Harry and Ginny: A Love Story
Chapter 14: Decisions, Decisions
Albus Dumbledore sat at his desk, finally caught up with the mountain of paperwork that the end of the school year had generated. Now he could turn his attention to more important matters.
Probably the most important was the questions raised by how Harry and Ginny had described the way that Tom Riddle's Diary had acted. There were very few spells that could cause what had manifested itself down in the Chamber of Secrets.
In fact there was only one that fulfilled all the requirements. Tom Riddle had created a Horcrux and what troubled Albus the most was what the meaning was of how the diary seemed to have been meant to be used.
It was obvious it was intended to be found and used by someone to open the Chamber, and if that was the case, it implied that there needed to be at least one more. By letting it be found and used, implied that it was expendable, because you were letting it out of your control, were it would be vulnerable to destruction just as it had been.
That was unless the person creating it was extremely stupid, and if Riddle was anything, he certainly wasn't stupid. He had been a brilliant student while at Hogwarts and nothing indicated that anything changed after he left.
What troubled him most was that he was certain that Riddle would not have relied on just one or two Horcruxes, he would have wanted to increase the odds of his chances of survival. With one being expendable that meant there had to be at least two more.
And if two, why stop there, the more he made the better the chances of survival. But there had to be a practical limit to the number that could be made and still be able to remain human. It was a matter of the amount of soul that was in each one. The first Horcrux would contain half of one's soul and the other half still in the body. The next one would be a half of a half or one quarter of the soul, the following a half of a quarter and so on.
This, in effect made it a simple mathematical question. Albus rose and when to the bookshelf near his desk, where after looking at a number of the ancient tomes ensconced there, he pulled several down and returned to his desk.
It took several hours of research and much figuring with Arithmancy before he came up with an answer. The most a soul could be divided was seven times and even that would be dangerous, with the last soul fragment left in the body being close to being unstable.
This helped explain to Albus why Riddle had become more and more monstrous as his reign of terror went on and also made him sure that the number of Horcuxes was probable six or seven. Seven being a very powerful magical number, so it was Albus' guess the Riddle had made six Horcuxes and with the piece that remained in him, he would have the seven pieces of his soul.
Albus leaned back in his chair, staring up into nothingness while he contemplated what he knew about the man, Tom Marvolo Riddle.
He was one of the more brilliant students to come through Hogwarts in the last century and he was a very private person even then. He rarely divulged any information about himself unless he absolutely had to.
Albus remembered meeting him for the first time in the orphanage, long ago which brought back to mind his perchance for collecting trophies for when he preformed what he thought was an extraordinary piece of magic.
At the orphanage it had been mundane things that reminded him of his victims, but in the magical world, Albus knew he's never be satisfied with that. He had, after all, created a persona for himself, Lord Voldemort, exhibiting delusions of grander.
Albus then turned his mind back to the Diary and what had transpired. The message referencing him being the heir of Slytherin and that brought back the memory of Riddle's fascination with all the founders. He recalled that several of the other teachers had remarked that he was doubly interested in knowing if objects of the Founders still existed.
This Albus found intriguing, and he was pretty sure that Riddle would have wanted to possess any that he could find. Albus spun his chair and looked at the two objects that were the only know items of Godric Gryffindor that remained, his sword and the sorting hat. If Riddle had wanted items from all four Founders, he would have failed to possess one from Gryffindor.
This still left three Founders that he could have tracked down items that they had once possessed. This warranted further investigation and he knew it was going to be a time consuming endeavour. Just what he needed when his free time was something of a rare commodity, but it needed to be done and it wasn't something he felt he could ask another to perform. No the less that knew about the fact that Riddle had made any Horcruxes at all, the better. Secrets where kept when the fewest people necessary knew about them and the fewest people in this case was one.
His mind then turned to Harry and where could he be. He was the key to everything and without him things looked bleak indeed.
