Chapter 16

Follow Your Pain

It was the safest, warmest, most peaceful night's sleep Ginny had in four years.

If pain had become an old friend of Harry's, nightmares have become one to Ginny. Ever since the Chamber, there was always some presence of Riddle. Not the real one she reminded herself, just the memory and haunting. Often it just hung around the edges, but commonly she replayed being Riddle's puppet. Usually waking up in cold sweat and screams.

The last few weeks had improved. Her ever growing Crimson Witch persona, her collective courage, nerve, rage, even passion, seemed to take the role of protector of her mind. 'The rest of you sleep, Crimson will take the night watch." It was lunacy, but it had helped a bit.

But last night, not only were there no Riddle nightmares, wrapped up with Harry it felt as if there couldn't be any. Here it truly felt like, 'Harry has the watch. All of us get to sleep.' And finally able to do that for the first time in years, was … so refreshing.

In truth they hadn't even gotten to snogging. They had kissed a bit, as they were right there, but tender and sweetly. Very quickly they started drifting off. Harry was good to his word, an almost perfect gentleman. In the night there were some caresses, but it was two way street, and nothing that hadn't happened before.

Harry woke up the next morning ahead of his alarm, not uncommon. He grabbed it, gave it the day's wind and flipped the ringer off. The mechanical clockwork ticking was the only sound beside their breathing. Harry grabbed his wand off his nightstand. Luminos.

Ginny was still asleep, her head on his right, curtain of scarlet behind it on his pillow. She looked more peaceful than Harry had ever seen her before. He took a few moments to appreciate the simple beauty of her breathing. 'Potter, she's so out of your league.' he thought for the 1000th time. But survival instinct soon took hold. He leaned over and gently kissed her awake. Gin's hand rose up to finger his hair. "Morning," he whispered.

She awoke with a wide dreamy smile, looking up to Harry. Then her eyes started looking around.

"Real?" she asked.

"Real." Harry nodded.

Gin took the deepest and most refreshing breath Harry had ever seen her take. "Harry, please forgive me, but we are in the area of my dreams right now. What happened?"

"Nothing, Nothing to worry about. You had some nerves about yesterday's accident. Came to check on me. Stayed the night."

"Brilliant." she smiled. Then real life started to come to mind. "Busted?"

"Not yet." he said with a cocky grin. "But I wouldn't want to push our luck. We should probably get dressed. Take the bathroom."

"Such a gentleman." she smiled, as she rolled out, grabbed her bag. Harry managed to get his sweatpants on quickly enough. Gin came out just as he was grabbing his runners. The new workout routine was definitely starting to show on Harry's torso.

"Hey," he nodded as he was lacing them up, clearly clueless that Gin was appreciating the view.

DON'T YOU SAY A DAMN WORD! Crimson yelled to her mind.

"Um, my bag and last nights clothes, I don't really want to carry them out, just in case."

Harry nodded to his dresser. "Lower left drawer."

"That's oddly specific." she said as she did.

"It's where your books are already."

"Harry, are you saying you already have a drawer for me in your room?"

"Well.. ya." he said extremely matter of factly as he finally put a shirt on.

Crimson boo'ed.

"Questions for you… but best for later." Then she looked up to the lid door. "Harry, this room has a built in silence charm right?"

"Yep."

"So like the entire family could be up there shouting at us and we couldn't know?

"I'm going to channel Hermione for this one. Theoretically yes, but" pointing at his alarm clock, "at this time of morning. Probability is still in our favor."

"Still… any thoughts?"

It came to him in a flash, and his grin came in wide. "Yes… and I just realized this is likely exactly something my parents did."

This time Gin even caught the grin. "Well, don't keep a girl in suspense."

Harry grabbed his cloak of invisibility and wrapped it around Gin's shoulders with a kiss.

