The Second Chance
DISCLAIMER: I own nothing of J. K. Rowling and Kurinoone's universe. This story is written with permission from Kurinoone, and is based on Kurinoone's fabulous, beyond awesome story- "The Darkness Within" (which was inspired by Project Dark Overlord's wonderful story- "The Shattered Prophesy").
Chapter 6: A Message in the Sky
With the first of September approaching rapidly, the Order members and Ministry officials no longer had time for themselves, let alone their family. James was worried that Damien might close up like Harry did during his absence, but Lily assured her husband that she'd take good care of their only son.
Damien did seem to be coping better; he started to hang out with the Weasleys more often like he did in the past when he was alone. Whenever Lily was off to Order meetings, Damien would join Ron in his room for games and talk. After obtaining permission from Dumbledore, Damien and Ron decided to tell Hermione about their decision to become Hogwarts' Secret Keepers. Ginny, however, was left out of the secret, and was clearly hurt when the rest huddled in Ron's room conversing in whispers, but she never intruded and tried not to show it.
It was another occasion as such on the morning of 24th of August- the Order members were having a meeting in the dining room; Fred and George, though already above age and legal to join the Order, still remained in their rooms creating new pranks and jokes to liven up the atmosphere in the evenings. Indeed, it was thanks to them that the Burrow overcame the shadow of Harry's death- their new fireworks display at night was both beautiful and entrancing. Although sometimes glittering words would spout out, bright against the night sky- "RONALD YAWNED 47 times today!"- nobody minded much; in fact, the twins' usually much unloved jokes were now more appreciated, as they brought about laughter.
The others had never especially forbidden Ginny to set foot in Ron's room and join in the conversation, but Ginny had no intention to enter unless she was invited. If they didn't want her presence, she would keep well out of their way. But it didn't make the searing feeling go away; that as much as she tried and assured herself for so long, she still wasn't part of their group. She would never belong.
But Harry had been different. He'd been kind. He paid her attention even though she was nothing compared to the others. She wasn't funny like Ron; wasn't constantly cheerful like Damien; not as intelligent nor pretty as Hermione, who would have been one of the most beautiful girls in Hogwarts if she dressed up properly and straightened her hair, like she did at the Christmas Ball that year. Ginny was just the youngest and stupidest of the entire lot of Weasleys, who cast her under a huge shadow, but Harry never cast her out, like how the others did. She kept her distance, knowing Harry valued privacy- for one of her unknown talents was tact- but now she regretted slightly for doing so, when there was no longer the opportunity for her to talk to him ever again.
For those precious few months, Ginny had been accepted as a part of the group, but it was only because of Harry, she reflected bitterly. She was, and would be, forever the outcast.
She sighed and walked around to the backyard, breathing in the fresh autumn morning air. Recently the days had been really hard to bear; her faint hope when Harry had left her a departing kiss snuffed out just as Harry's life had done. While growing up with six brothers at home had toughened her, and taught her to hold back her sadness, Ginny was surprised at how she had sobbed outright every night in her bed for a straight five days. As the days faded, only an occasional tear strayed, but she was quick to whisk it away.
She was therefore, very much surprised to find another unwanted Weasley leaning against one of the trees in their backyard.
"Percy?" she called out to her brother.
Percy's head snapped up at the mention of his name. On seeing Ginny, his expression immediately changed, and he hurriedly leapt up. Ginny looked at him in surprise as his scrawny figure started to hurry away in the opposite direction.
"Where are you going?" she asked after his retreating back, taken aback by his abruptness. He hadn't even greeted her.
Percy stopped. "I-I... my books," he finished lamely.
"Oh," said Ginny, disappointment evident in her voice. And here she thought she would have company! When would she accept the fact that she would forever be a lone ranger? She was unwanted, an outcast, even in her own family. "Can't you summon your book down here to read?"
Percy turned around and looked at her in surprise. "I thought you'd want to be left alone."
"No, I'm actually feeling very lonely right now," admitted Ginny, sighing as she watched the yellow flowers flutter from the trees and land lightly on her shoulder.
"I'll- I'll get Hermione down for you," he said, still sounding rather hurried.
"No, don't. Never mind," said Ginny, trying to keep the hurt from her voice. Percy seemed to fidget a bit before turning to leave again.
"Wait, can't you stay?" the youngest Weasley suddenly blurted, the loneliness in her overcoming her pride. She was partly appalled at how much she sounded like a baby sister, but suddenly she felt as though she would like to be the little girl whom Percy had patiently taught spells all those years back, before the twins had teased her and she abandoned studying with Percy altogether.
The words did the trick; Percy stopped as though struck, his expression comical. "You want me to stay?" he asked disbelievingly.
Ginny nodded enthusiastically, trying her best to look as sincere as she could.
