Chapter 35 – The Three Of Swords

SPOILER ALERT: If you have not read since Wednesday 25 October then please read Chapter 34 first.

A/N: This is the final chapter of Coward's Folly. Beginning the first week of of next year I will submit the first chapter of the sequel. You may either visit the story and add a Story Alert or you may add me to your Author Alert. I will include a broader introduction to the story on my profile soon but for now I will say that the story will involve adventures in Italy and Greece and will feature a thread with both Winky and Kreacher.

Harry, still looking up, heard voices in the lavatory. Worried, he called up to his mate, "Ron, close the chamber behind you. Don't say anything to anyone until I get up to the Infirmary." The last thing he saw before the entrance began to close was the nod from his mate. "Lumos," Harry whispered, "Madeline I need your help."

Madeline helped Harry down the steps. Being much smaller, she could do little more than keep him steady. Soon they reached bottom and Harry allowed her to steady him at the elbow as they made their way back into the chamber proper. Draco saw them and pulled out his wand, "I said OUT!"

"We don't have time for this," Harry frowned. "There are students up there and soon the Aurors will be down. Summon your house elf." Draco looked confused but Harry stayed focused, "Kreacher! Winky!" When the two elves arrived he explained, "I need both of you to help clean everything out of here...everything, ok? Place it all in the attic at Grimmauld Place for now if you must. Banish the table - its useless. And don't mention anything you saw here to anyone. Anyone." Harry returned his attention Draco, "The elf..."

Draco still didn't understand but he summoned his elf, "Alby."

With a "Crack!" Alby arrived. He immediately ran to his master and when he saw he was dead he looked up uncertainly to Draco. Harry caught his attention, "Alby, we need you to Disapparate us and your Master to your Manor. How many can you take with you?" The house elf looked at Draco uncertainly and the young wizard nodded. Tears still streamed down his face. The elf looked back at Harry, "All of you, sir."

Harry turned to check on Kreacher and he found that the house elves were gone...but so was about half of the furniture. Winky arrived with a "Crack!" and left with a piece so quickly that Harry realised they'd be fine. He and the others huddled around the body of Mr. Malfoy and with another "Crack!" they soon found themselves on the grounds of Malfoy Manor. He soon began giving instructions to the elf and soon as he was sure the elf would follow them he looked at Draco, "Look at me. Do you think it would be good for your mum if she were able to see him or do you think it would just make it worse for her?" Draco, still blinking back tears, thought to himself and he went for his mum.

Alby came back for Harry and Madeline and they apparated to the tomb with the body of Lucius Malfoy. The house elf took the body into the tomb and left the two alone outside. While waiting, Harry advised Madeline, "Don't speak unless spoken to. And this is not something you speak to your mates, mum, or anyone else about. I'm trusting you to keep all of this to yourself. Draco and I may not be mates but no family deserves to go through what they've gone through. They've avoided the Death Eaters and they deserve a chance to live in peace."

Narcissa surprised Harry from behind, "I am gracious for that at least. How did it happen?" Her voice was calm but there were tears in her eyes.

Harry explained the events of the past several months and how it started with the morning Lucius had been transported from Azkaban. He finished with the events of the afternoon and the words, "I'm very sorry Mrs. Malfoy. Hermione was only defending herself."

Mrs. Malfoy looked askance of her son with red eyes and tear-stained cheeks. He nodded assent. All had happened as Harry described. She looked at Draco meaningfully, "The girl must be left alone. We can not fault a witch for defending herself. Let us go say goodbye to your father. Again."

Madeline made to follow the Malfoys into the tomb but Harry held her back. Sobs soon echoed out of the tomb and Harry turned to find tears in Madeline's eyes as well. Harry placed his arm around her and squeezed providing a sympathetic smile.

A half an hour later the Malfoys quietly made their way out. Harry could see Mrs. Malfoy was still visibly shaken, "Draco, why don't you stay here with your mum. I'll take care of Hogwarts. We've finished exams so I can't see why they'd make you return."

Draco was silent. Narcissa answered instead, "Harry, I won't lie and say I am happy but I appreciate your discretion. If you can make it so that Draco does not need to return to Hogwarts then please do so. We shall remain here to mourn. Please forgive me if we now say goodbye."

Harry and Madeline said goodbye and parted ways with the grieving family. As soon as they were outside the gates, Harry took Madeline by the hand and they apparated to Hogsmeade. It did not take long for them to reach the Infirmary and Harry was checked out by Madam Pomfrey. Once she was done, he found Hermione sitting in bed with Ron holding her hand, "Did they ask too many questions?"

