Harry and Ginny: A Love Story
Chapter 18: Inner Demons
Hermione arrived at the the Saturday following Harry's latest brush with evil. Molly was very surprised when Ron didn't immediately pay attention to her. Molly had decided that since Ginny and Harry were now taking turns sleeping in each other's room, she would put Hermione in Charlie's old room.
Hermione was a little confused by the change in sleeping arrangements at first but when she figured out that Harry was living at the Burrow now, it made a little more sense. Though she still didn't understand why she wasn't rooming with Ginny.
Molly had the Twins carry Hermione's trunk upstairs, and they smiled mischievously as they grabbed it. She made an effort to go with them but Molly snagged her and with her usual bone crunching hug welcomed her to the Burrow.
Hermione was surprised that neither Harry nor Ginny were around and she wondered where the could have been. She also found it rather strange that as eager as Ron had seemed in his note and his obvious look of happiness at her arrival, he hadn't done much more than said a quick hello to her and actually seemed to be avoiding her.
By the time the hoopla of her arrival had died down, the Twins had returned downstairs and she definitely did not like the smug looks they had on their faces. Sighing in resignation, she figured she was going to have to tolerate being the brunt of one or more of their pranks.
It was just about lunch time so Molly sent George up to get Harry and Ginny to come and join them. They arrived a short time later, and though Molly had relented and they were now sleeping together, they knew it was because of what had happened to Harry and they suspected Aunt Poppy had said something but as she hadn't told them about the Bond suppressing the urge to consummate their marriage, they didn't know for sure and so they remained slightly cool to Molly.
It pained Molly but she knew she was reaping the results of the discord she had sown. She watched as Harry and Ginny greeted Hermione but noticed that they really didn't pay much attention to her afterwards. In fact as she continued to watch they young Bonded couple she became aware that they seemed to be disconnected from almost everyone. Sure they answered questions and spoke when spoken to but they rarely initiated anything with someone else. That's not to say they weren't alert, active and animate. They seemed to share many glances, giggles and looks.
Most of the time they were quiet but Molly put that off to they seemed to communicate together almost exclusively by their mind link, and though they did seem slightly separate from the others, she could say with certainty that she had never seen them happier.
She had caught them several times unawares, and she had never seen such looks of love and devotion among any of the couples she had ever known. She had tried to voice her concerns to Arthur but he said that they needed to let Ginny and Harry work things out themselves and not to interfere, he was most adamant about that.
So it was at lunch that she noticed Ron's mood begin to change. He seemed to be watching Hermione and Ginny and seemed surprised when they didn't run off together to catch up, like he thought girls always did.
It was while everyone was beginning to separate after lunch when she overheard Ron speaking to Hermione.
"Hey Hermione, I'm glad you come over and stay awhile, I think it will be a good chance for you to get to know Ginny better. I know she didn't make many girlfriends last year at school,' he said offhandedly, as he sat down next to her.
Hermione looked at him shrewdly, she had noticed the completely different dynamic between him, Harry and Ginny and had figured out rather quickly what Ron's game was. It wasn't that she was totally against what he was trying to do, but how did you talk to someone when they were single-mindedly paying attention to someone else.
"Ron," she said patronizingly, "What is it that you really want me to do? Hummm? Ginny is obviously concentrating all her attention on Harry and from what I can see, he is doing the same with her."
Ron was shocked that Hermione seemed to be very aware of what was going on, at least here downstairs, where Ginny and Harry were interacting with everyone. Ron looked glum and rested his head in his one hand which was propped on his elbow on the table.
Hermione sympathetically patted his arm, "Why don't we go out back and talk about what's going on?"
Ron nodded his head, looking quite downhearted as they headed out into the garden. Molly watched them go with a wry grin, and she silently wished them luck because if they expected to get between Ginny and Harry they were going to need tons of it.
Once they got out back Hermione turned to Ron, "Okay Ron, what's really going on here?" she asked pointedly.
Ron shook his head and rolled his eyes in frustration, "That's the thing Hermione, I'm not really sure, but things have been happening that are a bit dodgy at best."
"Like what?" Hermione asked, not really expecting an informative answer.
