AN: I'd like to apologize for the long update time. Real life has been more chaotic than usual. Going to post two chapters today to try and make it up to anyone who's still following, and will put forth some real effort to update more regularly. Thanks to any of you that I haven't pissed-off, for your patience.

Confessions and Ghosts

Harry waited for Ginny in the sitting area of Hermione's spacious prefect's dormitory. She had been inside the bedroom for almost thirty minutes trying to convince Hermione to come down for breakfast. She finally came out sad and defeated.

"She is really cut up, we better give her more time," Ginny announced gloomily before they started making their way to the Great Hall.

The redhead understood perfectly well the ache of pining for a boy. She had done her share of moping and crying. She had lived through the feeling of hopelessness and despair, but that's where the comparisons ended. Harry might have been clueless about her feelings, but at least he had never said anything hurtful, or been mean to her. Not even during the worst moments of her crush, had he ever made fun of her. That's just who Harry was, and that's why her brother made her so angry.

The Great Hall was half empty as was the norm on most Sundays. The young couple made their way to the Gryffindor table, where Luna and Neville were about to sit down.

"Cheers, mate," Neville said brightly. His demeanor changed when he noticed Hermione's absence. "Hermione isn't coming?"

"No, she has no appetite," Harry replied resignedly before turning to the Ravenclaw girl. "What you did last night was remarkable, Luna. From what Neville described, you are capable of a true ethereal projection."

"Thanks," Luna said with a smile.

"You were carrying on a conversation with Ginny. How was that possible?" Harry asked genuinely puzzled.

"I was projecting between the two rooms..."

"Wait a minute," Ginny interrupted. "You could hear our conversation?"

"Yes," Harry replied with a chuckle. "I was having this very pleasant dream, and just when things were about to get interesting, the two of you started your conversation. You were also trying to project, is that right, Love?"

"Yes," Ginny replied, "but I couldn't manage it."

"You might not have been able to project your soul like Luna, but you did project... something. In my dream you were talking with Luna. That's how I could hear you."

Harry took some of Ginny's hair in his hand, and after testing its silky softness between his fingers, lowered his head to take a deep breath. "I could also smell your hair," he added huskily.

Ginny's eyes sparkled and she smiled at him, but her expression changed quickly when she noticed her brother standing just off the table.

"Can I sit down?" Ron asked sheepishly.

The four teens looked at each other without saying a word. "Yes." Harry said in a tone that wasn't quite welcoming.

"Where's Hermione?"

"She wasn't feeling well," Ginny said curtly.

Harry felt bad for Ron, who looked contrite, but he felt worse for Hermione. He was getting tired of Ron acting like a prat and expecting to always be forgiven.

Without Hermione there to keep him in line, Ron reverted to his face stuffing, open mouthed style of eating. It took him a while to notice the silence around him. The four other teens were looking at him with various degrees of disgust.

"I think I lost my appetite," Ginny said to no one in particular.

"I'm sorry," Ron said dejectedly. "I miss Hermione reminding me how to eat properly."

"So you're saying that you are eating like a pig as a tribute to Hermione?" Neville asked confused.

"It doesn't make any sense, does it?" Ron said sadly.

Ginny's harsh expression softened a little. "Instead of trying to get Hermione's attention by being a pig and a miserable prat, maybe you should try having good manners and being nice to her. Call me crazy," she added sarcastically, "but I think most girls like that better than a disgusting pig who also acts like complete tosser."

Ron just looked down at his plate, and continued eating in a very subdued manner.

"Hermione's birthday is next Thursday," Ginny said between bites. "We should do something to cheer her up. She's coming of age."

"A surprise birthday party would be nice," Luna said dreamily.

"But where?" Harry asked. "We couldn't do it in the Common Room and keep it secret."

Ron raised his head. "You could make it in my room," he offered hopefully. "The sitting area is large enough for the six of us."

"That's a good idea," Ginny agreed smiling at her brother.

"You could talk Dobby into supplying the food and drink from the kitchens," Neville said to Harry. "He could even get a birthday cake."

