Chapter 19! I hope everyone enjoys!

Chapter 19

The weather slowly got colder as the weeks passed, October passing and November rolling in. Harry and Ginny took care of Teddy, spoiling him with candy and toys. Harry was still being given the cold shoulder, his Auror training was starting in a week. Ginny had been to a meeting with the Harpies, being signed a two-year contract almost immediately. Hermione had made up with Ron, not being able to stand the silence between them. He was still too stubborn to admit he was being a git. Rita Skeeter's book was announced to come out a day before Harry started training, so the not so happy couple was a bit ticked about that also.

"Planning to buy the book when it comes out? Or do you think she'll send us a free copy?" Harry sighed, seeing Ginny reading the Daily Prophet.

"Gin, don't worry about it. Everyone knows she writes absolute crap anyway." She rolled her eyes.

"Not the people who read the Prophet. Half the wizarding world was oblivious to the fact Voldemort had come back a few years ago." Harry shrugged, sitting down with a cup of coffee.

"Well, I highly doubt that anything she's wrote about me will even be in depth, she has no one who would talk to her that's close to me." Ginny nodded.

"True. At least, we don't think she has any sources." Harry thought about it, but shook his head. He watched Ginny read the paper for a while, before she got frustrated and threw it down. She looked at him.

"What?" He asked, she was looking sad and angry at the same time.

"Oh you know, just reading the paper when two Aurors were seriously injured. Oh, and one died." He huffed, she was still against him joining.

"Gin, I can handle myself." She shook her head.

"Oh, you defeat Voldemort! You're called the most powerful wizard in the world! But what if there's that one job, where something goes wrong? What if, you-you got hit with a spell and got maimed?" He sighed.

"I can do things. Things other wizards can't." She looked at him, confused.

"Harry, what are you talking about?" He put his wand on the table. He got up, poured the rest of his coffee out, and set it on the table next to his wand.

"Watch the cup." She sighed, but watched. The cup slowly filled up with water, and she frowned.

"Harry, are you doing that?" She looked at him and he nodded.

"I can use magic, without my wand." She looked amazed, but then shook her head.

"That's amazing, but I highly doubt that filling a glass of water is going to help you if you lose your wand and a killing curse is shot at you." He smiled, looking down at the glass.

"That's true, but I can do a lot more than that. I've been testing it, I can block spells, I can cast spells, I can do everything I can with a wand." Her amazement stayed on her face.

"Everything? Even stuff like, a patronus?" He shrugged.

"Actually, I didn't check that." She watched as he closed his eyes, and a glowing, bluish silver stag pranced around their kitchen. Her eyes and mouth were wide open, watching the stag. She looked at Harry, who was looking at her, smiling.

"How?" He shrugged. The stag took a few more steps, then it vanished.

"But, you have to have a wand to use magic. You just have to." He grinned.

"Well, I am the Chosen One." She rolled her eyes.

"So, you can apparate without your wand?" He cocked his head.

"Actually, I didn't try that either. I guess I haven't tried everything." She nodded.

"Let's go to Hermione's. She needs to see this." He grinned, taking her hand.

"Ready?" She nodded. The familiar feeling of being sucked through a pipe washed over them, and their kitchen vanished and the driveway to Hermione's house appeared. Ginny grinned at him. They walked up the drive, and knocked, waiting a minute before she answered the door.

"Harry, Ginny, come in." They walked inside, smelling pancakes and bacon. She led them into the kitchen, where Ron was chowing down on breakfast. He grunted at them, not bothering to say hello.

"Lovely Ron." Ginny said, disgust in her voice.

"Do you guys want some breakfast?" They shook their heads, and Ginny started talking.

"We're not here for food, I mean, Ron's eaten all of it already. But Harry showed me something like, two minutes ago and it's history changing." Hermione was intrigued, so Harry handed her his wand.

"Put that wherever, I don't need it." She looked confused.

"Are you doing magic?" He nodded. He closed his eyes, and the silver stag appeared in front of them. Ron jumped, swallowing his food and standing up.

