

Susan nodded adding, "And the owl too. She was of no use, just a whim, really." Susan shrugged indifferently, seeming oblivious to the temperature change in the room as Harry's anger brought his magic to the fore. His knight brothers shifted uncomfortably, but made no comment.

"She was taken along with Shadow for no more reason than it amused my master to distress you. Shadow was made whole as I, but she resisted my master's command. Even in death she would not be an instrument of another's will that was contrary to your own. Thus she was destroyed utterly. A pity,.. she would have been a valuable asset within the master's horde."

Draco growled low in his throat at the implications of that statement, but Jimmie voiced his own opinion to Harry. "Kill that damned thing and be done with it."

'You master hears our words, yes?" Harry assumed.

"As you speak to me, you speak to him." Susan verified.

Harry nodded. "Then hear this well. I will come to your.. meeting. I will have your answer for the crimes you've committed, before..."

"Before what?" Susan asked curiously, cocking her head to the side.

"Before I destroy you, utterly."

He further explained. "For your having violated the sanctity of my own beloved familiars' resting place alone, that in of itself signed your death warrant. For the abomination that stands before me.. you will suffer long before that ends finds you." There was such power and conviction in his voice that his friends took a half step away in rising dread.

The thing that was Susan Bones smiled predatorily, enjoying the challenge. "We shall see?"

Present...

"Please don't do this? It's a trap, you know it is." Hermione pleaded with him, having moved closer and grabbed up his hand pulling it against her swollen abdomen in reassurance, more for herself than his sake.

Harry gently turns his hand out of her grasp and strokes her cheek reassuringly. "No tears now." He admonishes her. "It's Christmas and I won't have you needlessly upsetting yourself."

Hermione shook her head as if to argue that his welfare was anything, but worrying needlessly, but he waved her off placating. "Why don't you go and check in with Ron and the kids. They deserve to spend Christmas with their mother. I'll stop in for 'story time' before I turn in." he offered to which she reluctantly nodded her agreement as he passed her to Abigail to see back to her quarters.

Abby, for her part, was in agreement with Hermione and looked anything but willing to leave, but she was duty bound to follow his wishes and did so without comment, though her worried eyes tore at his heart.

Once they were gone, he turned his attention to the rest of the gathering in the small lounge off the commons.

Ironic that it was here they announced Susan Bones' death, and it's here that they discussed her undead re-emergence amongst them.

"She'll be heading straight back after she settles 'Mione." Harry cautioned Draco. "Why don't you head her off as we're about done here?"

"Are you dismissing me too, now?" Draco snapped in such a way that several others winced at his tone.

"There's nothing more to discuss." Bill Hoag dissuaded, for which Harry shot him an appreciative look.

"Harry knows what he's doing." Bill added his own agreement with Harry's decision. "We need time to shore up our defenses. That damn thing got in here because the Fidelus charm is only designed to hide us from the living, not the dead. We'll use tomorrow to ward all of our installations against such unexpected and unwanted intrusions while Harry keeps its originator otherwise occupied."

He turned his attention to Harry. "I don't think I need to remind you what you mean to us and to Knight Watch." He reminded pointedly. "If things go pear shaped, you..."

"I'll get out of their in a heartbeat." Harry reassured the group, which looked visibly relieved at that.

"This person,.. or thing, has been studying us, or should I say you." Hoag lectured. "He knows our strengths and weaknesses. My point being; he knows what we're capable of, yet we know next to nothing about him. Find out as much as you can and get your arse home and in one piece, understood?"

Harry nodded.

"Say it, Harry?"

William Hoag was one of the few people the world over that Harry respected enough to allow himself to be ordered about, whether he agreed with the reasons or not.

"Understood" Harry acknowledged without argument, though his eyes spoke volumes to the contrary.

"We'll set things right, just as always." Bill reassured not only Harry, but the entire room, adding pointedly, "But when we know what we're about and when we can do the job right and proper. This isn't your everyday baddie. This thing is going to need careful planning and consideration, so let's be smart about it and not take any risks unless we have no other choice. Right now we have choices. Let's see what tomorrow brings and go from there. That said,.. who's up for a bit of Christmas cheer while there's still some holiday left?" Bill clapped his hands together, rubbing them in anticipation of a few taking him up on his offer.

Several did, including Harry.

Two Hours later...

"The memory that was Tom Riddle screamed as the Basilisk fang plunged into the diary. His own life seeping away as the ink drained from the book.

Please don't be dead, Ginny. Harry asked, pulling himself to the pale girl lying lifelessly sprawled across the dank chamber floor..."