"Duncan was livid when he found out I'd closed the Chamber behind me," Ron answered. "He came up to question us and Madam Pomfrey kicked him out saying he could wait until we've rested."

"Did you tell anyone anything?" Harry asked.

Harry would have to wait for his answer. Shacklebolt walked in with Duncan and Percy not far behind. Madam Pomfrey came to meet him but Kingsley waved her off, "Harry, Duncan tells me the Chamber was reopened and that something may have happened?" Harry nodded - his eyes moved from Shacklebolt to Duncan and back to Shacklebolt, "Yes sir." The Minister, catching the hint, asked the Auror to step outside. Duncan, prepared to protest, caught the Minister's scowl and decided this was an argument he would not win. Instead he stepped outside.

"Such a basic human desire – to be in the know. I feel for him after all he has put into this," Kingsley remarked. "What happened?"

Harry explained all that had happened from his point of view. He began with the night he had discovered Dumbledore's tomb and explained the note. He described his duel with Lucius and both Ron and Hermione would comment if they felt he'd left something out. Kingsley gave Hermione a close look when he was told she had struck Lucius down defending herself, "And you are all right?" She nodded but Ron and Harry could tell she was more upset than she was letting on.

"But you can see why I'd rather not make the details public," Harry explained.

Shacklebolt nodded, "One thing puzzles me, though. What happened to Dumbledore's body?"

Hermione and Ron shrugged. Harry, on the other hand, had just found out himself, "I meant to tell you. Kreacher stopped me just outside the Infirmary. He found Dumbledore's body tucked away in a stone container in a corner of the Chamber. My guess is that the house elf was sent in to find out if the wand was with Dumbledore. When he didn't find it immediately, he brought back the whole body. After searching the body himself, Mr. Malfoy probably was afraid he might have accidentally left something incriminating and decided to hide it in the Chamber until he was done."

Harry explained that the Chamber was now cleaned out so Shacklebolt sent Ron to open it for Duncan to have a look see. The Minister then had Percy prepare media announcements that Harry, acting as an Auror, had found and confronted an unnamed Death Eater who was hiding on school grounds. It was stated specifically that the Ministry would not be releasing the name of the Death Eater but that members of the press were welcome to ask Mr. Potter directly "at their own risk."

Harry stayed at the Infirmary overnight with Hermione and Ron at the request of Madam Pomfrey. Regretting that once again they were missing out on a last chance to be at a party with friends, Mrs. Pomfrey pulled out an amber bottle of Ogden's to share with the trio. "It couldn't hurt at this late hour. Little chance we'll have any more visitors at this time of night." She sat with the trio and shared stories about the more unusual cases she'd seen over her past several years as the Healer at Hogwarts while they sat and laughed.

No-one noticed Harry slip out of the Infirmary or into the Forest late that night. If they had followed him they would have seen him speak to two Centaurs – one old and wise...the other strong and fierce. Harry was correct in assuming they would like to know directly from him that the scourge that had tormented the forest and all of Hogwarts was finally laid to rest. When he lie down to sleep in the infirmary that night he felt oddly at peace.

The next morning and his mates returned to Gryffindor Tower and prepared for breakfast. Harry finally summoned the courage to do something he'd wanted to do all term and he pulled Ginny away from everyone just after breakfast to do it. Those that spent the morning lounging in the Gryffindor Commons were confused when they saw Ginny shoot up the stairs to her flat in angry tears. Whispers began when Harry and Ron waited outside the girl's stairs as Hermione reluctantly walked up and then rushed back down after an unceremonious slam of a door upstairs. After quiet arguing amongst the three, Harry cursed and walked out the Portrait entrance while Ron and Hermione watched after him worriedly. Obviously, many theories were discussed amongst those witnessing the entire affair and it made the train ride home quite interesting for many.

What made the conversations even more interesting was that neither Ginny nor Draco was anywhere to be found the following morning. The professors seemed unfazed but Harry stomped about the castle very unhappy. As they reached their seats on the train Hermione and Ron could be heard calming Harry down. "She will speak to you once you get back, I am sure," Ron promised as they searched for a cabin. "Save us a seat mate."

Harry did as asked and was not surprised to find Neville and Luna peek in, "Hey."

Harry gesture for them to sit down and eagerly they did. Neville and Luna both looked happier than normal to be returning home. Harry gave in and let their joy infect him, "I know why you are so happy Neville but what about you, Luna? I'd think you smuggled a unicorn out of the forest in one of your satchels by the look of you."