"Mate, do you have a wand hidden up your sleeve?" Harry grinned and shook his head.

"I can do magic without my wand." Hermione stared at him.

"Are you serious?"

"Well, I'm doing it right now, aren't I?" She looked at the stag walking around, then back at Harry.

"But-but, it's impossible!" Harry shrugged.

"Apparently not." He made the stag disappear, and looked back at her. Hermione was at a loss for words. She had never heard of a wizard being able to use magic without their wand, at least not a patronus.

"Can you do other things?" He nodded.

"I've pretty much tested everything, except for the killing curse." She nodded. She was still amazed, trying to wrap her head around what he could do.

"Harry, this is amazing!" He grinned, crossing his arms and nodding. Ron was still confused, just staring at the spot where the stag vanished.

"How, I mean, it's not bloody possible!" Ginny sighed.

"You're a bit behind Ron." He looked at his sister, unable to understand how she was okay with what he had just saw.

"How did you find out you could do this?" Harry thought back.

"Well, a few weeks ago, I was upstairs, and I remembered I had left my wand downstairs. So I had thought, 'I should really go get it.' And that's when it just came flying upstairs, right into my hand." She looked confused.

"It just, zipped into your hand?" He nodded.

"It just, zipped into my hand." She thought over what he had said, processing it all. The rest of the morning was spent asking questions, answering them, and trying to explain it all to Ron, who was still behind. Eventually he gave up trying to understand, heading to work at George's store. Ginny and Harry left with him, heading back home.

"You know, I'm pretty sure you've been doing magic without out a wand for a few months now." Harry grinned.

"And that means?" She kissed him, looking into his eyes.

"I'm pretty sure you know what that means."

The rest of the week was spent worrying, Ginny was still scared even though it was only training. About two days from when he was going to start, Snowstorm delivered a package addressed to Harry. It was sitting on the table when they had went downstairs, so, with some pestering from Ginny, he opened it.

'Dear Mr. Potter,

Enclosed is a copy of my new book 'The Chosen One: Life, Death, and Resurrection'. I hope you enjoy it, as it is about you afterall.

Sincerely,

Rita Skeeter'

"I told you Harry. I told you she was going to send us a copy." Harry laughed, taking the paper off of the book. The cover featured the title, above a picture of his 'Undesirable Number One' poster.

"You know, I've never noticed it before, but I do look quite good in this photograph." Ginny huffed and rolled her eyes, the only thing her husband had to say was a compliment to himself. She took the book from him, flipping open the cover to the table of contents.

"How the hell did she write a biography about you? You're only nineteen for godsake." He chuckled, making coffee.

"'The Early Years', 'The Start of School', 'Romances?'. God, these chapter names are awful." Harry smiled, leaning against the counter.

"I bet you're gonna spend the day reading that book."

"No." Harry raised his eyes.

"Hmm. So you're skimming the pages right now?" She huffed, giving him a look.

"Okay, fine. I'm going to read the book. Just to make sure that she isn't trashing us." Harry grinned.

"Us as in all of our friends and family? Or us as in you?"

"Shush Harry. I'm reading." She spent the rest of the morning reading, getting halfway through the book before Harry suggested they go somewhere.

"Where exactly?" He smiled.

"I don't know. You can pick where we go. We should just get out of the house." She sighed, bookmarking her page and setting the book down.

"We can head into London for some lunch, then maybe go shopping?" He nodded, and off they went.

They walked into a tiny corner café, walking over to the counter to order their drinks and a small sandwich for each of them. Ginny took a look around the shop when they sat down, looking at all of the people. An important looking business man chatting on a cellular phone. Someone tapping on a weird looking book. A mother reading a book while her toddler ate. A singer playing an instrument while singing a beautiful song.

"Harry, he sounds wonderful." Harry looked over at the singer, listening to his tunes.

"You should learn how to play that." He raised his eyes and looked at her.