After they had finished eating and making the plans for the birthday party, Harry turned to Ginny. "Did you and Hermione make a list of all the things you need?"

"Can I go with you?" she asked holding back the piece of parchment she had just pulled from her pocket.

"Of course," Harry chuckled taking the proffered parchment.

"Are we going to the Owlery?"

"Actually, I was thinking of going in person to the Hogsmeade Apothecary."

"Brilliant!" she said excitedly. "Are we using the Honeydukes passage?"

"You know about the passage?" Harry asked surprised.

Ginny made a funny face and crossed her eyes. "Duh! I've been sneaking out of the castle since before any of you did it."

"How?"

"Let's just say I had information the twins didn't want revealed. They had to take me, or else," she said buffing her nails against her shoulder and raising an eyebrow.

"Let's go then," Harry said getting up and extending his hand to Ginny.

"I'm coming with you," Ron said getting up also.

Both Harry and Ginny froze in place. They exchanged a quick glance before Ginny turned to face her brother.

"You're not coming with us, Ron. I want some time alone with my boyfriend. Please don't make a scene," she pleaded.

In the almost three weeks since they had come together, Harry and Ginny hadn't really been alone. Most of their time was spent in classes or in training. During the rest of the time, Ron was always hovering around just a few steps away. Their snogging and holding was always rushed and unsatisfying. The tension that had been building up during their physical sparring sessions was in desperate need of release.

"Harry is my best mate. We..." Ron started to say before he was decisively interrupted.

"Sorry, mate, but you're not coming with us," Harry said with finality.

To everyone's surprise, Ron didn't mouth off even though he looked sorely tempted to do it. He sat meekly down as his sister and Harry walked away without glancing back.

A moment later Luna and Neville got up and said goodbye. They obviously didn't want any company either. They took a few steps before Luna stopped and turned to face Ron.

"Hermione is probably hungry," she said in her distinctively soft and dreamy voice. Without saying another word, the second couple headed out of the castle for a slow walk around the grounds.

Ron sat back down dejectedly. It was obvious that Harry didn't need him now that he had Ginny. He was being left behind both physically and figuratively. The dark jealous thoughts and the insecurities that had always plagued him, the anger at his own failings, swirled around his head. He beat his fist furiously against the table, rattling the silverware and startling the younger students. Just when he was about to spiral down into an orgy of self-pity and a recounting of all the imaginary wrongs committed against him, he remembered Luna's and Ginny's words.

Hermione is probably hungry. Maybe he should try being nice to her.

Ron grabbed a clean plate, and put all of Hermione's favorite foods in it. He filled a glass with pumpkin juice, put everything in a tray, and headed to the prefect's dormitories.

OoOoO

Harry and Ginny made their way to the third floor and headed to the statue of the one-eyed witch. After making sure no one was watching, the couple moved the statue and entered the secret passage.

Once they were inside the poorly illuminated passageway, they nervously looked into each other's eyes, and dropped every pretense. It began with a sweet kiss that lingered, but free from the fear of being seen, their snogging progressively became more heated. Even though it was intense and hot, their kissing was always tender. Harry whispered to her ear repeatedly how beautiful she was, how soft her cheeks and lips were, how happy he was to have her. His words were music to Ginny's ear, but she was painfully aware that he had yet to say the "L" word to her. After several minutes of blissful snogging, Ginny let out a moan full of yearning and desire which prompted Harry to embrace her more tightly against his chest. His hands moved from her back to her waist, and his right hand started to slowly make its way up her body. Ginny firmly put her hand over Harry's roaming extremity to stop its progress, but she didn't stop kissing him.

Harry was afraid that maybe he had pushed too far, and that Ginny would get the wrong impression of him. He knew in his heart that he wasn't just another randy bloke trying to grope his girlfriend; that this meant so much more to him; that the need to touch her was just the natural and logical expression of the love he felt for her; but maybe she didn't. He looked down at her brown eyes trying to convey the sincerity of his feelings.

"Ginny," he said nervously, "you know that I..."

Funny how those words can be so hard to say when you really mean them.