Luna brightened even more at the thought, "Oh, that would be brilliant," she mused dreamily to herself. "Or a thestral..."

Neville smiled, "Or it could be that she just got word that Rolf was meeting her at the station. She was just offering for me to take a trip with them in July to hunt for herbs while they search for some subjects for Rolf's new book on magical creatures. I told her I'd have to check with Hannah because I'm not sure what she'll have me doing once we return from our honeymoon."

As the train left the station at Hogsmeade, Harry was already in better spirits. He thought to himself that he was truly lucky to have such good friends. Neville and Luna were always unassuming and more and more he noticed that they were the ones that righted his spirits when he was down. Although he knew they both had found perfect people to compliment their personalities, Harry was surprised that the two of them had never dated.

"You should come too," Luna smiled to Harry. "There is so much you could see."

"Luna, I appreciate the offer but I'd just be in the way. Neville would have his plants and you and Rolf would have your animals. What would I search for?" asked Harry.

"Yourself," Luna answered dreamily, "You've been searching since we got here and you're still looking."

Harry blinked. Luna had a way with stating the obvious. Harry was saved from inventing a polite denial when the cabin door opened and Hermione stepped in excitedly with Ron, "You would not believe what I just heard. You know how we were trying cross everyone off our list, Harry? We couldn't figure out where Draco and Astoria were going off to? Yes, both of them! Pansy Parkinson was in the meeting with us going on about how during winter holiday Draco's mum had the nerve to break off their engagement because her father didn't publicly denounce the Death Eaters quickly enough. She said something about how she didn't want Draco travelling down the same path she did."

Harry nodded. He didn't really want to talk about Draco right now or his mum but anything that would keep people from asking about him at the moment he'd make do with.

Thankfully, Neville changed the subject, "I've got one question. I have wanted to ask this since the night it happened. I've thought and thought and thought about the trick George did on his birthday and I can't figure it out for the life of me. Will one of you tell me how he did it? I know he had to tell one of you." Harry shrugged and he saw Hermione and Ron apologetically do the same.

Neville crossed his arms pouting, "Fine then. No doubt he promised you to some secret Weasley, Granger, Potter pact." Harry felt terrible for not being able to share.

"Oh Neville," Luna picked up his hand and squeezed it, "George had Fred's ghost waiting inside of him. That's why he was shivering when he came out. Fred pretended to be George's ghost and flew around but because a ghost can't stop a curse..." Luna looked around the room conspiratorially, "...Either Fred or George convinced Peeves to stand just in front of George and maybe even inside his body. When the curse hit him it knocked Peeves and George back. He's a poltergeist, not a ghost, so he can move solid objects – or block a curse. That's why George had to perform the illusion here instead of somewhere else. Peeves hasn't been able to leave the grounds since the castle was built."

Neville and Harry and Ron looked at Hermione as if to get confirmation and the look on her face said it all. Ron gasped, "George didn't tell us about Peeves! He's bloody barking mad! Peeves can't be trusted to..."

Hermione interrupted Luna, "How did you figure it out?"

"It was quite easy really. The ear. And George looked like he'd just taken a swim in the North Sea. Once I came to terms with Fred possibly being a ghost I began asking myself what kind of spirit could stop a curse. Also, and this was incidental, it seems the only times Peeves is causing mischief of late is when he is pulling a prank for George. Thinking back, it made sense that George had him focused on something big."

They spent much of the rest of the train ride talking about that night. Harry looked at Hermione and noticed how she looked at Luna with such fascination. He thought to himself that just as people discounted Hermione's passion because she was so smart and logical – people also discounted Luna's wisdom and intelligence because of her dreaminess.

Ginny heard a knock, "Come in." Gwenog tentatively opened the door and was invited to sit down in a nearby chair. Ginny continued to unpack her chest but noticed the sad look on her mate's face, "I'm not here an hour and you are already disappointed that you signed me?"

Shifting in the chair uncomfortably, the Harpies Beater found it difficult to look at Ginny, "Erm, it's not that at all. I need to be straight with you. When it comes to signing players we feel that we must do whatever necessary to get the players we want. Often, we feel that it's 'just business.' We have to because being an all-witch team limits our pool of talent and being a mid-market team..."

"It's ok, Gwen. I understand. You weren't able to tell me at the time that you had the opportunity to sign Isa as your final Chaser. I'd have preferred to have played Chaser but to be able to field a lineup of Wilda, Beth, and Isa is brilliant. I would have signed her over me – just for ticket sales alone. I'm just happy that you were able to find a place for me. I was lucky that Harry lost his nerve and bailed out on us.