"Well. . . .things have been strange, for one, McGonagall has been coming here pretty often," Ron said, his brow furrowed. "Right from when we got to King's Cross things have been all bollocksed up," he added, frustrated.
"Really, Ron! Such language," Hermione said, in disapproval.
"Hermione! You just don't know what it's been like!" said Ron, exasperatedly. "His uncle never even showed up at the station, Dad just announced that Harry was coming home to live with us. They gave him Bill's old room, for Godric's sake!"
"So that's it Ron? You're jealous because Harry got Bill's room?" Hermione asked disbelievingly.
"No!," Ron said sinking down dejectedly. "There's more to it than that. The first day back, Mum called me and the Twins into the parlour and explained that Harry and Ginny were being treated differently because they'd formed some kind of bond."
Hermione suddenly sat up, paying much closer attention, Ron had just given her a new piece of important information. "What? What kind of bond, did she say?" Hermione said excitedly.
Ron looked at her with a bewildered look, "What? No, just that they had some kind of bond and not to bug them about it," he said, irritably.
Hermione began to think very hard, trying to formulate a plan to research about bonds, somehow, some way.
"And that's not all. We've had a parade of people coming to the house. Why just a couple of days ago, something very scary happened with Harry," said Ron, getting up and pacing.
"What happened?" implored Hermione.
"I'm not sure, but Mum had the Twins grab Ginny and physically carry her from the Burrow, telling us to get as far away as possible. We could see the whole place shaking, like it would fall down," Ron said, his voice rising as he told the story.
Hermione listened eagerly waiting to hear more.
"And just when things were getting really bad, with Ginny kicking and screaming, she suddenly quieted down, the house quit shaking and Ginny pleasantly said, that Harry needed her and it was now safe to go back inside."
By now Hermione's mouth was hanging open, her eyes wide, mind racing trying to figure out what had been taking place.
"Mum seemed quite shaken up and left Harry and Ginny upstairs alone. She came down and the next thing I know McGonagall and Pomfrey turn up," Ron added, shaking his head and giving a slight shudder. "Give's me the willie's just thinking about it."
Hermione rolled her eyes, Ron's aversion to the Professor and Madam Pomfrey just didn't have the same affect on her. "Well, what happened?"
"That's just it, Hermione! I don't know," Ron said in resignation. "I didn't hear anything."
Then he got a faraway look in his eyes, like he was remembering something, "Man, you should have seen Pomfrey, I almost didn't recognise her, Hermione. I mean she was like out of uniform, looking just like a real person. That shouldn't be allowed," he said with a frown.
Hermione couldn't help but chuckle at Ron, his attitude was just like a five year old as far as she was concerned. "Ron, I hate to tell you this but she is a real person."
Ron looked at her like she was barmy, "No she isn't," he said incredulously. "She's a Dragon Lady, someone not to be crossed or zzzzzit," he said as he made a motion imitating a cut across his throat."
Hermione just rolled her eyes and shook her head, "Listen Ron," she said thoughtfully. "Obviously something pretty big happened when your Mum had you all flee. It must have scared her enough to have Madam Pomfrey come and check Harry over." She then got silent for a moment, thinking, "I bet it is connected somehow to this bond that your Mum mentioned. That's the key to figuring this out," she said smugly.
"So what can we do?" Ron asked glumly.
"All we can do is see if we can't find out more information and then go from there," she said, determinedly. Then with a big sigh, "I wish I had access to a library over the summer," she said wistfully.
Ron just rolled his eyes, muttering more to himself, "Just what I'd want to do over the summer, go to a bloody library."
Hermione obviously heard, because she looked daggers at him and headed back into the Burrow. She knew she'd not learn anything sitting out in the garden when the objects of her study were ensconced in the house.
Ron watched her go for a few seconds before he sighed, got up and began to follow her inside.
XX HP + GW XX
Harry and Ginny returned to Ginny's room after lunch. They had hardly paid attention to the others at the table, so wrapped up in each other they were. From the outside all one would observe is them looking at each other, most of the time with grins and smiles on their faces. Sometimes they'd laugh lowly or shake their heads, their grins widening.