"I'll play canary." Gin's head cocked to the side. "Sorry, muggle expression. I'll go up first, and leave the door open. If there is anyone there, I'll say good morning and small talk. You then can use the cloak to walk right on out. All you need to do is get up the stairs someplace to stash the cloak for a bit, then-"

Nodding, "Come down stairs like every other morning."

"This is what you keep me around for."

"Harry…" She smiled coyly. "I keep you for many reasons… but best not to start that talk at this time."

"Last mile," he said with a kiss, and pulled the cloak over her face, hiding her from all view.

With a courage breath, Harry walked up the steps, unlocked the door, opened the door he made sure to put in the fixed open position as he walked out… to a beautifully empty and quiet ground floor. He didn't risk making a sound, but knew Gin was watching so just flashed a thumbs up. She left the cloak in Harry's room, hopped up the stairs… and free and clear. They went to the kitchen and grabbed a couple of pumpkin juices like every morning and continued on with normalcy.

There was a slight variance with their workout. The lap around the property was fine. But with barn warded, they opted to skip to the exercise portion for the day. But getting into the house earlier did get them inside sooner. Molly noticed the time difference. "That was quick today."

"Bill claimed dibs on the barn." Gin said as she hopped upstairs for a change of clothes.

"Oh…Sorry," he said as he was reading through the Daily Prophet.

"Don't worry about it." Harry picked up. "Rather safe than sorry."

Gin slipped into her room where Hermione was already dressed for the day and brushing her hair. Once she saw Gin a broad smile came to her face. Gin met her smile and gesture asked about silence. "Already up. I think we may just make a daily cast of it every morning."

"Agreed, and … thank you, 'Mione."

"I'm certain I have no idea what you are talking about Ginny." They both shared mischievous smiles. "So since you are back from your run, how is Harry?"

"Honestly fine. Really normal and fine, and I had the best night sleep I've had in like four yars."

"Good … and thank you." she said with an honest smile. Ginny cocked her head to the side. "I prefer it when my friends are happy, and as both of you are my friends, well the calculations become self-evident." Then she gave a knowing grin. "But I'll finally let you have your room back and go down for breakfast."

"'Mione. Got an extra minute?"

"Sure," she said, sitting beside Gin on the larger bed. "What's up?"

"In the last few weeks there has been a lot of talk with Harry joining the family, being a new brother, Eight Weasley, all that."

Hermione nodded.

"And I get it, I am ecstatic for Harry, that's he's getting that. And I am like the queen of he's never going back camp."

"But?" Hermione asked.

"But I am never going to think of him as a brother."

Hermione smiled. "I'm sure no one expects you too."

"Agreed, What I was getting at is, I don't need another brother, I got six. But I'd love a sister."

Hermione opened her mouth to respond… but was speechless.

"If it's too weird or something, forget about it. But I just want to show my appreciation."

"No, no, no, it's not weird at all. I've just never been invited before. I'm flattered. And thank you." She smiled warmly.

"Technically speaking you didn't give a yes or no." Ginny pointed out.

"Oh! Yes, of course yes. Um, fair warning… I'm an only child. So I have no idea what to do. So as we try this and some-"

"'Mione," Ginny smiled with a merciful interruption. "Stuff like last night. That's big sister stuff. And thank you."

"Certainly. And thank you." Hermione then excused herself down to breakfast.

Gin grabbed her change of clothes, then had a second thought, and grabbed a second change of clothes and threw it into her bag too and hopped down to use Harry's shower.

Hermione made it to the kitchen and helped Harry with the toast. To her credit, she kept a textbook straight face. It wasn't until she knew no one was looking that she gave Harry a singular wink. Harry grinned but moved on with the morning.

Ginny showered and changed like normal. Then double checked she had closed the trunk lid. With a cover, she took her extra change of clothes and added it to the Ginny drawer in Harry's dresser with no intention of taking back her sleep outfit. And as silly as it was, she felt immensely satisfied. With a sigh she resigned herself back to reality for quick breakfast and work.