"The guitar? I'm sure I'd sound horrible." Ginny rolled her eyes and smiled.

"You'd sound great. And I'm just saying it sounds wonderful by itself." He shook his head.

"Maybe I could try to learn it." Ginny grinned.

"You don't need to sing." Harry laughed.

"Thank god. That would have messed it all up." They chatted and ate, leaving a bit later to head out the shops. They went to a muggle mall and walked around the stores. Ginny went into practically every clothing store, giving her bags to Harry to hold for her. They were walking passed a jewelry store when all the sparkles caught Ginny's eye. Harry had already sent the bags home, so they walked in together empty handed. Ginny was looking around at all of the jewelry when the store manager walked over.

"Hello Sir, Madame. Can I help you with anything today?" Ginny nodded, pointing at a stunning diamond necklace.

"May I see this one?" The manager nodded, taking out the necklace and handing it to her. There was a mirror on the wall, so Ginny admired the necklace on her reflection.

"It's beautiful." Harry looked at the manager.

"How much is it?" The manager gave a smug look.

"Well, it's five thousand pounds." Harry looked at Ginny.

"Do you want to look at any other jewelry? Or do you just want that necklace?" Ginny shrugged, looking around and seeing other sparkles that caught her eye. Harry handed the manager the necklace.

"Can you hold that at the register for a while? My wife may be a while." The manager was flustered, but nodded and went straight over to the counter. Ginny picked out another necklace, a pair of earrings, and a bracelet to match them. The manager had eagerly checked them out, handing them their bag and gave them a huge smile.

"Thank you for your purchase. I hope you may choose to come back another time." They headed home afterwards, and Ginny headed straight upstairs to add her new jewelry to her collection. Harry sat down on the couch, picking up the book Rita Skeeter had sent. He flipped through the chapters, stopping on pictures he had never known existed. He saw quotes from people he had never met, and read memories he couldn't recall. He stopped in a later chapter, seeing the picture of him, Ginny, and Teddy out shopping. He could see how someone could have mistook Teddy as his son, the smiling boy sporting black hair and green eyes. He closed the book and set it on the table, staring at it until Ginny came back down.

"Whatcha lookin' at?" He was about to answer, when he looked up at her. She had put her hair cascading down one side, but had lost almost of her clothes.

"Well, now I am looking at you." She smiled and took his hands, leading him upstairs where they spent the rest of the day, and night, in bed.

"Harry? Harry, no!" He was standing in the dark forest, the light turning into dense darkness a few feet away from him. He closed his eyes, knowing it was only a dream. A horrible dream that would get worse before he woke up. He opened his eyes again, and he was standing in a hallway. The floor boards were splintery, and they reached for what looked forever. He could hear the wind rattling through wherever he was, but no breeze came through the walls. He began to walk, his only way to wake up would be to walk. He heard a noise behind him, but was scared to turn.

"Hello?" He closed his eyes, knowing something was creeping closer. He heard his footsteps, and he heard them turn into sobbing. He was reaching the crying, a figure appearing at the end of the hall.

"Hello?" He called again, and he approached the figure, noticing it was a girl. A red headed girl. He held his breath, knowing this dream was taking a turn. He lent down, and touched her shoulder. Ginny grabbed his hand, and suddenly they were back in the forest. She was standing away from him, crying, blood running down her cheeks. He was on his knees looking up at her.

"YOU KILLED THEM! ALL OF THE PEOPLE I LOVED YOU KILLED THEM!" He cringed, bringing his hands up to his ears to block out the screeching. He curled up in a ball, listening to the muffled yells through his hands. The voice started to sound deeper, slowly going down tones until it was just a laugh. A deep laugh that did not belong to Ginny. He slowly took his hands away, getting a glimpse of the evil she had turned into.