Albus sighed, so many things to keep juggling and he wondered how long he'd be able to continue doing so before it all came crashing down around him.
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Alastor Moody paused at the door, looking very thoughtful. "Before I go, I was wondering about something Ginevra said."
"What's that?" asked Minerva.
"It was while she was comforting Harry. She said something about only getting his emotions right then. A very curious thing for a eleven year old to say, don't you think?" Moody asked quietly. "And then the curious fact of her saying that she and Harry were going to be sleeping together to Molly and she didn't raise an objection."
He was watching their faces closely and when he looked a Molly he knew he'd hit pay dirt.
Minerva could tell that Moody knew something, that someone had inadvertently given something away. "Damn him for his inquisitive mind," she thought. "That along with his attention to detail, it had served him wonderfully as an Auror, but right now it was a royal pain in the arse."
"All right Alastor," Minerva said stoically. "You're right, there is something more going on with Harry and Ginny. Someone with your background and experience should be able to figure it out."
"Ah!" Moody said with a smile. "A challenge. I never backed away from one and I'm not going to start now.
Mad-eye looked thoughtful for a couple moments and everyone was waiting expectantly for him to say something. Slowly his face took on a smile and he looked at the assemblage, "They've Bonded in some manner," he stated matter-of-factually.
Molly and Arthur looked astounded, Tonks had a more of a neutral look, like she knew he'd probably work it out, but maybe not so soon. Minerva and Aberforth looked annoyed at him, wishing that he'd never figured it out.
"That's right Alastor," Minerva confirmed, letting her displeasure tinge her reply.
He was quiet for another moment before he said "Good for them, though they are quite young to have Bonded, it's not unheard of and it couldn't have happened to two nicer kids."
He then waved, said his good nights again and turned towards the door once again, a smile on his face. In a moment he was gone, leaving a slightly stunned group sitting at the table.
Molly got up and made a fresh pot of tea and laid out a couple of plates of biscuits. She sat down rather heavily, like she was getting exhausted by the nights events. She looked sadly around the table and said tiredly, "Well since Mad-eye brought it up and it was the reason I asked you to dinner Minerva, I'm looking for help dealing with Ginny and Harry sleeping together."
Tonks looked a bit like she thought she was out of place and she rose also. "I really should be going Molly," she said with a smile.
"Must you?" Molly asked, kind of hoping the young woman would stay and give her perspective on things.
"Yeah, I have an early shift tomorrow and it's a killer if I don't get enough sleep before hand," the young Auror said with a smile.
"Well just remember you're welcome here at any time and now that you're part of the family, I expect you to eat here often young lady," Molly said with a grin.
Tonks hugged Molly tightly, "Thanks Molly, I'll be sure to do that, though I may have to go on some kind of extra training program, I don't want to loose my girlish figure."
"You have nothing to worry about dear, most young women try to keep themselves much to thin," the Weasley matriarch replied.
Rolling her eyes, Tonks said, "Yes Mum"
"Don't you yes Mum me, young lady," Molly replied, but she was smiling as she did so.
After one last round of good byes and hugs from everyone the young Auror left.
"Well back to the matter at hand," Arthur said.
"How long has their sleeping together been going on?" Minerva asked.
"I just caught them last night and if I read things correctly, it hasn't been going on long at all, maybe at the most a couple of nights, but last night might have been the first one as well," Molly explained.
"I see," said Minerva thoughtfully, "and I assume you've had a discussion with them about this?"
Arthur nodded his head, "Yes we talked this morning," and then with a disapproving look at Molly, who looked slightly embarrassed, "Though things got a little heated and we didn't get anything resolved."
It was Aberforth who asked the next question. "Did they give a reason for sleeping together?"
Molly looked irritably at him, "What difference does that make, they're only kids!"
Aberforth looked placidly at Molly, "It might mean a big difference. Was this some whim of theirs or was there a reason for it."