The others were starting to flame out as well. After kissing Gin goodbye he finally got into the shower. Then it dawned on him. Gringotts. He kind of hated it, because he still didn't feel legitimate in it. But intellectually he had to admit that he would be far more inconspicuous at the bank if he wore the suit. Damn to hell if Gin wasn't right. So he took his time shaved and cologned, and put the suit on. He looked in the mirror. With the knowledge of the Black inheritance, with the Potter Ring getting very comfortable on his finger, with making his first statement that the insult mudblood "would not be said in his house", he admitted he felt less a fraud in the suit today. He still grabbed his wizard pack as any trip to the Alley ought to be multi purpose.

He popped back up to the kitchen to check in with Molly. "Right Mrs. Weasley, off to the Alley-"

"Merlin' s beard!" Hermione gasped as he rounded the corner.

"What's going on '"Mione?" Harry asked.

"Going on? Gin said she got you a suit, but she didn't mention you looked THIS good in it. Who are you and where's the boy who fought off a troll?"

"'Mione, boy's grow up. We all do." he smiled.

"And that's the lady killer grin." she said, actually more to Molly.

"The one and the same", Molly nodded.

"Mrs. Weasley, not you too."

"I've never lied to my children, and I won't start now. You are a devilishly dashing young man. What's your plan today?"

"Gringotts, hence the suit. If I'm at the Alley anyway, a few things here and there. And let's say expect me after lunch before supper. I'll flame it if it changes."

"Harry, a favor?" She wrote a note down on a paper. "If you are by the bookstore."

"Surprise, surprise, Hermione Granger asks for a book."

"Ha ha, I'll pay you back."

"Why?" he grinned as he flamed away.

Hermione turned to Mrs Weasley. "He has to know what he's doing. There is no way he can be THAT damn charming without trying?"

"I honestly don't know." Molly said with a smile. "Merlin help you all if he's not trying and starts to." They both laughed.

"Gin is very lucky"

"So is Ron, " Molly said as she walked over and grabbed a pair of books.

Hermione smiled. "I thought this conversation would come up. I'm sorry if I'd made the situation u-"

"Hermione, I have seven children. And six of them started dating before Ron. You're fine. If we had issues we would have said so long before now." She took a moment to think of the proper expression. "Arthur and I both feel this seems to be the blooming period for all four of you. Harry's is extraordinary. Ginny seems to finally be shaking off some of those ghosts from her first year. Ron seems to be maturing a bit. Which one assumes is because he's stepping up to courting a young lady?"

Hermione smiled shyly. "He has turned over unexpected new leaves as of late."

"And if I'm not mistaken, you have been listening to your heart a bit more."

"Also true."

"Good." Molly simply replied. "Like Harry said, we all grow up. As parents you only really have two big hopes for each child. First, they grow up to be good people. Second, that they meet good people. Arnold and I are quite happy so far. I'm even seeing an upside to Fleur."

Harry had some time and he had a few ideas, both resulted in a situation he appreciated. His first stop was to Madam Malkin's. There were two items that he wanted to pick up he knew for a fact so first was to quickly stop in and out.

Next stop was into Scribbulus Writing Instruments. "Hello, How can I help?"

"Thank you," Harry said, "Looking for a few basic items but 1 unique thing I thought you may be able to point in the right direction. Had the pleasure of working with a gentleman a few weeks back. He dictated and had a feather quill that did the writing for him. I have a project coming up that would be quite useful."

"Ah," the clerk said. "A Feather Write, certainly. Please come this way." Further down the display the clerk showed a collection of three pens. "Yes sir. First we have the Pigeon Partner, which will require you to supply the ink. Secondarily, we have Owls Recorder. That comes with regenerative ink in the quill. Finally we have the eagles engraver, which will write on most any surface as well as paper."

"I don't have anything that aggressive planned. An Owls recorder will do fine."

"Very good, sir."

"And regenerative ink quills, would you have any of those for manual use? Perhaps pocket sized?