Unfortunately, she had adapted the innocent expression before when she had assisted the twins at pranking Percy. On recognosing the expression, the elder Weasley's expression hardened and he backed away a step.
"Tell Fred and George sending you after me won't work anymore," he said curtly, quiet anger in his voice. "I know what I did is beyond forgiving, but I hope if I keep out of the way, you'd - you will leave me alone."
With that, he took quick and determined strides away from the his younger sister, fists clenched. The wind changed course and blew Percy's hair into a messy bird's nest, but he didn't seem to care as he left his sister standing desolately under the tree.
It hadn't always been like that.
Tears came to Ginny again, but this time for a completely different reason. It had been her fault entirely, really. When Ron, Fred and George had often abandoned her in her younger days, before she attended Hogwarts, Percy would take her, teaching her various boring lessons about potions and spells; but at least he was company. He made her feel wanted. But when the twins showed signs of including her into their pranking group, when Ron invited Ginny to his room too, when Hermione and Damien came round, she abandoned Percy altogether, seeking shelter and company in a more popular group.
Fred and George came up with what seemed like a good idea at that time; to use Ginny, whom Percy still trusted, as a bait, as a means to prank Percy. When Percy stood covered with amusing warts, and the others roared in laughter, she joined in. Neglecting to notice the trust she threw away in a moment's crave for attention. Failing to realize Percy's quiet hurt as he turned away and stomped into the house, everyone's ridiculing laughter ringing in his ears. And when Molly scolded, she stood up for Fred and George and Ron just to belong, and turned her back on the much unloved brother.
Percy was the same. He had betrayed his family's trust and let slip the Burrow's spells and barriers to the Ministry, just for attention. In a way, both he and Ginny had committed identical crimes; it was just that Percy's actions brought fatal results, while Ginny had only hurt one heart.
In a moment of understanding she'd realized why. That day, on her Second Year, she had asked Percy for help regarding her Potions essay, and he'd scoffed at her and walked away. Since then, when the others scoffed at Percy, she'd join in too. Just to get back at him, because he abandoned her that day. Conveniently forgetting she was the one who hurt him first.
With a soft chirrup, her owl Pigwidgeon suddenly came fluttering into sight, an envelope tied to its legs. Her Hogwarts letter. Emotionlessly, Ginny untied the envelope from her twittering owl and started to make her way back to the Burrow, Pigwidgeon twittering noisily beside her.
"Hey Ginny!" greeted Fred, grinning all over his face.
The twins trooped out of the front door together, wearing the familiar triumphant smile.
"What did you do now?" she asked tiredly.
"We've managed it!" crowed George, punching his fist in the air. "We've managed to make the special fireworks. They can stay up in the air, frozen and all beautiful for a record of ten seconds-"
"-in theory," finished Fred. "But our theories are very accurate," he added.
"So?" asked Ginny. She hadn't the heart for fireworks now.
"Seeing as you helped prank Percy a few times last week," started Fred, and guilt gnawed horribly at Ginny's heart.
"-we've decided to give you the honor of writing the Firework Words," continued George, as per usual.
"Firework Words?" echoed Ginny.
"You know, the glittering words you want to spell up in the sky..."
"For example- "RONALD WEASLEY YAWNED 47 TIMES TODAY!.."
"- yeah, that kind of thing."
Ginny felt her face break into a smile. "I know what I want to write," she said. "But you're going to be very surprised."
Dinner was another pleasant affair, what with the Potters and Weasleys over at the merry Burrow, to enjoy Molly's superb cooking. Ginny however couldn't wait for pudding to be over already. She hadn't had much appetite throughout the day. Damien was also displaying enthusiasm in the twins' various new products, and was fairly excited when the twins promised their 'Grand Opening' later that night after dinner, when the sky would be dark and cloudless.
Once or twice, Ginny would steal a look at Percy, but he seemed absorbed in his book, as he always was. Everyone was chattering to another partner, talking or laughing in a group- only the "Perfect Percy" was the outcast. Suddenly Ginny felt sorry for him, no longer for herself. At least she had Ron, Hermione, Damien, Fred and George to stand by her, even though sometimes she was excluded from their group.
"Attention please!" boomed Fred over the Sonorus Charm. He was currently standing on the table itself, throwing a huge looming shadow over what was left of the pudding, much to Molly's disapproval. "If everyone has eaten their fill..."
"We'd like to proudly present our newest products for all to see," continued George, leaping up to stand beside Fred, causing the table to tip alarmingly. Everyone's eyes were on them now; even Percy, who was looking all wary.
"...ladies and gentlemen, we proudly present..."
"Our ten- second lasting fireworks!"
The last sentence from George was drowned out by a huge crackling noise, as five fireworks shot up to the sky simultaneously, illuminating the dark night with brilliant patches of beautiful colors. The twins were true to their word; the fireworks were truly beyond awesome. Stars paled in comparison to the beautiful blend of glamour that lit up the darkness.