"Harry, do you think it's strange we hardly speak out loud any more?" Ginny asked, lightly.
"Not really, Ginny. I mean this is like the ultimate note passing in school and no one can intercept it. We can say anything to one another and no one else can overhear us. I find it really special," Harry replied.
Harry was sitting up against the headboard of Ginny's bed, while she was further down, on her stomach with her legs bent at the knees and she was idly kicking her feet back and forth slowly as she picked at a loose thread in the embroidered design of her bedspread.
To the outsider the scene would have looked very bizarre. Two pre-teens sitting together, looking at one another, never speaking, most of the time hardly moving. It would have taken a keen observer to see the light in their eyes that danced and sparkled as they looked at one another.
Harry made to move slightly, readjusting himself to get more comfortable. He gave a little groan as he had a pain in his side.
"What's the matter, Harry?" Ginny asked in concern.
"Nothing much, Ginny. I just still have a little stiffness from everything that I put my body through the other day," Harry replied, trying hard not to get Ginny worried. It was just a minor spot that hurt now and then, especially when he was sitting in the same position for a while.
Ginny eyed him with a frown, "If it keeps up, I want you to see Aunt Poppy!"
Harry could feel Ginny's concern but also her displeasure at his thoughts of not wanting to do so. It wasn't so much that she was reading his mind or that they were sharing their thoughts, it was that she could feel is agitation about seeing the matron on a professional basis again.
"All right, Ginny," Harry conceded, feeling her disappointment, and the thing was it was the disappointment that did it. He would have resisted if she had just gotten angry or tried to tell him he had to. He knew he'd do just about anything not to disappoint her, she meant that much to him.
Ginny could tell that Harry would rather not have to see Poppy again, at least in a professional capacity. They had discussed her in depth after her visit, liking her warm and caring attitude she had displayed while treating Harry as opposed to her cool, stern persona that she had always shown them at Hogwarts.
Harry knew Ginny only wanted what was best for him, that she was genuinely concerned. Ginny had explained that while Harry was suffering the effects of helping cleanse her soul that she had felt his great distress. It wasn't that she was experiencing his pain but she was acutely aware of how much pain he was in and how it was effecting him.
They had come to the realization that besides speaking directly mind to mind, they shared emotions, or they could tell what their Bond-mate was feeling emotionally.
To Harry it was a dream come true, after being so mistreated at the Dursley's he now had someone who loved him unconditionally. He found waking up each and everyday with Ginny in his arms, so exhilarating, so emotionally satisfying that he couldn't believe that he had been able to survive without it.
To Ginny it was the same and more so. Though she had grown up in a large family, she had been something of an outsider to her brothers. After all, they were all "boys" and she was, of course a girl.
Right away she was something different, and though it wasn't that she was the enemy or anything, it was more that she was just different from them and so an unknown, that and being the youngest separated her. And hard as she tried to be included, she was often excluded because her brothers didn't understand her and the way she thought and acted.
It hadn't helped that her brothers were always told to take it easy on her, to treat her different, to be nice, it made her that outsider, just easier to avoid than have to be worried about how to treat her if they were doing anything.
But now she had her Harry, he was in effect her other half as she was his. He had saved her from a horrible fate, fighting the personification of evil for her very soul and now they were bound together, not by words or deeds, but by their love.
The couple of weeks that they had been together had mainly been learning about one another. The had spent endless hours talking and getting to know the other as thoroughly as possible.
Right now, Harry was just delighting in watching Ginny as she laid on the bed. The sun streaming through the window was creating the most amazing highlights in her hair. It was a fiery halo that surrounded her face and dancing as she moved, sparkling and shining, mesmerizing Harry, with her beauty.
"So what do you think is up with Hermione?" Ginny asked, obviously thinking hard. "She certainly has that look about her that she has latched onto something and won't stop until she knows all about it."
Harry frown, "Yeah, and I think we're the "thing" she's latched onto, I could see it in her eyes."
Ginny sighed, "Yeah, I'm sure you're right. . . .So what are we going to do about it?