"I can feel it in my heart, I can see it in your eyes, but you have to say it," she said softly. "I need to hear it coming from your lips, Harry."

"I love you, Ginny... more than I thought it was possible."

Saying it was oddly liberating.

Ginny stood on her tiptoes and strained her neck until their lips were brushing together. "I love you with all my heart, Harry," she whispered against his lips.

She squeezed his roaming hand, and kept hers on top of it while she snogged him senseless. If Sirius's knowledge was correct, Ginny was establishing a boundary for his explorations. He knew that as a gentleman it was his duty to respect it, but he also knew that in due time it was also his duty to push the limit of the boundary she had just set; because a gentleman never puts his lady in the unladylike position of having to push the limit herself.

Ginny had been sincere when she had all but promised her mother she would wait before having sex with Harry. She had always found him attractive and she loved him, but at the time, making love with him was only a remote fantasy. Back then, the commitment she made seemed easy to keep, but now that she could feel Harry's soft lips trailing kisses on the side of her face and the back of her ear, she realized how difficult waiting was going to be. Her heart was pounding and her blood was boiling.

The romantic fantasies of the young girl were suddenly confronted with the realities of sexual desire in a young woman in love. It was alarming how quickly the tender kissing had felt insufficient, and how her body longed for more. Despite Harry's best efforts, his masculine arousal had brushed against her abdomen several times. The awareness of being desired, the feel of the part of him pressing rigidly against her body, was both nerve-racking and exciting. It had taken most of her considerable force of will to stop Harry's hand from reaching her breasts.

Ginny realized at that point that keeping her virginity was not really a test of virtue, because there is no greater virtue than love. It was a test of will. She was glad that at least she had an important reason to keep her maidenhood unblemished. She wanted Harry now and forever, and for that to happen, Tom had to be defeated. That was motivation enough to diligently collect her maiden samples. There were important collection dates she had to keep. The first one was just a few days away, on September 27th. That night there was going to be a total eclipse of the Moon on an ascending orbital node. With a little luck, the astronomical event could coincide with her period, and if those two events synchronized, it would be a particularly important sample. She firmly grasped at that rationale to stop the wonderful flood of sensations that Harry's kisses had awakened in her.

With a resigned sigh, Ginny pulled her lips away from Harry, and smiled at him.

"We should get going, Love," she said breathlessly.

Harry swallowed hard and nodded. He took Ginny's hand and they walked the length of the passageway. Harry put the invisibility cloak over both of them before pushing the Honeydukes basement trapdoor open. The couple safely made their way outside undetected, and Harry took off the cloak in an empty side street.

The sight of Hogwarts students on a non-Hogsmeade weekend was unusual, but not unwelcomed to the local merchants. Harry still drew some curious glances in the village, but most permanent residents had already seen him several times through the years, and didn't pay too much attention. Harry was alert and aware of his surroundings as they walked through the streets. At the Apothecary they bought several charmed conservation jars and phials, exfoliating gloves, pumice stones and creams. Then they went to Dervish & Banges where they got an obsidian stone, and the materials necessary to make the Lamens and the Sigil of Ameth. After a short deliberation on what to get Hermione for her birthday, they went to Tomes & Scrolls and bought her a deluxe annotated edition of the complete works of Hermes Trismegistus.

"I want to get something for you also, Ginny. I've never given you a birthday present," Harry said guiltily.

"It's alright, Harry," she said reassuringly. "You didn't have a reason to give a present before."

"Of course I did. We were friends, weren't we?

The redhead girl smiled sadly. "Not really. I was just your best mate's little sister."

She gently caressed his cheek when she saw the guilt in his beautiful green eyes.

They walked in front of the jewelry store and Harry was immediately drawn to the display window. Among the dozens of rings and pendants, there was a pair of diamond earrings mounted in gold. They were simple round shaped stones, large enough to be noticed, but not large enough to the ostentatious.

Despite Ginny's repeated protests, which progressively grew more half-hearted, Harry bought the earrings for her, thanks in part to the determined efforts of the sales-witch who constantly gushed about how beautiful they looked on Ginny.