Then the brilliant words shot up into the sky, a short message that lasted for a brief ten seconds; yet it was never forgotten by both writer and who the message was meant for.
PERCY, I'M SORRY.
GINNY
Across the table, both their eyes met, and the familiar awkward smile, the kind when Ginny exclaimed in wonder at the spells he managed, wormed its way to Percy's face. Ginny felt the same expression breaking out on hers. It didn't matter if all the adults, Ron, Hermione, Damien, Fred and George didn't understand. Percy did; and for that night, it was all that mattered.
"You're still weak," reprimanded Voldemort as he stood above his son, his expression disapproving. "Your Occlumency skills would make even Naigini feel better."
Harry bit his lip in frustration. "You know perfectly well I'm a novice at this mind thingy," he complained. "You didn't need to burst into my brain with such dramatic full force. My head nearly split in half."
"Which would serve you right," said the Dark Lord severely. "It wouldn't have happened if you'd done it correctly."
Harry did not reply. A day's practise of Legilimency and Occlumency had took twenty times more out of him then his duel with Voldemort days ago. In truth, Harry was improving faster than Voldemort thought possible, and though Harry was far from being a master in the art, he had covered the basics fairly well. Not that Voldemort was going to admit it. His discouragement to Harry, he believed, brought about determination. In which case, Voldemort was right.
Harry had now climbed up to his feet.
"A blank mind," ordered Voldemort at once.
"I know," snapped Harry a tad testily. "I can't do it with you barking orders in my ear."
Voldemort folded his lips tightly but he did not say anything. He waited as Harry squeezed his eyes, pinched the bridge of his nose and inhaled deeply. At last, the Dark Prince announced he was ready.
"Good, on the count of three," said Voldemort. "ONE!"
But Voldemort was lying; at the count of one, he'd already barged with full force into Harry's mind. To his slight surprise, his son was able to raise the Occlumency shield just in time. Perhaps the Dark Lord had used the same trick too many times in a row. It trained Harry to be vigilant at all times.
Three minutes of intense struggle took place, before Harry at last used a part of his concentration to fire a jinx at his father, without allowing Voldemort to intrude on his mind. Voldemort dodged the spell, but his concentration was momentarily shattered. Harry took the advantage to fire more curses in his father's path, forcing the Dark Lord to weave and duck throughout the chamber.
"This is an Occlumency lesson, Harry, not a duel!" Voldemort snarled, bringing up his shield and firing curses at Harry at the same time.
"You've had your turn at bullying me just now," replied Harry, grinning. "Now it's my turn."
Voldemort nearly spluttered in disbelief. "Bullying? I wasted twelve hours of the day training you and this is what I get in return?"
Harry's response was to laugh.
"No, Harry," said Voldemort, this time with the stern tone that his son had learnt before not to disobey. "You have not learnt the art of Legilimens and Occlumens properly. Focus on one task at a time."
With a reluctant sigh, Harry made a face and dropped his shield. He turned to face his father.
"Now what?" he said moodily.
Voldemort smirked evily. "Now it's my turn. Expelliarmus!"
xXx
Three hours later, a very tired but grinning Harry was still brandishing his father's wand about, firing random jinxes and hexes just to annoy Voldemort.
"That's not very gallant of you, stealing another's wand!" hissed Voldemort, narrowly avoiding another blast of jinxes.
"I'm learning to be a Slytherin from you!" replied Harry cheekily, as he charmed Voldemort's chandelier to look a tad pink and fluffy. Voldemort looked at the pink and frilly lace decorating his prided chandelier and banished the glamour irritably.
"Give me back my wand now!" he ordered, trying to summon back his wand. But it wasn't a very safe act, as Harry kept his random blasts of pathetic jinxes flying everywhere. Voldemort might accidentally summon a jinx to hit himself instead.
"I don't want to! Your wand feels more powerful than mine," grinned Harry.
Voldemort was surprised, and he lost his irritated expression, much to his son's disappointment. "Really?" he asked.
Harry decided to stop fooling around, as Voldemort called it. "It responds pretty accurately to me, just as good as my own wand actually. But considering the wand belongs to you..."
"Phoenix feather," mused Voldemort, taking the offered wand back. "Of course. It fits you as well."
"Does that mean I get to keep your wand?"
Voldemort's annoyance returned. "What do you think?"
Harry laughed. "Goodnight father," he said, leaving for his room. The echo of his laughter reverberated in the chamber where Voldemort stood for a long time, watching the back of his son, an unreadable expression on his face. It was until Harry had disappeared into his room when Voldemort finally moved to leave the chamber.