"She awoke with a start. Her gorgeous brown eyes wide and gleaming in the dim light." A male voice from the doorway interrupted he story that Hermione was reading from her book as the children gasped delightedly, but didn't interrupt.

Hermione closed the book with a warm smile, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye as Harry's voice finished the tale for her.

"H-Harry? Ginny asked uncertainly, her wide eyes searching his for reassurance that the nightmare was at last over. I'm glad you're not dead, Ginny. Harry said in obvious relief, scooping her up in his aching arms and pulling her close..."

Harry finished the story amongst cheering children who leapt upon him greedily seeking his affections. They toppled to the floor giggling and squealing delightedly as they pounced and pulled until he gave up and surrendered beneath the wreathing mass of adolescent delight.

Twenty minutes and many whines later and the children we're all tucked in with their presents around them. Harry gave each a soft kiss on the forehead and a last "Merry Christmas".

Hermione tried to waylay him after, but he gave her no opportunity, making his excuses and wishing her and Ron a hurried "Goodnight" before seeing himself out.

He'd already had practice with a similar scene at the Malfoy's after performing his Godfather duties and seeing Benjamin down for the night.

He was making excuses, but not dishonest ones, he did have somewhere to be, well,.. somewhere he wanted to be.

He knew where she was, it wasn't hard to keep track of anyone within the range of the facility's tracking and surveillance equipment, not that he needed it.

He seemed to have a homing sense for all things red-headed in nature. His loss of empathic abilities had not altered that particular what, warning... ability?

He found Ginny where he left her, enjoying the evening in Fiona's unique company.

He made his presence known when he was within earshot, not that he need have bothered as Fiona no doubt was aware he was coming their way, before he was.

"I'm glad to see you to ladies are well on your way toward becoming fast friends?" He announced as he stepped into the flickering light as the overhead lamps came alive to ward off the encroaching dark.

The weather had rapidly retreated to its natural climate once he'd withdrawn his influence. It was a necessary precaution that he limit his energy expenditure as toady could have easily erupted into who knew what sort of fire fight. Besides, he'd planned to let the weather return to normal after Christmas Day anyway and what matter a few hours for safety's sake.

"Fiona's brilliant." Ginny complimented, patting the dragoness' long neck affectionately, eliciting a rumbling feline like purr from the giant reptile.

"She is, yes." Harry agreed, stepping up to the fenced enclosure, giving his familiar a wink that she huffed at indignantly.

"Stop teasing her." Ginny quipped.

"She's a big girl." Harry drawled pointedly.

Fiona snorted at that, sending a puff of brimstone his way and showing disappointment when he merely waved his hand banishing the offending smoke before it did its intended discomforting purpose.

"Redheads,... they're all the same." Harry commented wearily. "They never seem to appreciate anything, especially me." He sighed disappointedly.

This time Ginny snorted incredulously along with Fiona, returning. "They might if you weren't always taking the mickey or pranking them for your own juvenile pleasure."

Harry rolled his eyes at that. "It's the 'chicken or the egg'" he offered in analogy. "What came first; they're insults and ill use, or my pranking in retaliation. You see it one way, but in reality it's the other.

"Pfff, rowrrr" with that last snort of disagreement, Fiona stomped off retreating into her enclosure for the night.

"You're entitled to your opinion, of course."Harry called after her, then eyed Ginny's amused expression, asking.. "I suppose you have some smart remark of your own to offer before abandoning me for the night?"

Ginny grinningly shook her head. "No, I've no plans. W-Would you like to go for a walk?" she asked somewhat nervously, losing some of her former confidence, as she fidgeted with her hands.

He held out the crook of his arm by way of a reply, gratefully giving her something to do with her hands.

"Fancy a walk along the beach? The moon on the water's striking this time of year." He suggested in a hopeful voice.

"Are we close to one?" Ginny asked in surprise as there wasn't a hint of an ocean breeze that she'd noticed.

Harry just smirked by way of a reply.

Ginny felt the air around them superheat and before she could so much as gasp in surprise a cloud of smoke enveloped them and when it cleared...

''Wha..Where are we?" She gapped in surprise at the vast ocean stretched out before them, a glowing moon caressing the waters romantically.

Harry snapped his fingers and tiki torches lit up the beach, stretching on around a corner some kilometers away.

"We're at my home away from home." He answered simply, nudging her along the water's edge.

She was about to protest that her shoes would be ruined, but he snapped his fingers, vanishing them before she could begin to complain.