Harry just shrugged, "I don't know. Do you really think we have to do anything?"
"Probably not right now, and who knows, maybe not at all, I guess it depends on Hermione and how she acts," Ginny said thoughtfully.
It was Harry's turn to sigh, "I know, the thing is the way she gets a hold of some things and won't let go. We're not some lab rats for her to study," he said darkly.
"Yeah!" agreed Ginny, with a determined look. They she looked questioningly at Harry, "Harry? What are lab rats?"
Harry couldn't help but chuckle.
"I know what rats are, of course. I mean look at that pathetic excuse for a rat that Ron has. What the heck kind of name is Scabbers anyway?" Ginny said derisively.
"He is kind of a sad looking rat, isn't he?" sent Harry, trying hard not to laugh.
"Yeah," chuckled Ginny, "So what are lab rats?"
"Well Ginny, Muggles have these places where they work on stuff that's very similar to potions, and to see if they are safe they use a special breed of rats as test subjects," Harry explained.
Ginny got a thoughtful on her face, "Harry, how long do rats normally live?
Harry chuckled, "Good thing I use to go to muggle school, we learned that they live at the most three years. They're also rather smelly, we had some for a while we had to raise as a class project."
Ginny looked troubled, "I guess magical rats live longer, but I can't believe that it could be such a great difference."
"Why's that Ginny?" asked Harry, feeling her discomfort.
"Well. . . .Scabbers is a lot older than that. He looked old when Percy found him and he's passed him on to Ron. From what the Twins have said Percy had him before I was born."
"That's strange. . . .Think we should ask somebody about that?" Harry asked Ginny, beginning to feel as troubled as she was.
"I'm not sure," Ginny replied. "I mean won't we look foolish if it's just some rat who's lived a long time?"
Harry thought about what Ginny had said, yes they might look foolish, but one of his Muggle teachers use to have a bunch of sayings and one popped into his head, "Better safe than sorry," he whispered.
"What's that, Harry?" Ginny asked, not understanding what Harry had mumbled.
"Well, Miss Brown, my third grade teacher use to regale us with all these old sayings, anyway, one was "Better safe than sorry."
"Really? That sounds like some of the old Wizard sayings, like "Don't poke a sleeping Dragon" or "One in the cauldron is worth two in the pond. They're supposed to teach little lessons, guess it's the same in both Muggle and Wizarding families, trying to teach the kids before they get injured," Ginny said, with a small grin.
"Yeah, adults are always trying to teach kids something." He then gave a chuckle, "I think they tried to hard with Hermione."
Ginny couldn't help herself, she started to giggle, and that did nothing but feed into Harry's laughing. Soon they both were laughing and when Ginny gave Harry a little push, he pushed back a little harder.
Next thing they knew it had escalated into an all out tickle war. Ginny had a momentary advantage, but Harry's size and his wiry muscles from years of drudgery at Privet Dr. and the hard work he put in for Quidditch, proved to be Ginny's undoing.
Harry had Ginny pinned to the bed and he was unmercifully tickling her sides. She was laughing so hard, she had tears running down her cheeks as she kicked and struggled to get away.
"Stop! Harry please stop!" she screamed out loud, between her near hysterical laughter. Stop! Stop!. . . ."
Harry was laughing along with her but didn't relent. "That will teach you to try and tickle me," he said, grinning widely at her.
She was turning quite red, and she was starting to have a little trouble breathing.
"If I could get a hold . . . . of my wand. . . . you'd not be so smug!" Ginny got out between bouts of unrestrained laughter.
Just as things were starting to wind down, the door to Ginny's room burst open. Harry immediately froze, a shocked look plastered on his face as he stared at the assemblage of people standing inside and just outside the door.
Ginny was also, staring in shock at all the people. Her mother had a smirk on her face and you could tell she was trying hard not to burst out laughing at the predicament Ginny and Harry had been caught in.
Ginny was pinned to the bed with Harry straddling her near her waist. Her hands were trapped under Harry's knees, allowing his hands free. If Molly hadn't heard the laughter as she came to the door and only went by the screams and Ginny's shouts of Stop, Stop, she might have thought something else might have been going on.