Gwenog didn't respond. She watched Ginny unpack until Ginny spoke, "I know we haven't chatted in a while. I've held in so much since we last saw each other because I didn't feel like I could speak to anyone other than Luna and even she wouldn't understand. You know he actually had the nerve to propose to me after exams? It happened the day after that whole thing in the Chamber – you read about it in the papers right?" Gwenog nodded nervously and Ginny continued, "What could possibly make him think I'd want to get married right out of school? He knew I didn't want to follow down the same path as my mum. I want to do things first."

"Besides, I saw a side of him I'd never seen before when we trained for that last match. I took the time to help him train to face Cho and the whole time he barked at me as if I was doing something wrong." Ginny was now throwing her robes into her wardrobe, "Then he doesn't even bother to show up. He just left it up to us to win or lose." Ginny looked at Gwenog as if she expected her to chime in but the Beater just sat there looking sad. Ginny pulled out a few odds and ends from her chest to put away, "Well, you know what? I told him off right then. I told him I wasn't about to marry some prat who'd dress me down in front of our team just before a match and then didn't even have the courage to be there for his mates when they needed him most. I signed the contract, packed my things and skipped the train. I didn't even stay for the Feast."

"Did he try to explain himself?" asked Gwenog.

"Explain what? There is no excuse for running out on your mates like that. He left me and my bother and everyone in a bind at the last minute like he has always has." Ginny's temper was beginning to boil over, "Don't you start defending him now. Hermione tried floating some kind of rubbish and I kicked her out of my flat."

Gwenog swallowed hard. She didn't know where to begin, "Erm, Ginny. Remember how I said we sometimes have to do things to get an advantage? Sometimes our front office has overlooked a few rules. For example, we weren't supposed to speak to you until after Exams but we went into the clubhouse that afternoon and offered you a contract under the guise that we were congratulating a mate of mine."

Ginny's face softened, "That doesn't matter. You actually cheered me up that afternoon. And anyone that knew me would know I would have signed with Holyhead regardless of the Galleons or other nonsense."

"Well, that's not the only rule we broke this season. We signed Isa at Chaser back in late March. We found out she was in a financial bind and we agreed to front her the signing bonus right then if she agreed to sign after the official sign date. Clubs do things like this sometimes despite the rules and Glynnis has wanted Isa since she carried the Spanish team to the World Cup Finals. She decided that picking her up in her prime would be better than taking a shot on a young witch, however talented, at the position. We still planned to sign you as a reserve but you'd have rarely seen playing time and we would have had to cut Angelina who is also showing a lot of promise. I wrote Harry about it asking him to prepare you so you didn't take it so hard once the season was over."

Now Ginny was the quiet one. She sat down on the bed and finally asked, "But I don't understand. Why didn't Harry say anything?"

"I asked him not to. I told him it was a shame that you didn't play Seeker because ours had just announced she was pregnant and would be leaving at season's end. I mentioned to him we had decided to sign Cho Chang and were making her an offer as soon as NEWTs were completed. She was the only promising witch playing Seeker currently unsigned." Gwenog sighed, "He sent me an owl that night begging me to have a scout to come out to the match between you and Ravenclaw before we spoke to Chang. He swore up and down that you were ten times the Seeker that Chang was and that if we came you'd prove it."

The room was now silent. Ginny kept her hands busy with a sock but her attention was on Gwenog, "You are saying Harry knew since March? That doesn't matter. He didn't let us know he wasn't playing until the morning of."

"He didn't let everybody know - but he did let Ron know. Ron's known since early April. Why do you think he agreed to have you train against Harry to help prepare 'him?' Harry convinced Ron early on that if the Chasers had enough time practising together then the two of you could eke out a win. I got an owl early May from Ron begging me that we be there because he was afraid Harry was going to tear the team apart pushing you as hard as he was and he didn't want it to be all for nought."

Reluctantly Gwenog pulled a piece of parchment out of her jeans pocket and she handed it to Ginny who read it, "But this says..." Gwenog nodded. "Ron knew the whole bloody time!" Gwen nodded again. "That lying..! The whole time he knew what was..! He acted like..!" Each time Gwenog nodded when Ginny stopped short. Finally Ginny looked up, "But why didn't they just tell us?"

"Come on! I don't know for sure but even I can imagine. Harry promised me not to tell you about Isa because I was afraid out of anger you might let it slip out. He and Ron both knew you'd never agree to take his place because even if you did know you'd never take a chance on losing the match just so your Seeker skills could be showcased. Aside from that, he probably knew Ron would be blasted if he risked a win just so you could apply for a job."