Arthur placed a hand on Molly's arm as she got ready to reply angrily. "Ginny and Harry said it was because of the nightmares they've been having," he said softly, glancing sorrily at Molly.
Aberforth nodded but didn't say anything at that time, it looked like he was evaluating what had been said.
Minerva looked concerned, "Nightmares? What kind of nightmares?" she asked with great concern.
"I, ah, . . .well the truth is we didn't ask," Molly said contritely. "Do you think it's really relevant?" she asked half-heartedly, like she knew what Minerva's answer was even before she said anything.
"Yes I think it could be very relevant," Minerva said, keeping her tone neutral, not wishing to upset Molly any more than she currently was.
"I agree with Minerva," Aberforth said seriously. "If what has been said about Harry's and Ginny's past is true then their nightmares are probably well past anything that kids their ages normally have. I mean if they are serious enough for them to seek solace in the arms of their Bond-mate, I think they are terrifying indeed, so terrifying that an adult would have difficulty in dealing with them."
Everyone looked at Aberforth, appraising what he had said. Maybe the nightmares mattered greatly in the decision that they made to sleep together.
Arthur looked around, "Is there really any reason that they shouldn't sleep together? I mean they are only elven and twelve."
"While that is true now Arthur, they won't remain so. The problem will come as they get older and adolescent hormones begin to kick in," Minerva said with a thin smile.
"Yes, saying yes now and then in a few years trying to say no will be a huge challenge and you'd probably have a bigger fight on your hands than the one you are having now," said Aberforth.
Molly sighed, looking quite forlorn. "I just don't know," she said quietly. "I really think no is the right answer but the things I heard about what Harry and Ginny have been through just breaks my heart and I don't want to cause them any more pain than they've been through already."
"Yes," Aberforth said. "Which is the right answer, and the problem being you might not know till you pick one and see the results, though the real results may not be evident for many years."
Aberforth's comment made Molly look even more troubled than she already was. What was the right answer when either or neither could be the right one, depending on how things turned out.
Aberforth looked thoughtful again, "Could the Bond be a factor, I mean could it be compelling them to be together?"
Molly sighed and looked resigned, "That is a possibility. They always seem to be at least near each other if not touching. They are constantly holding hands, or Harry having his arm around Ginny's shoulders and if sitting together in the evenings they are usually snuggled tightly together."
Aberforth and Minerva exchanged glances, and Minerva then said "Then this may be all a useless discussion."
"Have you considered putting a alarm charm on one of their bedroom doors?" Minerva asked.
Aberforth frowned, "The problem with that is if it is discovered by them that you could alienate one or both of them. The damage to their trust could be irreparable."
"That is our thought," Arthur said sadly. "We have always trusted our children and feel if we break that trust then it could do much more harm than good. Plus once it is broken, it is extremely hard to fix, sometimes impossible."
Minerva nodded, "Granted that is a possible out come if you take that route."
Aberforth looked at them and said, "As much as I enjoyed giving my opinion, it is really up to you three as Harry's guardians and you Molly and Arthur as Ginny's parents to make that decision." He smiled at them and added, "I don't envy any of you your positions, so if you'll excuse me, I'll just take a kip out back and let you three hash it out." He then pulled a cigar from inside his robes and proceeded to exit through the back door.
The three remaining at the table watched him go, all of them wishing they were in his position. The problem was a difficult one and one that may have no real correct answer. The strict moral answer was to prohibit them from sleeping together, but it could also be said it could be morally wrong to keep them apart because of the circumstances that they each had suffered through. Two children that had experienced horrors that no one should have to had endured, no matter what the age.
Arthur looked at the two women sitting at the table with him, "Well, what's it to be?" he asked quietly, his voice low and sad. He then looked at Molly, regret on his face, "I know what I would do if it were up to me alone, I would do what my heart says is right, no matter what anyone else might think."
Molly looked crest-fallen and she knew Arthur's decision without having to ask. She looked forlornly at Minerva and said, "Well it looks like it's up to you Minerva."