Ginny spied the Twins behind her Mum, at first they had deep frowns on their faces, but when they correctly surmised what had been going on, they assumed devilish grins and Ginny knew she'd be hearing about this incident for years to come.
Harry still looked shocked as he slowly released Ginny and backed off her body. Molly's and the Twin's looks didn't bother him, but Ron's and Percy's were very troubling. Percy looked disgusted but Ron's was more of halfway between annoyance and anger.
He almost broke out laughing again when he saw Hermione's face, she was blushing almost as deeply as any of the Weasleys. Harry was glad when he saw her taking Ron by the elbow, steering him away while talking lowly to him.
"All right you lot, the entertainment is over, go find something else to do or I'll find something for you," Molly said sternly, though you could see her still trying to stifle her grin.
Once all the others had departed, she closed the door and turned around to face them. At first she thought it was quite hilarious but when she looked at the pair sitting on the edge of the bed, her heart froze. Ginny's look didn't bother her, even though there was a touch of defiance there, it was Harry that she was concerned about.
He was very pale and he wouldn't meet her eyes. She could see he was shaking a little, wringing his hands and had his head down as if he was trying to make himself as small as possible.
As she was looking at him, she noticed Ginny looking at Harry, her look becoming more and more concerned by the moment.
"Harry, what's wrong?" Ginny asked softly.
"I'm sorry," he sobbed out. "Sorry for causing a disturbance," he whispered.
"Harry, you have nothing to be sorry about," Molly said gently, coming over to him slowly, so as not to startle him. She knelt down in front of him, gently lifting his head so she could see into his eyes.
She was shocked to see tears there and something that she hadn't expected to find, terror, Harry was terrified. Molly found her eyes welling up too. "Harry what's wrong, dear?"
"Please don't beat me for making to much noise, I promise I won't do it again," he whispered, his voice sounding very strained as he fought his terror.
"Harry, didn't we tell you we'd never beat you?" she said, sniffling and trying hard not to cry.
"I forgot," he said, sobbing. "Ever since I let the memories out when Mr. Moody came and asked me questions, I sometimes have a hard time remembering that I don't get hit here. When you all surprised me, I was sure I was going to be beaten with my uncle's belt again.
Ginny threw her arms around Harry and pulled him into a tight hug. "It's okay, Harry," she said softly into his ear. "It's only natural that you'd have a little trouble, I mean you haven't really been here that long."
She could feel Harry still shivering and shaking lightly. "Shhh," she sent as she gently rubbed his back, letting him bury his head into her shoulder."
Molly sat on his other side, and she began to rub his back too. For a moment she thought Ginny was going to protest, but then with a nod, Ginny gave her permission for her to continue.
"Harry," she softly said as she bent her head trying to see his face. "I want you to know that you're not in any trouble and I want you to know again, Arthur and I will not beat you, or any of the other children. Especially you Dear, I know that with your past that would be a very traumatic thing to do. We also would never beat you because we love you, Harry, you never beat those that you love."
Ginny felt Harry shaking harder, and she realized he was crying into her shoulder. "Oh, Harry," she cried. "I wish I could take away these bad memories just like you did for me. Can you tell me how you did it?"
She felt Harry stiffen, "Ginny, even if I knew I wouldn't tell you. You have no idea how bad of an experience that was."
Ginny nodded softly, she could feel Harry's emotions as he thought about his fighting the evil he had removed from her. "I know, Harry, but as bad as your experiences with your relatives were, I can't believe that they were anywhere as horrible and evil as Tom."
Harry paused for a moment, considering what Ginny had said, "That may be true, Ginny, but they're bad enough and I will do anything so you don't have to experience anything like that ever again."
Molly could tell that they were mind-speaking, she was beginning to be able to read the subtle changes that came over them as they did so.
She was happy that Harry seemed to be calming down as she and Ginny comforted him. She was only able to do so physically for the moment but she could tell he was responding well to whatever Ginny was saying.
"I'm tired Ginny, can we take a nap or something?" Harry asked tiredly.
"Sure thing, Harry. I'll tell Mum and then we can lay down for a while, okay?"