After buying a wide assortment of candy at Honeydukes, including a generous supply of Chocolate Frogs for Ron, they sneaked to the basement under the invisibility cloak, and made their way back to the castle. They emerged from behind the statue of the one-eyed witch, and started to head up to the seventh floor.

As they walked in front of a broom closet, Ginny came to a full stop. She smiled mischievously at Harry. "You realize that no Hogwarts education is complete without some lessons in a broom closet?"

"I wouldn't want my education to be sub-standard," Harry said huskily as he opened the door.

"I'm fairly sure you'll earn full marks, Potter" Ginny said hotly before closing it.

OoOoO

Inside the Fidelius protected Malfoy manor in Wiltshire, Voldemort sat on an ornate, throne-like wooden chair in the main hall of the mansion. He was surrounded by a dozen or so members of his inner circle, dressed in full Death Eater regalia. In front of him, Severus Snape bowed respectfully while the blond heir of the House of Malfoy trembled noticeably as he did the same.

It had taken Voldemort several months to completely recover from the unpleasant experience of possessing the body of Harry Potter at the atrium in the Ministry of Magic. He had believed that using Potter's blood during the ritual to regain his body would make him immune to his mother's protection, but he had not counted on the boy's own love for his friends being so powerful. Those feelings had weakened his body and his magic considerably. Hate and fear were the sources of his power, and it had taken all his hate to drive the feelings of The- Boy-Who-Lived out of his consciousness.

"Do you know why I had Severus bring you here?" Voldemort asked Draco Malfoy in a hissing voice.

"No, my Lord," he replied in a shaky voice.

"Crucio!" the Dark Lord said casually. He held the curse only a short time because the cries of the young Malfoy were rather annoying. "Your incompetent father failed me in a simple mission. The fool got ten of my loyal servants and himself captured. The House of Malfoy is in my debt, and it will be more so after tonight. You, Draco," Voldemort said pointing his long, bony finger at the boy, "will have to make some contributions to pay for your father's mistakes."

"It has always been my desire to serve you, my Lord," Draco said getting to his knees. "I want to help restore the old values, to put Mudbloods in their place, and above everything else, I want to see Harry Potter die," he finished, full of hatred.

"Uncover your forearm and approach me!" Voldemort commanded.

"Master," Snape said carefully. "Are you sure that's wise?"

Voldemort put a Cruciatus on the Hogwarts professor. "Don't question my wisdom ever again, Severus."

Voldemort grabbed Draco's wrist and pointed his wand at the inner part of his left forearm. Malfoy screamed and writhed in pain as the Dark Mark formed in black ink on his skin. After Voldemort let go of him, he fell back to his knees.

"Thank you, my Lord," Draco said with a trembling voice.

"Your mission is, first of all, to ensure complete loyalty inside the House of Slytherin to my goals. Secondly, to keep me informed of the activities of Potter, and to see that some harm comes to him and his friends. Severus is no longer as free to harm Potter as before, but he and his friends have to learn that even inside Hogwarts castle they are not out of my reach. Severus will train you in more advanced Dark Magic. He thinks you have some talent, and you better not disappoint," Voldemort said threateningly. "What can you tell me now?"

"Potter is closer to his friends, and he has made the blood traitor whore, Ginny Weasley, his girlfriend," Malfoy said triumphantly.

"Severus has already informed me of that, you fool. I need more concrete information, like what he's doing, when he's doing it, and where. Do everything to sabotage his activities, but don't get exposed as my servant."

At that moment the door to the hall opened, and a bowing figure approached. "My Lord," the man said nervously, "Harry Potter has been seen in Hogsmeade Village with a redhead girl. Somehow they got away unnoticed."

After a long Cruciatus to the unfortunate messenger, Voldemort turned to Snape. "Why wasn't I informed it was a Hogsmeade weekend?"

"It's not, Master," Snape said bowing deeply. "That brat Potter is probably flouting the rules again. As I informed you, he is blackmailing Dumbledore by threatening to go to another school. The arrogant fool thinks he can get away with everything now. Sooner or later he will make a mistake and fall into our hands."

