Title: Kiss.

Author: AspergianStoryteller.

Genre: Supernatural/General.

Summary: When a dementor tried to Kiss Harry Potter, it got more than it bargained for. And Harry did not walk away unaffected. Don't own Harry Potter.

Warning: The twins need to raise money for their joke product ingredients and towards the end of this chapter is one of the variety of different events/displays they put on. Nothing serious or detailed of course but there's a reason the girls are loving it. Skip it if you like and it doesn't mean anything in the story. (Not unless your imagination works that way.)

Chapter 19: Sharing Stories And Raising Money.

Happy April's Fools.

'Mr. Potter, another student will be joining us today at the Hospital.'

'Yeah?' Harry stood by the fire place with Professor McGonagall. 'Who?'

'Miss Weasley, when she arrives. She will be taking the trip with us once a month to a different part of the hospital.'

'I didn't know Ginny was injured. Did something happen to her at the Quiditch World Cup?'

'No. That is for Miss Weasley to reveal at her own discretion.'

Minutes later Ginny entered the Hospital Wing in her mufti-robes. (Note*) They matched her hair. 'Hi Harry,' she said. 'I was told you'd be with us today. What's your story?'

'Creature Induced Injury. Yourself?'

'Artefact Accident and Spell damage.'

They shared a smile, then Professor McGonagall handed them the floo powder pot and they were off.

XXX xxx XXX

'As far as I know you haven't been attacked by anything lately,' Ginny said as they walked through the reception area. 'Unless our gnomes have suddenly become poisonous.'

'They haven't,' Harry grinned. 'You remember the dementors right?'

Ginny shivered. 'I do. You were affected really badly by them.'

Harry nodded. 'That's why I'm here. Extreme exposure to them.'

'Oh. Good luck then.'

'Thanks. I'm guessing your problem is from the diary?'

She nodded. 'I'm loads better now.'

Harry put his hand on her shoulder. 'That's great Ginny.' They climbed the stairs, Professor McGonagall behind them.

'I will join you in a while Mr. Potter.'

''Kay. See you later Professor, Ginny.'

'Bye Harry.'

XXX xxx XXX

'It was the same as last time,' Harry explained. 'Like there was a dementor nearby. Ron woke me up and I took two anti-depressants. Madam Pomfrey gave me a chocolate frog when I saw her in the morning.'

'So just a repeat of the symptoms?' Healer Nathaniel said. 'You all acted well afterwards.'

'Okay. So, was it triggered by the imperious?'

'Probably,' Nathaniel said thoughtfully. 'Dementor magic certainly has Darkness in it, and having a Dark curse cast upon you repeatedly likely unsettled the residue left in you. I'd like to do a scan to confirm it.'

'Sure.' Harry had been expecting this.

'Alright,' Nathaniel got up from his chair. 'It'll be the same one as last time.' He took a silver hula hoop from his cupboard while Harry stood on the white mat on the floor.

'Just empty your pockets and you can keep your clothes on this time.'

Harry put his Medi-Alert necklace, his wand and a clean sock with pills in it on the desk and stepped into the hoop. It rose up and slowly circled up around him. Almost immediately the gentle hum that indicated normal health became a high pitched whine, increasing as the hoop reached Harry's chest and head.

Harry raised his eyebrows expectantly. Nathaniel nodded.

'Your treatment will carry on the same and I'll write a note for your Defence teacher excusing you from being cursed by Dark magic. I hope your school nurse is carefully monitoring his classes.'

'A note?' Harry groaned.

'Sorry Harry but as your Healer I cannot accept your health being put at risk in class.' He checked the stats displayed on the hoop before resetting it and putting it away. 'I'm sure you're not the only student at risk in Defence class.'

There were actually a few students who'd been sensitive to the Darker magic. Madam Pomfrey had treated them then made them exercise the Darkness out. Apparently a good honest workout did wonders for magic.

'I'll have a talk with Madam Pomfrey and your Defence teacher about classes.'

Harry took his things back and sat down, frowning. He hated being singled out like this.

'Harry. You're not the only one with a medical issue, okay? You're not any weaker or less talented than the other students.'

Harry shrugged. Well, his marks weren't bad, and he could fly well and cast a patronus and resist the imperious. Maybe it balanced out?

'I'll have a private meeting at school about everyone's health in Defence class. Been meaning to.'

Okay.

'Ready for patronus treatment?'

XXX xxx XXX

Harry was surprised at how few adults were able to produce a fully formed patronus charm. Most could manage a good silvery cloud if they knew how. There were several people at St. Mungo's capable of either a full or cloud patronus and a few of them weren't even Healers. A bit earlier the welcomewitch had been in there with her flamingo patronus, now a cleaner was earning extra pay to keep his ethereal silver frog up. It bounced around Harry and hopped off his head as if into a pond.

'Alright, that's as long as I can keep it up.' The frog dissolved and the cleaner (whose uniform was dark robes) plopped down on a cushion.

'Thanks,' said Harry. 'Um, sir? If you're able to cast a patronus like that, why are you working as a cleaner? No offence.'

'None taken kid,' he said. 'This job is paying for my Defence Mastery. That's a Post-N.E.W.T qualification. And I actually kind of enjoy cleaning sometimes.'

'Oh.'

'Pardon if I'm being nosy, but how come a kid your age is receiving therapy for dementors? Usually only people released from Azkaban need this.'