"Okay, Ginny. And tell her I'm sorry to be such a bother. I don't mean to be a burden."
Ginny rolled her eyes in frustration, after all their talk just now, he was still worried about how he was effecting everyone else.
"Mum," she said softly, "Harry and I are going to lay down for a while."
"Okay dear, I'll just leave you two alone then," Molly whispered as she rose.
"Tell her!" Harry sent a little hotly. "Tell her, or I will."
"Okay, Harry. I didn't mean to upset you," She sent sadly.
"Mum, Harry wants me to tell you he's sorry to be a such a bother and he didn't mean to be a burden," Ginny said, her eyes filling with tears.
Molly looked like she was going to say something, so Ginny shook her head so minutely that Molly barely saw, but the look in her eyes told Molly everything that she need to know.
Ginny watched her mother leave the room before she pulled Harry down onto the bed. She let him cuddle into her side, "I didn't mean to upset you," she sent tenderly, but sadly. Harry's anger had stung a little, even though she knew it was a result of his emotions running away from him.
She felt Harry sag, and she felt him become even more melancholy. "I'm sorry Ginny. I didn't mean to yell. I'll be really in the shite if I alienate you."
Ginny let Harry's cursing slide by, knowing how upset he still was. "I'm not sure that's possible," she said, trying to say it light and cheerful, but she knew she didn't.
Harry just nodded, but she did feel his melancholy lift a bit so she was a little pleased about that. She kept him wrapped in a loose embrace, gently rubbing his back and giving him small hugs and a few kisses in his hair or on his forehead.
Slowly Harry relaxed and drifted off to sleep, wondering if he would ever stop being such an emotional mess.
XX HP + GW XX
Molly headed downstairs and met everyone waiting in the kitchen. She sighed and went to make a pot of tea.
The Twins immediately knew something was wrong and their gleeful looks disappeared from their faces.
"What's the matter, Mum? Fred asked.
"Yeah, Mum, what happened after we all left?" George added, his concern showing just as much as Fred's.
Molly looked around, Fred, George and to a lesser extent, Hermione all looked concerned. Percy looked extremely annoyed and Ron had a deep frown on his face. She was sure he had gotten mad but she felt that it was now tempered because he didn't have enough information to act upon.
"We'll have a talk in the parlour as soon as the tea is ready. Do any of you wish to join me?" Molly asked wanly.
Hermione was the only taker, so Molly told them all to go into the parlour and she would be there in a moment.
Molly made the tea, taking great care to make it meticulously, buying her time so she could get her emotions under control and think about what she wanted to say.
She placed the tea pot and cups on a tray and made her way into the waiting assembly. She sat down in her rocker after placing the tray on the stand nearby. Again, very carefully she poured and served the tea in an almost ritualistic fashion.
She wasn't surprised to see Percy hadn't joined them, Ron was the only one who seemed impatient to hear what she had to say. Once she had taken a sip of her tea, she looked at everyone looking at her.
"So, what's going on Mum?" George asked.
"Was something other than a tickle war going on?" Fred added.
Molly watched Ron's face darken as he heard Fred's comment. "No, there was nothing else going on," she said softly.
"Then why did it take you like forever to come back down?" said Fred.
"And why do you look so sad?" George asked, a confused expression on his face.
Molly sighed, "You'd be sad too, if you saw the way Harry reacted to being caught and it wasn't because he was tickling Ginny. It was because he had been making noise."
She could see the puzzled looks on all their faces, "Mum, we've made more noise than that on a bad day," George said.
"Yeah, on a good day, I'm sure they hear us in Ottery St. Catchpole," Fred added, shaking his head, not believing what she had said.
Molly couldn't help but smile, if anyone could make noise it was her two resident pranksters. "I know that boys, you know that and just about anyone who lives within ten miles knows it, I'm sure."
"The thing is Harry doesn't, and. . . ." Molly had to stop a moment as her tears and emotions threatened to erupt again. ". . . .he was. . . .he was beaten, if he made any noise at his relatives."