"Yes," Voldemort said narrowing his beady red eyes. "Potter will make a mistake, and we have to be ready for it. When is the first Hogsmeade weekend?"

"In one month, Master."

"Make sure you help young Malfoy any way you can, Severus, and start his training immediately!"

OoOoO

Ron paced nervously back and forth in front of Hermione's dormitory holding a tray of food. He had to fight the instinct to give up and run away. Finally he gathered all the courage he could muster, and knocked on the door.

Hermione looked through the peep-hole, and was alarmed to see Ron looking so pale and sick. She noticed the tray of food in his hands, and her stomach rumbled.

"What do you want?" she asked harshly from behind the door.

"I brought you some breakfast," he replied meekly.

Hermione considered what she should do. Despite the fact that every logical fiber of her body told her that it was sheer insanity to consider a relationship with an emotional wreck like Ron, her illogical heart still pined for him. She had tried many times to give up on the lanky redhead boy. It should have been easy, considering all the hurtful and hateful things he had said to her over the years, but she had always found herself giving him one more chance.

Yesterday, though, he had gone too far.

Hermione had run straight from the Room of Requirement to her bedroom, and refused Ginny's well intentioned offer for a shoulder to cry on. She had spent most of the night thinking about her history with Ron, and the balance was definitely negative. There was no denying that some of the fault lay with her. She was too bossy, too pushy, and easily could get on the nerves of most people, but that didn't give Ron the right to speak daggers to her. Harry didn't see a need to argue with her every time she was being bossy, or pushy, or nosy. Most of the time he simply listened and then ignored her, and she could live with that.

There was no doubt that Ron was capable of gallant behaviour like the one he had shown during the Troll attack during her first year, but as a rule he was insensitive to the feelings of others, especially hers. She could forgive his many other shortcomings, but she could no longer forgive the wilful injury to her feelings.

"Leave the food and go away!" she screamed. "Thanks," she added as an afterthought.

"Hermione, please... We need to talk."

The brunette witch was about to send Ron on his way when she realized that in the more than five years they had known each other, they hadn't really "talked" that much. They usually argued or talked over each other rather than have a conversation. Wasn't that what she had always wanted? To have a real talk with Ron.

She cautiously opened the door. "What about?"

Ron raised the tray of food. "Can I come in?"

She made a sour face to let him know she was still angry with him, but her expression softened when she saw the neatly arranged food tray. "That was really nice of you, Ron. Come in."

They sat silently in the sitting room. Hermione was hungrily looking over the food on the center table, while Ron squirmed in the seat across. Just when the brunette made a move for a rasher of bacon, Ron suddenly spoke up.

"I'm sorry I was such a prat," he said pleadingly. Ron struggled momentarily to utter the words before continuing. "I shouldn't have brought up Victor, that was stupid of me."

Hermione remained silent as Ron clenched is fists.

"I'm a jealous prat, Hermione. I'm jealous of Harry because he has money and he's famous; I'm jealous of Ginny because she has talent for magic and most everything else; she always gets what she wants, even Harry bleeding Potter; I'm jealous of Victor Krum because he's great at Quidditch, and he had the courage to do what I should have done first," he finished defeated.

Hermione felt for Ron, but she couldn't let him get away with that load of bollocks. "You have got to be kidding me," she said indignant. "You pick and choose what offends you about them, as if your shortcomings are their fault. Are you jealous that Harry's mother and father where murdered by a lunatic, and that he was left in the care of people who hated him? Are you jealous that Ginny was possessed and used by that same lunatic? Is it Victor's fault that you didn't have the courage to ask me to the Yule Ball?" she finished bitterly.

"I know, Hermione, I know," Ron said with a pained expression. "Jealousy is ugly and it makes me do stupid things, but I'm here to tell you that I will change..."

"People don't change." Hermione interrupted sharply. "Thinking that boys can change is something that delusional girls do. I'm through being delusional, Ron."

"Harry changed over the summer," he said pensively. "People can change if they have a powerful reason. You are my reason, Hermione. I don't want to lose you."