Ginny found herself sighing appreciatively as the warm water splashed over her toes.

She molded her body against his as they walked along, feigning being chilled, though it was quite warm out.

"We could go for a swim?" he suggested at length.

"I've no suit along and this dress is hardly suited for saltwater." She stalled uncertain what he was suggesting.

He confirmed her suspicions, tantalizingly so. "Are you a witch or aren't you?" He chided her. "Besides, the lack of a swim suit didn't stop you the last time we went for a moonlit swim." He reminded her with a soft chuckle.

Ginny flushed at that.

"You..you remember, then...?" She ventured tentatively, hopefully even.

Harry stopped and turned toward her, pulling her eyes up to meet his. His normally vibrant green eyes were so dark that they appeared almost black within the flickering light of the torches.

"Like I'd ever forget." He admonished her.

Ginny didn't blush this time. Instead she pulled herself up on her tiptoes and planted a tentative kiss on his mouth that he readily returned.

She pulled back after a few moments, her liquid eyes searching his, seemingly satisfied with what she found as she returned vulnerably. "It was the best night of my life." Ginny commented with soft conviction.

"Mine too." Harry agreed. "So much so, that I'd like a repeat?" at seeing her hesitation, he quickly amended. "If and when you feel comfortable enough, that is." He reassured in a hope filled voice of deepest longing.

Ginny sighed gratefully at his not pressuring her. She told herself that she was ready, so ready, for this, for him. But here, now, with him right in front of her, it seemed so daunting? He was so much larger than life and what was she?

As if reading her mind, he reassured her. "I'm just a man, Ginny. On the inside, where it counts, I have the same wants and desires as anyone else; to love and be loved." His eyes pleaded her understanding.

She shuddered at that. She did understand. She understood only too well.

"A-And I've held my love a long time, Harry. I..I'm not innocent...I wish I was,... but ,.. I still haven't given my heart, not like when we were..."

"When we were younger?" Harry assumed.

Ginny buried her face in his chest, hiding herself as she nodded her agreement.

"W-We won't be that again, Ginny." Harry cautioned. "We can't go back and pick up where we left off, or even start over. All we can do is move forward and see if what we once felt is everything we still think it might be?" Harry suggested to her.

Ginny pulled back slightly, marveling at his self assuredness. "What happened to the shy, Harry Potter, I once knew?"

"He... he lost everything. Started over and found himself, but.. he's still been lonely and for what seems a long time."

Ginny's eyes we're moistening as she near begged. "I don't want you to be lonely, Harry. Not ever again. Neither you nor me, but,.. I'm so afraid."

Harry smiled at that, brushing his lips gently across hers for reassurance before rasping out... "I'm not gonna lie and say there's nothing to be 'afraid of'. There's always going to be some element of danger in our world. Despite everything I've fought for and built, the world is just too big a place and it's unrealistic to assume that we can turn it into nirvana." He paused to scrub his hand through the back of his hair.

His uncertainty brought a smile to her heart. She'd always loved it when he'd worry at his hair when frustrated with himself.

After a moment's pause, he continued. "I guess what I'm trying to say is that there's always going to be someone, somewhere, needing help and I'm always going to answer the call when it comes. No matter how good I am or how hard I've trained... sooner or later... I may not come back. That hasn't changed, Ginny. I'd like to believe that it has or will, but I think realistically- no. I've lowered the odds considerably, but..Umphh"

His emphatic ramblings of warning were smothered by her lips on his and all arguments flew out the window for either of them as their kiss deepened.

They spent several hours walking along the shoreline, sharing passionate kisses, talking of little thing and occasionally, important ones. Each, secretly, very much wanted to share a night like that night. The night, long ago, that was either a dream or wasn't, but either way it was their night.

They we're each in a hurry, and at the same time they weren't. Harry could well wish to rush things, especially in the face of the unknown that was looming of him tomorrow, but he didn't. He'd decided somewhere during the evening that, no matter what, he was going to return from tomorrow's venture to find out where this would lead them.

He was done waiting, and hoping. This was his chance. Their chance,... and he was going to do everything and anything to see they got it.

He walked her to her door, somewhere during the middle of the night, and kissed her goodnight. She wanted him to stay, needed him to. It was right on the tip of her tongue.

As if reading her mind, he brushed his finger tips gently across her cheek and suggested... "We have time, Ginny. I intend to make sure of it."

She hadn't quite understood the ramifications of that last until that afternoon, later the same day. When she did, it felt like her whole world was about to collapse.