Minerva McGonagall sat there looking from one to the other, she too knew what was in her heart. She smiled wanly, thinking that even though Albus could be a conniving bastard, he did get some things right after all. There was always room for more love in the world.
"Let them be together," she said softly, a touch of sadness in her eyes, "and we'll deal with things as we need to."
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The Twins sat huddled on the floor. They had discovered that there was a space that ran up inside the wall that let them hear conversations that took place in the kitchen. It was one of their secret weapons that they used to get information on their siblings.
They had not expected to hear much because the adults and Harry and Ginny had gone into the parlour. They decided to check on the chance that things would be discussed once the official "Talk" was completed.
George had been coming back from the loo when he heard Harry and Ginny come up the stairs, they being just one flight below them. That's when he and Fred decided to check to see if they could hear anything. They had learned that after their parents were done with whomever they were dealing with the odds were about fifty – fifty that they would sit at the kitchen table and discuss what had happened.
Tonight they had hit pay dirt and right at the moment were sitting there stunned. "Little Gin-Gin and Harry sleeping together! This was monumental!
Carefully returning the cover they had fashioned to keep their secret listening post hidden, they then returned and sat on their beds.
"Well, that's certainly a shocker," Fred said, in awe.
"I have to agree, my esteemed brother of mine," answered George.
"No wonder Mum's been in a fine fit today," mused Fred.
"Yeah, she had that stern but weepy face on all day today," chuckled George, "I knew she was concerned about Ginny and Harry but. . ."
". . . . I hope that things turn out for our little sprite and her chosen one," Fred said.
They sat there for a while, both had grins on their faces and every so often they'd look at each other and chuckle. Then they both frowned.
"Hey Fred."
"What George?"
"We need to do something to help Ginny and Harry."
"I was just thinking the same thing."
"If they're having nightmares that bad. . . "
"Then they must be really bad."
The two Twins, both got thoughtful, both trying to come up with something really spectacular that would help Ginny and by association, Harry.
First one's face would light up and they'd look at the other, but then they'd shake their heads, then it was the other one's turn to do the same. This happened about half a dozen time before they both said "I've got it!"
"Think it will work?" asked George.
"Even if not, it will still be fun," answered Fred.
Both Twins had satisfied looks on their faces, they had an idea, now all they needed was a way to pull it off. Deciding that Ginny''s and Harry's need would warrant something so big.
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Minerva slipped out the back door and found Aberforth sitting on the porch swing. He was savouring his cigar and rocking gently. It was a fine June night and both found it very peaceful. Insects were chirping and buzzing, a few bats were hunting their dinners, the moon hung high in the sky providing a gentle light to see by and a gentle breeze was just strong enough to make it very comfortable.
Minerva sat down next to Aberforth who wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her tight into his side.
She sighed as she rested her head on his shoulder, "I hope we're doing the right thing," she said softly.
"Ah," Aberforth said with a sad grin, "The right thing. So easy to say and think you know but in the end, does anyone truly know what is the right decision. What may be right for someone could just as equally be wrong for someone else."
"Better be careful, you're starting to sound like Albus," Minerva grinned at him.
"Woman! You wound me!" he said, theatrically clutching his heart.
Minerva ignored his actions and looked up at the stars and the moon. "It's so peaceful here," she said softly. "Sometimes I wish I was still that young lass, growing up in Scotland, without all the pressures to do so much, without all the cares and worries that an adult must bear."
"Aye, that would be nice, sometimes I wish things were like that too. That my father and mother were still alive and all I had to worry about was how to tease my sister," he said sadly. "But that isn't possible and it falls onto us to do what we think is right when called upon to do so."
Minerva looked at Aberforth, "Becoming quite the sage, aren't you?" she said with a smile.
Aberforth shrugged, "If expounding what you've learned from years of hard experience is being a sage, then I guess I am."