A ray of hope shone for the bushy haired brunette. Despite everything, she didn't want to give up on him. "You will never lose me as a friend, Ron."

"I don't want to be just a friend," he said passionately. "I want to be good enough for you, Hermione. I want to stop being jealous; stop being insecure; stop being mediocre at everything but chess; stop being a prat to you and everyone else..."

"Why?" Hermione whispered.

Ron chuckled. "And they call me clueless..." He leaned forward and looked at her in the eyes. "Be...be... be...because I love you, Hermione."

The brunette jumped over the center table and launched herself at the redhead boy. The chair he was sitting on fell back, and the couple dropped to the floor locked at the lips. Ron was startled at first, but then embraced the witch on top of him and kissed her back. When the kiss started to get deeper and more passionate, Hermione pushed back and got up quickly with a deep blush.

Ron got up and moved right in front of her. "Does that mean you'll give me a chance?"

Hermione gave him a shy smile and nodded. "But I swear this is your last chance, Ronald," she added seriously.

Ron assertively took her in his arms, and snogged her until she was out of breath. "Oh my!" the brunette said breathlessly. "You're more confident already, aren't you?"

They both chuckled and started to pick up the chair and the food that Hermione had kicked off the table when she jumped over it. Her stomach rumbled again.

"Would you like to go down to the kitchens?" Ron asked. "I'm sure that if you don't offer them any clothes, the elves will be glad to make something for you."

"I shouldn't..."

"You should," he said extending his hand. "Remember that we have to eat properly to compensate for the extra training."

"Alright," she agreed with just a little hesitation.

As they walked down the stairs arm in arm, Hermione leaned into his shoulder. "You know something, Ron?"

"Hmm?"

"I like it when you're the bossy one..."

Ron turned and smiled brightly at her.

"... but don't get used it," she added playfully.

OoOoO

That Monday morning, all six friends sat in the best of moods at the Gryffindor table having breakfast. It had been a raucous late afternoon and early evening after the two other couples found out that Ron and Hermione had finally gotten together. Ginny in particular was ecstatic about the turn of events. She was not only genuinely happy for her brother and Hermione, but she also was happy that Ron would now have other things to focus on, rather than just what Harry and she were up to.

The new couple had endured the good natured teasing about the years they spent dancing around each other with good spirits, and eagerly had gone to fulfill their prefect duties later in the evening.

"So, did you two check all the broom closets in Gryffindor tower last night?" Ginny asked teasingly between bites.

"You forget," Hermione said smugly, "that we have our own private rooms. We don't need any broom closets."

Ron's eyes went wide as he seemed to be imagining the possibilities.

Ginny made a shocked expression, and then laughed with the others. "That's the only thing I regret about not being named a prefect," she said truthfully. "Not having my own room and bathroom. There is enough room for a dozen people in those baths."

"Maybe one day we should all get in the tub together and have a pool party," Hermione said half-jokingly.

"That's a brilliant idea," Ginny said. "We should really do that someday."

At that moment the morning post arrived. Dozens of owls flew in every direction dropping letters and delivering the newspaper. One owl stopped in front of Hermione, and after she deposited a Knut on the bird's pouch, dropped a copy of The Daily Prophet. The brunette witch gasped when she read the headlines.

"What happened?" Ron asked alarmed as loud conversations started all over the Great Hall.

Hermione raised the paper so they could all read the double column headlines:

"Mass escape from Azkaban. Over twenty convicted Death Eaters escape."

"Entire population of Azkaban Dementors joins He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named."

"Minister for Magic calls for emergency meeting of the entire Cabinet."

Draco Malfoy chose that moment to strut into the Great Hall, followed closely by Goyle and Crabbe. His step had the bounce it had been missing since he had lost his teeth at the Hogwarts Express. He approached Harry and his friends with a sneer, and Hermione had to hold Ron back.

"I see you all have seen the news," Malfoy said smiling with a curled upper lip. "The six of you will pay for defying the Dark Lord," he added threateningly.