Clearly, no one understood what Ginny's message to Percy was all about, and all seemed a tad surprised to see them both descending the stairs together for breakfast. Ginny had suddenly transformed into the ten year old girl that chattered a lot all over again, instead of the fifteen year old that poked fun at her brothers to gain laughter and approval. She talked to Percy like she'd not talked to others before, and Percy felt a sense of pride welling in him when others' questioning gazes rested on them.
What could there possibly be to talk so much about?
"- and I passed the exam with an Outstanding, did I ever get around to tell you that?" continued Ginny.
"No," Percy replied truthfully. "At that time, we kind of had a falling out. You didn't talk much to me then."
"Oh," Ginny said, falling silent temporarily. "Well, in the end I was rated top of the class... for the first and last time of my life, I'm afraid."
Percy laughed a bit at that. "Really, Transfiguration isn't hard, you just need to learn properly how to do it," he began.
Ron rolled his eyes. "And there goes perfect Percy. If it isn't cauldron bottoms, it's a recount of his modest history."
"Shut up Ron," said Ginny defensively. "Percy was talking to me, not to you."
Three heads swivelled around to watch the drama. Fred, George, Ron and Hermione stared at them for some time, before Percy made to retort back, thought better of it, and closed his mouth.
"When were you such close buddies with the traitor here?" demanded Ron, his eyes flickering from Ginny to Percy with distaste.
"Since Ginny touched Percy's little heart with a firecracker and a tear," answered George in a dramatic girlish voice. Fred pretended to wipe a tear from the corner of his eye, and both twins sniffed audibly.
"Traitor?" spluttered Percy, losing his self- control already. "Do you think I let slip the enchantments purposely?"
"What?" sneered Ron. "Did you tell the Ministry accidentally? Under the Imperius Curse, were you?"
Arthur looked disapprovingly at his children. "Cut it out right now," he ordered severely. "War is raging outside. Do you really need to fight over petty things like these right now? What's done is done."
Usually, Mr. Weasley never snapped; Molly was the one for that. It was a good thing Mrs. Weasley was in the kitchen and didn't hear the quarrel. The Order had been extremely busy these days, and everyone was tense with the reopening of Hogwarts. At last, Ron stopped glowering at Percy, opting to mutter darkly under his breath as he reached for another toast. But Percy wasn't finished.
"I'd turn back the clock if I could!" he said furiously. "I've regretted doing it ever since. I know I was a big idiot, and I am really sorry. But it doesn't mean that you can just treat me like some kind of-"
"Didn't you hear Dad? Cut it out already!" snapped Ron.
Percy threw one last furtive glance at his brothers before stomping away, taking refuge in his room.
XxXx
"I guess that's just the problem of having too many brothers," said Ron to Damien, after he had finished complaining. "It's awful and quarrels burst out every single day."
Damien's face was sober. "It'll be even more awful when you don't even have a brother to quarrel with," he said quietly.
Ron's heart clenched as he saw the misery written on his friend's face. "Sorry," he muttered. "Didn't think."
"S'okay," reassured Damien. "You wouldn't be Ron Weasley if you did."
The pair was seated in one of the dingy rooms of Number Twelve Grimmauld Place, waiting for Dumbledore's summons. The Secret Keeper spell was to be cast today. It was a dull task to sit in a dusty room and do nothing but wait, however, both Ron and Damien felt too nervous, giddy and excited to be bored.
"Do you think it'll hurt?" asked Ron presently. "When the charm falls upon us?"
Damien frowned. "I don't think so. The spell should be quite safe."
Ron's eyes widened. "You know about the spell? Hermione's been looking through tons of books regarding the special barriers Dumbledore is going to use, and she couldn't find any spell that could combine blood and magic."
The youngest Potter bit his lip. He hadn't told anyone about the letter Harry had left him. From it, Damien deduced that the spell was Harry's own creation.
"I- I just guessed," Damien said instead. "Professor Dumbledore wouldn't use anything unsafe."
Ron nodded. "Makes sense."
Five minutes later, steady footsteps approached the door. Ron and Damien shared a look before Professor McGonagall opened the door, followed by an anxious Molly. Lily appeared soon after, but James was nowhere to be seen.
"Come on, it's time," said McGonagall. "Professor Dumbledore is waiting. But before that, I'd like to ask you one more question. By agreeing to take the job of a Secret Keeper, you have obligingly placed your lives in slightly more danger than the other students, for it will be you whom the Dark Lord will seek to destroy. Once you accept this responsibility, you can not shrug it off anymore. So if any of you have second doubts, now is your last chance to back out."
Ron and Damien shared a look before replying, identical daring grins on their faces.
"We're Gryffindors, Professor," they said, their answers clear.
A hint of a smile crossed the Professor's features. "Good. Follow me."
A/N: Thanks for reading! Please drop me a thought!