They both fell silent again and just rocked gently. They heard the door open and Molly and Arthur joined them on the porch. Both were carrying two glasses filled with an amber liquid.
Minerva began to rise to let them have their swing.
"Stay where you are Minerva," Molly said lightly as she and Arthur each gave a glass to Minerva and Aberforth. They then sat down on the bench that was also there on the porch.
"Beautiful night," said Arthur, looking up into the night sky.
"Yes it is," agreed Aberforth.
The all sat quietly for a few moments sipping their Old Ogden's. "I know you're worried Molly, but I think it's really the best thing for now," Minerva said softly.
Molly smiled a little at the older witch. "I guess so," she replied. "It's just that I've never had to make such a hard decision before. I mean with the boys nothing like this ever came up."
"Thank Godric," Arthur muttered, causing everyone to chuckle.
"Yeah, I'd hate to have to make a decision like that for more than one child," Aberforth said.
Murmurs of agreement were heard all around.
Aberforth looked up once again into the sky, "I feel that something is going to happen soon. It's something I just can't shake and I don't know why or what's causing it."
"You've always been more intuitive Ab," Minerva said softly. "Unlike Albus who has to calculate everything to the n'th degree, you seem to be able to come up with the answers without all that fuss."
"Just how long have you two been seeing each other, if you don't mind my asking?" Molly said inquisitively.
Aberforth looked at Minerva expectantly. She looked back into his eyes for a moment before looking over at the Weasleys. "It been just over five years," she replied bashfully.
"Why haven't you said anything before?" Molly asked.
Before Minerva could answer, Arthur spoke up. "I can see two reasons," he said dolefully. "One being that as a single woman, the old phonies, I mean cronies on the Hogwarts Board would have never allowed you to remain there and the other is probably none other than Aberforth's brother, if I'm not mistaken."
Minerva looked at him with a new respect, "Why Arthur, what a keen mind you have, why don't you display it more often?"
Arthur laughed, "Well for one thing when you do so people keep expecting it, and another is it's much easier to remain in the background so once and a while I can astound my friends and family."
Everyone chuckled with him, and he smiled. "I prefer to keep things simple. Home, family, friends. Become to well known for your "Keen Mind" as you put it Minerva, and the next thing you know your life isn't your own. No thank you. I may not have many Galleons but I think I am a fairly rich man in what I do have."
Aberforth looked at Arthur with a new found respect, though they hadn't had much direct contact, Aberforth knew a lot of what went on at the Ministry because of contacts that he had developed over the years.
The name of Arthur Weasley was one that people held in high regard. He was a man of his word and known as one of the tireless workers who got things done without a lot of self grandiose flattery, trying to make a name for himself, he just quietly got the job that needed doing, done.
The two couples remained on the porch till quite late, or early depending on how you looked at it. Often nothing was said, or at times they talked and laughed about much that was taking place in the Wizarding World. Much like Aberforth, Arthur knew allot that went on at the Ministry but remained in the background.
When they finally broke up, it was a much closer group of people, ones that knew, liked and respected the others and that they'd do almost anything to help each other.
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In the top most room of the Burrow, Ron lay staring at the ceiling, his hands behind his head as he thought about what he had heard today.
His surprise at Harry being under restriction being the thing he was thinking about the most and as much as he didn't like it, it seemed he had been wrong about how Harry was being treated.
Deep inside, Ron knew that Harry was a decent guy and was a wonderful addition to the family, it was just that it made it seem harder to get any recognition with an additional male to compete with.
Ron's inner turmoil did nothing to calm his anxiety and the anger he felt at his position in the family. Sure it wasn't Harry's fault that he was the number six son and had the reputations of five older brothers to live up to, but it didn't help any either.
If asked his parents would have said that Ron always had a difficult time with the feeling that he didn't measure up to his older brother's standings. In doing so he ignored his own fine qualities and concentrated on what his brothers had been good at.