Harry got up and stood face to face with Malfoy. His five friends stood up around him as one. Harry was happy to discover he was just a little taller than the Slytherin boy now. "Don't come to our table to make idle threats, Malfoy. Unless you are prepared to fight," he added coldly.

Draco shifted nervously on his feet, and Harry noticed with satisfaction that even Crabbe and Goyle were noticeably nervous. The beating they had taken at the Hogwarts Express was still fresh in their minds.

"That's enough!" Snape ordered as he approached the group. "Mr. Malfoy," the sullen professor said eyeing Draco contemptuously, "go to your House table immediately."

Malfoy and his goons were happy to be able to retreat and save face at the same time. After a look full of hatred towards Harry and his friends, Snape headed back to the teachers' table.

Harry sat down barely holding in his frustration. "Without the Dementors, Azkaban might as well have a revolving door. No Death Eater will stay there for long."

Several heads nodded their agreement.

"It's only a matter of time before Vol... Voldemort starts using the Dementors offensively," Hermione said shaken. "It will be horrible!"

"We need to find something better than a Patronus to fight them," Ginny added. "Keeping them away is not going to be enough. They have to be destroyed."

"Not even Dumbledore can kill them," Ron said. "How can you kill something that's dead?"

"Please," Ginny said rolling her eyes, "after everything we have learned about Dumbledore, you cannot seriously still think he's some sort of demigod."

"Nothing can be truly killed, Ron," Luna said matter-of-factly, as if what she was saying was self-evident. "When we say we kill something, we are only changing it into something else. What we need to do is push the Dementors into a plane of existence different than ours."

Ron made a face that left little doubt of what he thought of Luna's sanity.

"Luna is right," Hermione admonished her boyfriend. "Muggles call it the Law of Conservation of Energy. It says that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only changed. Life is a form of energy."

Ginny had been busy going through the knowledge in her head. "All of us should go through our knowledge methodically. We may not presently know how to kill Dementors outright, but with all the information we have, we may be able to create new knowledge. We have to find a way."

They all agreed to work on the problem before heading to their respective classes.

OoOoO

The next couple of days were just as exhausting as the previous ones. The girls not only had fight and dueling practice, but now they also had to practice their ritual magic skills. Despite their appeals, the boys had little interest in sitting in a circle chanting and talking to spirits. The girls, on the contrary, found the complex rituals and chants, the formality of it all, quite fascinating.

After their karate sparring session, the girls followed Hermione's suggestion and decided to summon a friendly Hogwarts ghost before attempting to summon unfriendly ones. They also decided that summoning powerful beings like angels was better left for last. Hermione and Luna drew a magic circle with the appropriate protective symbols and runes, while Ginny created a Magic Fire to reinforce it.

The three witches sat inside the circle still wearing their karategis, and after the appropriate chants, Nearly Headless Nick appeared within it.

"Bloody hell!" the ghost said startled. "It has been more than a century since I was summoned last. " The ghost looked at his surroundings. "Blimey! That's a real Magic Fire you have here. Who did that?"

"It was me, Nick," Ginny said a little embarrassed.

"Ah! Ginny Weasley, of course," Nick said in a friendly tone. "You were always very talented, but this is remarkable. The control and protection of this fire is exquisite. Most adult wizards can create a Fiendfyre, but that's really just an out of control blaze compared to this. Well done child, you make Gryffindor proud."

"Thanks, Nick," the redhead girl replied blushing.

"You said it has been more than a century since you were summoned. Why is that?" Hermione asked with curiosity.

"Ritual magic has lost favour in the Wizarding world," the Gryffindor ghost explained. "Unfortunately, the best practitioners were persecuted by Muggles centuries ago, and many were executed until a truce was worked out by the Ministry of Magic. Gradually much of the knowledge of ritual magic became lost. Some Muggle occultists and charlatans took parts of the texts that hadn't been burned, and started practicing bastardized versions of the rites..."

"The Wiccans and the Golden Dawn..." Hermione interrupted.