And then it was looked to his side, and Ginny, the normal, un-evil Ginny, was sleeping next to him. He got up, shivering about how cold it was. He walked over to his closet, grabbing a sweater and throwing it on, heading downstairs. He sighed, picking up the Resurrection Stone. He held it in his hand, about to turn it, but set it down again. He went upstairs, changing into some different pants, as his bottoms at that moment were more like shorts, and grabbed his shoes, throwing them on as he walked outside.

The night was cold. Very cold. It seemed too cold, even for the beginning of November. A chill ran down his spine as he walked, not knowing where yet. He heard the click of another pair of feet hit the concrete, and he looked behind him to see someone walking behind him. Harry checked his pockets, panicking slightly as he realized he forgot his wand. He heard another pair of feet. He glanced over his shoulder, and there was three people behind him. He crossed the street at the next corner, backtracking and checking to see if he was being followed. They crossed.

He heard them whisper, and their movements sped up. He stopped dead, and they started snickering.

"Not so much of a hero when you're alone, are you Potter?" He made his first mistake. He turned. A hand grabbed his neck from behind him, and the three guys ran up.

"You think you can kill the Dark Lord an get away with it? Well, your friends ain't here now, are they?" Harry gave a dark smile.

"I suggest you let me go, before anything horrible happens." The one talking, the leader, laughed. He walked over to him, and his fist collided with the side of his face. Harry felt the blood trickle down, the numbness already starting to spread. Harry laughed.

"Like that hurts? I know one year olds who punch harder than you." The man huffed, and punched him again, his fist cracking against his nose. Harry laughed.

"Search him. If he ain't got a wand, let him go. He deserves to be beaten to death for what's happened." He felt the man behind him search his pockets, pushing him to the ground. The group laughed as Harry stood up, the same dark smile on his face.

"Still think you're so bad, Potter? You have no defense! But then again, five blokes should be nothin' for the chosen one!" They laughed at his mocking, and Harry walked towards him. The man held up his hands, his wand in one. He wasn't expecting to be blasted backwards through the air. He landed twenty feet behind them, and the four other men backed away.

Harry only had to think the spell in his head to grab the wand from the man he blasted back.

"What the fuck are you bastards waiting for? Kill him!" The other four men took their wands out, pointing them at Harry.

"Stupefy!" Harry blocked the spell, turning on the one that cast it first.

"Confringo!" The man's wand exploded, wisps of fire exploding outwards.

"Crucio!"

"Sectumsempra!" The curse that had hit Harry had no effect. But the one who had hit the man did. He fell backwards, a gash appearing across his chest. Harry froze, a flash back of what he did to Draco appearing in his mind.

"AVADA KEDAVRA!" Harry blocked it again, the power it took almost splitting the wand he was holding in half. He looked at the remaining opponent and started firing curses. The man was good at blocking them, taking a hit here and there, before his wand went flying behind him.

"Everte statum!" The man was thrown back a few feet, and Harry walked towards him. The man was reaching towards his wand, and Harry shot the first spell that came to mind.

"Defodio!" He aimed at his hand, but a large chunk was taken from the man's chest and stomach. He screamed in pain, and Harry froze for a second time.

"Fumos!" The air was suddenly covered in a thick smog, and he heard shouting. The last man apparated away, but not before he cast his last spell. A large amount of fire appeared from Harry's left, and the heat was almost unbearable. Harry backed up, feeling his skin burning from the flames that were steps away from him. Harry extinguished the fire, and cleared up the smoke, coughing all the while. He looked around, expecting to see four men laying on the ground, but one was missing. That's when he heard the breathing from right behind him.

"Think you'll almost kill us and live? Not a fucking chance, Potter." Harry felt the blade stick straight through his back, close to his spine. He yelled and grabbed the man, pushing him back.

"Not so powerful with a knife in your back, aye?" The man grabbed his wand from Harry, apparating away. Harry saw the edges of his vision blurring. He could feel the blade poking at his intestines, and leaned forward. He coughed, blood dripping out of his mouth as he did. He could hear someone running towards him, and lifted his head up to see Ginny's scared face coming near.

"HARRY!" He fell to his side, and the world went black.