Ron had a quick and clever mind, he excelled at chess which showed he had a talent for quickly assessing a situation and coming up with a plan to act upon. He also had a rather good sense of humour, and though different from the Twins brand of mayhem, he could be quite funny when he wanted to be.
The one thing that worried his parents most was, Ron's fascination or rather obsession with money. It seemed that no matter what he had he wanted more and he moaned and complained fiercely about the family's financial state. Though he really didn't want for any necessity he always looked disapprovingly at what the family had.
To Ron, the fact that most of their things were second hand and sometimes not in the best shape was a disgrace and something he thought should be corrected, failing to see what they actually had for what it meant.
This was probably Arthur's greatest regret, that his son didn't see that money couldn't buy happiness or love and in some ways too much money brought just the opposite.
Though it pained him some to admit it, Ron knew that he had been unfair to Harry and through him Ginny as well. He wasn't sure quite how to go about mending that situation but he promised himself he would at least try.
Once he had made his decision, he rolled over and drifted off to sleep, not aware that what he was attempting to do would be the biggest, hardest thing to do in his short life. One didn't just decide to change their core beliefs, it would take hard work and a firm commitment to accomplish what he was setting out to do. And if any of his family had known, they probably would be betting against him, because he rarely had the fortitude to carry through on such difficult endeavours.
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Percy was trying very hard to get to sleep, he had another interview at the Ministry the next day and he wanted to be at his very best.
Rolling over he tried very hard to not let the buzzing voices floating through his open window keep him awake. It wasn't that he could actually hear what was being said, it was the fact that there was some noise at all.
Turning over the other way and trying to wrap his pillow around his head to block out the sounds he was hearing. He found that the effort of holding his pillow tightly against the side of his head, while still trying to lay on half of it, was an impossible thing to accomplish.
Cursing silently to himself he began to desperately recite passages from the Ministry Handbook to himself. He was quite pleased that he had committed most of it to memory and he had vowed to himself that before he was employed there he would have the complete book memorized.
Somehow his thoughts turned to Harry Potter and though he had grown up with hearing the stories about him, he wasn't one to put much credence to them, after all they were kid's stories. True there must be some basis for the stories but Percy was a Pragmatist, he just couldn't believe that someone could survive the killing curse. It was supposed to be unstoppable and the most powerful curse ever invented.
To Percy it was inconceivable that a child not even two years old could have somehow survived a curse of such magnitude and killed the most powerful Dark Wizard in over 500 years, and maybe as far back as Salazar Slytherin himself.
To him there had to be a sound basis for something to be believable. He remembered growing up and asking everyone he could about how it could have been done and he always got the same answer, "That's the thing, nobody knows!".
To a young Percy that meant it was impossible, if no one knew it just couldn't be and that was all there was to it. Not that he found Harry to be brash or egotistical, he was a nice enough kid and was very polite and unassuming. It was just the mystique that had grown up around the name.
He hadn't shown any extraordinary talent or power at school as far as he knew and being a prefect he was sure he would have heard something if he had.
Well there were some rumours that he had heard concerning the events of Harry saving Ginny but he was sure that they had been exaggerated, how could a twelve year old kill a sixty foot Basilisk, let alone fight off some weird kind of re-emerging embodiment of the Dark Lord.
Ludicrous! Was all Percy could say to that. He was sure that if that had really taken place somebody in authority would have said something to the students.
No to Percy, the myths and legends that surrounded the name of Harry Potter were just that, myths and legends, nothing more.
And with that Percy drifted off to sleep, his mind once more turning to reciting the Ministry Handbook.
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A/N: Well I seem to be on a Muse driven tear writing this story. I'm sure none of you are complaining.
OK dear readers, time for fame and fortune again. I need your input, what should the Twins do, 1) Do they prank Percy to help cheer up Harry and Ginny, or 2) Prank themselves to cheer them up or 3) Prank Harry and Ginny, but in a fun way to cheer them up.
And as always I love hearing from you so please review.