"Certainly, do you have a color preference? "

"Of ink no, black will do fine. Of fletching… emerald." Gin knows what she is doing.

"Ah yes, this is a set pair, one of each size for you, sir."

"And a 2 blank journals please, 1 breast pocket sized."

Harry paid and put the pocket sized items in his breast pocket, the rest in his pack.

Next stop Flourish and Blotts again.

He asked for Hermione's order Hogwarts : Astronomy : Basic and Advanced. "

The standard course work isn't even enough, 'Mione wants extra credit, he deduced,

While the clerk got that he went into the Healers Section. Found two for what he was looking for. Basics Healing Spells and Introduction to Healing Potions. Snape was so shite a potions teacher that Harry knew he needed to brush up. And as often as he got injured, some basic healing wouldn't be bad. He likely would join Hermione with any lessons Molly could offer.

After the book run, time for a coffee. Well not necessarily a coffee, but he wanted the table to do a little planning for later, and a coffee was the most effective way to do that. He flipped through the Introduction to Healing Potions. It finally occurred to him that maybe he should have his own supply of he wasn't always needed Mrs Weasley or Mrs. Pomfrey. Flipping through the book he quickly worked up a list of major potions he wanted for the common injuries he could see himself getting. He laughed at the ridiculousness of it.

Blood-Replenishing Potion

Burn-Healing Paste

Calming Draught

Fire Protection Potion

Invigoration Draught

Murtlap Essence

Pepperup Potion

Poison Antidote

Pomfrey's Pick-Me-Up

Skele-Gro

Vitamix Potion

Wiggenweld Potion

Finally Harry was ready for the bank. This time he at least felt like he looked like he belonged. He repeated what worked before. Went up to the 1st available goblin. "Master Harry Potter for William Weasley, Vault Visit, I'm expected." The goblin nodded and disappeared around the corner, a few minutes later Bill came out.

Bill nodded as he came around the corner, then smiled wider when he got a better look at him. "Master Potter, good to see you. Right this way." Bill led the way to the vault rails. "I didn't expect the suit, Harry, but I am pleasantly surprised."

"Well this is one of the reasons Gin suggested even getting it. I blend in more with the crowd here. And I do try to keep a low profile. Too many years as Chosen One."

"Understandable, regardless, you look good. Consider it more often, maybe get a 2nd."

"I'm sure Gin would love that."

"There are worse than and a happy lady, Harry."

They stepped into the rail car. "Hello Grunig, Vault 711 please." Bill asked.

The rail trips were alway half terrifying, half exhilarating. Harry looked over and Bill could only be described as mildly amused. With a sudden stop they finally came to the Vault. Harry gave Bill a look when he noticed that the crest had already been changed from Black to Potter.

"Standard protocol." he defended with a smile.

"Somehow Bill, I doubt that. But I also realize when I have no choice in an equation."

"Heavy is the head my friend."

They approached the vault door and saw a ruby beneath the Potter crest. "Is it really as simple as 'press my ring'?"

"For you it is. That's the point of all of this. Your ring has bonded to your arcane signature. We stored that signature from your papers earlier and have keyed the door to it. Your vault is supposed to be easy for you… Hard for everyone else."

"Well here goes nothing." Harry pressed his key into the ruby, It glowed to life and the sound of tumblers and gears sounded and echoed. Finally the door crack, and swung open. Instantly, his scar searned into pain. "AAHHH" he cried with his hand to his scar.

"Harry? Are you alright?"

"Yes, just a damn Riddle headache. They come, they go."

Bill's arithmancy mind was already calculating. "Harry, I don't think so."

"What? Ah, Why?"

"Because the exact thing happened yesterday when we found the locket."

"That's still in the jar in your case right?"

Held up his messenger bag. "Had it with us the whole time, so that shouldn't be triggering it."

"So … two of those damn things?'

"Logical extrapolation."

"Great, Can you do that peak scry to find it?"

"Well yes and no."