"Of course the rites were useless when done by Muggles," Nick continued, " but some of them did have traces of magical power and were able to get some results. For Purebloods, ritual magic became tainted by this association with Muggles so they stopped practicing it. Since Purebloods have always controlled the Ministry, they were able to unofficially suppress it."

"You are over five hundred years old, Nick, I'm sure you know a lot of things. Do you know if it's possible to destroy a Dementor?" Ginny asked.

"None that I know of," Nick replied. "I was too busy chasing skirts in my youth to apply myself to my studies. You should ask the Grey Lady. She is the smartest ghost I know."

"Thanks, Nick," Hermione said. "You may go." After the Gryffindor ghost was gone, the brunette turned to Luna. "Would you like to summon your House ghost?"

"Thanks, Hermione," the platinum blond girl said gratefully. All three girls closed their eyes and concentrated their magical energy. Luna led the incantations. "I, Luna Lovegood, by the power of this Coven, do summon the Grey Lady to appear within this magic circle. No evil shall penetrate it; no harm shall come to us; you will obey and answer our questions; the power of our magic compels you!"

The Ravenclaw ghost appeared within the circle looking confused, but after catching her bearings, turned to Luna. "There was no need for such a strong compulsion, child. You have always been one of my favorite Ravenclaws," she said kindly.

"I'm sorry, Grey Lady," Luna replied timidly. "We are practicing our ritual skills and wanted to take no chances. We are humble students seeking knowledge and advice."

The Ravenclaw ghost floated around the circle, making a long pause in front of each of the girls. "Those who practice the rites and seek knowledge will always have the ear of the Grey Lady, even if they belong to another House," she said nodding to Hermione and Ginny before turning to face Luna. "No apologies are necessary, child. It's always wise to have strong protections. The magical power of this Coven is impressive, and your circle is well protected. The symbols are drawn perfectly, but if I may make a suggestion..."

"Please do, Grey Lady," Luna said eagerly.

"My mother, who was a great proficient, always recommended that a magic circle should have one Algiz rune for each member of the Coven. They should be used as anchors to the vertices of your triangular sitting position."

Out of thin air, a diagram appeared with slight modifications to the drawn circle.

"That makes sense," Hermione said wide-eyed to the other girls, who nodded their agreement.

"Thank you, Grey Lady," Ginny said bowing her head. "We have an important question and we beseech you to answer it."

The ghostly image smiled. "Well done, young woman. If you treat the dead with respect, they will be more likely to respond to you. Even under the power of your mighty compulsion, good manners are appreciated. What's your question?"

"Is there a way to destroy Dementors?"

The Grey Lady floated slowly around the circle. "As you probably know, a Patronus can only repel a Dementor but not destroy it. The reason for that is that your Patronus is simply a representation of your positive life energy and living beings cannot kill those who do not live."

"But we can compel and banish the dead through the magical rites. Will that work with Dementors?" Hermione asked.

"I'm afraid not. My ghostly representation is made of the same human life energy that you have, and it can be affected by your human magic, but Dementors are not human ghosts. They are demons from a different plane, trapped in ours. Not even a dead human like me, can kill a Dementor."

Even though they were disappointed, all three witches bowed respectfully. "Thank you, Grey Lady," Luna said. "You may go."

Without a sound, the Ravenclaw ghost disappeared.

"We need to stop now," Hermione said disappointed. "I still have to make my prefect rounds. We should try summoning Peeves next time."

Ginny chuckled. "That should be interesting," she said as she stopped the Magic Fire.

The three boys stopped their physical training and approached the girls.

"That seemed to go well," Harry said to his girlfriend. "Learned anything new?"

"Actually we did a few, but unfortunately how to destroy a Dementor was not one of them," she replied.

"We'll find a way," Harry said to the three disappointed witches. "I'm knackered. Let's go rest."

"Talk for yourself," Ron said annoyed. "I've still have the bloody prefect rounds to do."

"Language, Ron," his brunette girlfriend reprehended him. "Remember the pleasant company you will have during your rounds," she added flirtatiously.

Ron smiled and put his arm around her waist. Maybe rounds wouldn't be so bad after all.