'Did you know that Hogwarts was guarded by dementors last year?' Harry asked. Mm, Honeydukes made some really great chocolate-covered raisins.

'Because of Sirius Black right? Did you have a run in with them?'

Harry nodded and offered the cleaner a raisin.

'Cheers.'

'A few times, like during a quiditch match when they all invaded the pitch. Near the end of the year I was, on a walk outside and they were on the school grounds after Sirius Black.'

'Merlin's beard,' the cleaner shook his head. 'What happened then?'

'Well, it was a really close call. But luckily our Defence teacher, Professor Lupin, had taught me to cast a patronus so I was able to protect myself for while. I reckon it should be taught to everyone.'

'Wow. Yeah, it should be. How come you learnt it then?'

'I'm sensitive to them.' Harry wasn't saying any more about that.

When his treatment was over, Harry and Professor McGonagall, who had joined him twenty minutes earlier, met Ginny on the Fourth Floor, then went up to Fifth for tea. Harry and Ginny were delighted.

When Harry told Ginny how his hospital visit went she told him that he should teach people how to cast a patronus since he knew how. Then she talked about how she'd been coming to St. Mungo's every week since the incident in the Chamber of Secrets and once a month this year. Her treatment had involved a lot of exercise at first, which she still kept up now out of habit. She'd also been on medication and therapy for months. Now she was just receiving therapy and a check up every month.

'I'm almost completely better now,' she said. 'I probably won't have to do this in a couple of months time.'

'I'm glad you're nearly healed Ginny,' Harry paused to swallow a mouthful of tea. 'I'm sorry I didn't notice enough when you, got hurt though.'

Ginny shook her head. 'You were busy with other stuff Harry, and you were only twelve. Just saving me in the Chamber was more than enough. I'll always be grateful.' She was starting to understand what Ron meant when he said Harry so often felt responsible for others and sometimes acted too Gryffindorish.

'I'm used to this hospital stuff now,' she added, 'So I can show you the ropes.'

Minerva agreed with Ginny. Noticing the girl's plight was supposed to be the teachers' responsibility. With the attacks on muggleborns going on they'd not paid enough attention to see that what appeared to be a work-stressed or homesick student was actually a young girl being influenced by a malevolent force and possessed by it on a regular basis.

'Thanks Ginny. I'd like that.'

XXX xxx XXX

After lunch, (during which Harry had confirmed to Ron and Hermione that getting hit repeatedly with the imperious had trigged a relapse) the four of them walked to Gryffindor Tower to get Harry's broom before going out for a fly. Professor McGonagall went back to the Hospital Wing to tell Madam Pomfrey how the trip to St. Mungo's went and told Harry and Ginny that they and the other "at risk" students would be called in later for a discussion on their Defence class.

As he went over the details of his hospital visit Harry knew he'd be having another talk with Ron and Hermione later about their ideas and plans. He also wondered when he should tell Ginny just how extreme his exposure to the dementors had been. How would she react? Would she sympathise? I'll have to get to know her a bit better first.

As they climbed through the Fat Lady's portrait girly giggles tumbled out to greet them. The foursome wondered what the reason for this was as they entered the Common Room. There was a mix of girls from different years crowded around someone, giggling excitedly.

'What's got them so happy?' Harry wondered.

Ron peered over the girls' heads and in between gaps. 'They're surrounding someone on an armchair,' he said. 'I see red.'

Ginny squeaked suddenly.

'Ginny?' Harry asked.

She turned red to match her robes and hair.

Ron made a sound somewhere between a choke and a squeak.

'Oh my,' Hermione murmured.

Harry finally saw what had shocked them. '... Oh.' His face went pink. 'That's, unexpected... Are they actually?'

'I don't think so,' Hermione said.

'They'll earn loads of money like that,' said Ginny. 'Even some of the Slytherin girls would pay if they couldn't sneak a peek for free. A few of the boys too, actually,' she added. 'I just hope they're being careful.'

Ron was still speechless.

'I wonder what Percy would say if he walked in right now?' Ginny wondered with humour.

'Speaking of Percy,' Hermione said, 'Why was he here the other night? He finished school last year.'

'He's finishing a couple of courses here,' Ginny explained. 'He's also doing on-the-job training at the Ministry but Hogwarts is the best place for him to finish Gobbledegook and Political Science.'

Harry wondered if Percy had once taken enough subjects and responsibilities to need a time-turner.

Ron was still in shock when the giggly girls had dispersed and Fred and George wandered over, counting up coins.

'A most excellent profit we've turned in, Gred.'

'Most excellent indeed Forge. Do you suppose offering exotic hair styling tomorrow will be as successful?'

'Potentially. Hello guys.'

'Hi,' Hermione mumbled.

'Um, we're just about to go flying,' Ginny offered. 'As soon as Harry fetches his broom. Do you want to join us?'

'Love to.'

'But if you don't mind we'd like to stop by the owlery first,' said Fred.

'To order supplies for our products,' said George.

'Out of boomslang skin,'

'And a few other things,'

'It's not like we can just ask Snape for them.'

'Sure. Harry, your broom?'

'Oh yeah.' Harry took Ron's arm and tugged up towards the boys' stair case. 'Come on Ron...'

'Harry, they, did you see?'

'Yes Ron, we all saw. They were just showing off for the girls.'

'Yeah.'

'Yeah.'

XXX xxx XXX

What do you think? Tell me what you think! Thanks for reading! Note* Mufti = non-uniform.