"Bill… splitting headache here."

"I have the equipment, but that is a Gringott Vault, specifically yours. I can't just cast spells inside. Security guards and wards."

"Right, so we take a look then see if we can find it the old fashioned way?" Harry asked.

"I'm afraid so."

"Bloody hell, and I told everyone we'd take a day."

"Ah, so this is your fault, Harry." Bill tried to joke.

"Not funny, Bill." Harry looked ahead. The vault was full. Galleons everywhere but also various treasures, jewels, and art. Harry had re-read through the statement in the vault the night before so he had a decent idea of what was in there. As he stepped forward,he winced again. "Bill, this is needle in a haystack time"

Bill surveyed the situation, and wanted to test a theory. "Harry, do you trust me?"

"Of course, what do you need?"

"Take several steps backward. Harry obediently did. His pain visibly decreased.

"Harry, I'm sorry, but YOU are the detector. You need to walk towards the pain."

"Well, if that's not just bloody perfect."

"Your pain seems to increase inversely to proximity."

"You mean it fucking hurts more the closer I get."

"I'm sorry." Bill reached into his pack and pulled out a pair of tongs, "Try not to touch anything but if you can find it. I have another sample container, that would be a fair test."

"Walk towards my pain, Merlin." Harry walked back to the vault and stepped inside. Then he walked to the left and took several steps, it decreased. "Colder," he shouted back to Bill who was watching. He walked back to the door. "Ouch," He turned left, took a step, worse. Took another step, worse yet, Step again. "Hotter" Three more steps, "More hot." He walked to the end of the hall and took a knee in the pain. "FUCK!"

"Harry?" Bill asked in legitimate concern.

"I'm fine… I can handle fucking pain." Harry glared ahead, nothing specific. He let his anger rise to channel a bit more resilience from it. "This is MY fucking vault, and I will not be chased out by a piece of shit magic trinket!" Harry stood turned left again .. to feel the pain decrease. HE turned around to stand in the corner. He studied the items on the shelves.

"There is NO fucking locket here and my head is on fire!"

"It doesn't have to be a locket, Harry. We wizards will charm anything, remember?"

"So we don't even know what we're looking for!"

Bill shrugged. "You've limited the sample size substantially. We could try the process of elimination."

How long was Harry supposed to have his head on fire? Harry scanned the corner he was in, there had to be another variable, some other sign. Of course it couldn't be as simple as a damn blood dripping skull, that would be too simple. As his eyes rolled up though the shelves. he found it. On the top shelf he found the cup! It was identical to the vision he had yesterday!

"I got the damn thing!" Harry growled as if he had pulled hot steel from the furnace. He marched forward to Bill with another containment jar waiting. Harry dropped the cup into it. Bill immediately sealed in and Harry fell to his knees in sweet relief.

Bill took a knee next to him. "Are you alright Harry?"

"I need 10 minutes, but I'll be okay. Sorry if I got a little… fiesty."

"Harry, I helped you blow up the English countryside, I think you restrained yourself quite well. You got it on your first try. Statistically unlikely at the least.. How did you know?"

"Because I saw it in a dream before."

"A dream? When?

"For seven hours straight yesterday."

"Merlin."

"Bill, what the hell are those things? And why do they trigger what used to just be Riddle headaches in my scar?"

"I don't know Harry, but I promise you, we will find out. For now let's get both of them secured in the vault.. It's the safest place they can be."

Harry nodded, he grabbed both the containment jars and placed them on a shelf inside. As he did, his glance fell upon a pair of simple silver bracelets with a green emerald stone in each. "What the hell." He pocketed them.

He walked back up and resealed the vault. As it locked down Bill grinned and said, "I did see that, Harry."

"Good, but you'll keep quiet or you'll ruin a birthday gift for Gin…. or should I go look for a ring?"

"Master Potter, where did you learn to negotiate?" he asked with a full smile. as they got back to the rail car.

"My father works for the government."