Molly was gratified and not surprised at all, when she saw the outraged faces on everyone there, even Ron. Hermione was just about in tears and would probably be crying fully any minute. The Twins had such looks of anger and determination on their faces, it actually scared her.
"Boy's," she said sternly, looking directly at the twins, "As much as they deserve it, I forbid you to take any, and I mean ANY, action against his relatives. Have I made myself clear?"
She could see that they didn't like it one bit, but she also saw the look that let her know that they would obey her. She breathed a sigh of relief. "I want you all to try and not treat Harry any differently. I'm sure he'd be mortified to find out I had said anything to you at all."
She was glad to see all her children nodding, knowing that there would be severe repercussions if they ignored her. The one that troubled her was Hermione, though she really couldn't tell her what to do, she hoped that she would follow what she had been told. The problem was, Molly could see the conflicted expression on her face.
The boys started to drift away, looking thoughtful, their previously happy faces now darkened by what they had heard. Molly looked back at Hermione, "Did you wish to say something?" she asked.
Hermione still had an extremely troubled look on her face, "I don't know," she answered hesitantly. "I mean I can understand why you said what you did, but I feel awful and want to do something to help Harry."
Molly smiled wanly, "Hermione, the best thing you can do for Harry is not to mention it. Ginny is handling taking care of the comforting Harry department."
Hermione nodded thoughtfully, then she looked puzzled,"I've been wondering, what is going on between Harry and Ginny?"
Molly looked very appraisingly at Hermione, she wasn't one of their children, but she was a close friend of Harry's. Coming to a decision, "Hermione, this is strictly confidential. It absolutely can go no further than the Burrow. Do you understand?"
She saw Hermione's eyes fill with fear, "Is something the matter with Harry?" she asked lowly.
Molly couldn't help but smile, "That depends on your definition of what that is." She saw Hermione's confused look, "See, something has happened to Harry and Ginny. It's not anything to be worried for them about, but it will mean huge changes in their lives."
Molly was a little gratified to see Hermione was still bewildered, at least the "smartest witch of her age", didn't know everything, yet. "They have become Bond-mates," Molly said, pointedly.
From the expression that Hermione had, she knew that Ron must have told her, but she could tell that Hermione didn't understand all the implications.
"What's that mean for Harry and Ginny?" Hermione asked, sill looking bewildered.
"Well, they are now what is called, Bond-mates" Molly explained
"Bond-mates?" she whispered.
"Yes, Bond-mates," Molly repeated. "Let me tell you what that means," she said kindly to the young witch. "They have formed a Soul-bond. If they were of age, it would mean they would be married in the eyes of the Wizarding World."
Molly almost laughed once again when she saw Hermione's eyes bug out. Married?" she said incredulously.
"Yes, married. The fact they are both so young means that they are only betrothed for now. Are you familiar with that term, dear. It hasn't been used in the Muggle world for quite a long time," Molly asked, pleasantly.
Hermione nodded, "Yes, I read all about betrothals when I studied the Renaissance."
"There's more too," Molly added.
"About the Bond?"
"Not that you need to worry about, but there is more concerning Harry and his life," Molly continued.
"Like what?" Hermione asked anxiously.
"You heard me tell about how Harry has been mistreated, because of that Minerva McGonagall, Arthur and I have become Harry's guardians."
Hermione's mind began to race, she had a myriad of questions that she wanted answered. But the most important one right now was, "Will Harry be okay?"
Molly smiled thinly, wondering that herself, but not wanting to let the children know of her doubts, she said "I hope so, Hermione. I certainly hope so."
Hermione kept Molly busy answering questions until it was time for her to start preparing dinner. As she went into the kitchen, she silently cursed the fact that Arthur was having to work every other Saturday. Sure the extra Galleons were nice but it seemed every time she had to deal with something major, he was working on that day.
XX HP + GW XX
A/N: Harry still is fighting his inner demons, someone who has come out of the situation he was in doesn't just waltz away. The inner are much trauma being much harder to heal than external, physical trauma. This fact was even know to the Romans, Publilius Syrus wrote in the 1st century BC "The pain of the mind is worse than the pain of the body."
Any one who has battled inner demons will know of what I speak.
As always, please review.