Gwenog was surprised because Ginny now seemed angrier than before, "You see? This is just like him. He won't let me do a bloody thing myself. He always rushes in as the white knight and saves the day! This is why I need time away from him. I need to do something for myself without his help."

"Are you mad?" Gwenog was flabbergasted, "Do you know what I would give for a bloke that would do the things he's done for you? If it weren't for him you wouldn't be starting Seeker right now! You'd be fighting Angelina for the reserve Chaser slot and there's a chance she'd win out due to experience. I came in here feeling guilty because I let you sign a contract barring you from seeing him for a year without you knowing how much he sacrificed for you. Now I don't feel guilty at all – I never realised how ungrateful you'd be." Now Gwenog was standing and pointing at Ginny dangerously, "I don't know if you deserve him!"

Ginny looked down, still playing with the sock, "Maybe your right," She said contritely. "Maybe I don't deserve him. Maybe this year away will give both of us a chance to grow up some and decide if we are really meant for each other."

She decided she needed to write Harry. She spent the entire night writing draft after draft of the letter. Finally, by early morning she had a version she could live with.

21 June 1999

Dear Harry,

I am very sorry for leaving so suddenly. I know that it was unfair for me to leave school without warning and especially without giving you an answer to your proposal but I think you knew what my answer was just by my reaction. Thinking back, even my reaction was unfair.

I have been very angry with you for doing things that at the time I did not fully understand. Now, knowing your motives, I regret that I am still angry. I do not need a bloke who will solve all of my problems. I need a bloke who is willing to support me but still let me make my own way in the world.

I hope you understand that I accepted the contract to play for the Harpies and I have agreed to spend the year with them and separate from any of the distractions of the outside world. Much like you had things that you had to do this time two years ago, I now have something that I must accomplish if only so that I can say that I was a success at something all on my own. If I didn't do this, if instead I married you now and we had children, I would surely lose myself and my identity and would become merely Mrs. Ginny Potter – wife to the Chosen One.

I must find my path Harry. I must learn who Miss Ginny Weasley is. In order for me to do that I need to be just me. So that this can happen I need to release myself from all of the things that I have attached myself to until now. Though I have no plans to fancy another while we are apart I can make no promises and for that very reason I do not expect you to wait for me.

Writing this is more difficult for me than I expected. I have always thought that you were everything I could ever want in a bloke. To give you up just to find myself seems like the actions of a mad woman. Maybe they are. But if I don't do this I will surely lose myself in you.

With a heavy heart,

Ginny

The Harpies newest Seeker took a last look at the letter. Deciding it was something that must be done, she folded it and sent it with Gwenog's owl that morning before she could change her mind. She stroked the owl behind the ear and begged it to deliver the letter directly to Harry as quick as it could. The owl flew through the morning and, desiring to fulfil his new friend's request, he delivered the letter directly to Harry just as he walked out of the Leaky Cauldron after lunch.

The owl landed on Harry's shoulder with a friendly hoot and lifted it's leg for Harry to untie the message. Smiling at the owl, Harry pulled out a piece of his sandwich, "I saved some for a little later. If you like rye then you can have a bit. The owl rubbed it's head up to Harry's ear and gave another friendly hoot. "I'll take that as a yes."

After feeding the owl a few bites of ham and rye, he untied the letter and let the owl on its way. Finally he opened the letter and he read it. It didn't take long. Finally, cursing to himself and obviously upset, he found the nearest rubbish bin and he threw the parchment in the bin with such anger that anyone that would have been watching would have been curious. Realising his obvious foolishness, he looked around him embarrassedly hoping no-one had seen. Sure that no wizards or witches had been watching, he turned away from the bin and returned his thoughts to what he planned on doing once he reached Gringotts.

What he didn't see was a small beetle fly off of his shoulder and back toward the rubbish bin. The beetle was not interested in the recently rotting chicken salad or the last bits of fish and chips that waited at the top. This beetle was special and though she did not see exactly what the piece of parchment looked like she did know that somewhere in this bin there was a piece of parchment that had made The Chosen One very angry. This beetle knew that any piece of parchment that created such an emotion from such a boy would be a very valuable piece of parchment indeed for a beetle like her...

Final A/N: If you haven't reviewed yet i'd appreciate hearing from you. I am very interested in how you felt about the final two chapters specifically. I'm wondering whether I should continue with the sequel or not. I appreciate you taking the time to read this story and I hope you've enjoyed reading it as much as I have writing it.