Chapter 25

Remembering Ghosts

The Marauders all quickly worked through the fallen Death Eaters, grabbing all their wands and flex cuffed their hands. Once the situation was secured. Tonks could see the workload for the night. "Potter," she called over. When he arrived, "Show me your wand." Harry did as ordered and with her wand created a warm steady orange arc of light from her wand to Harry's. "I just gave you floo, guards, and wards access to the Training Hall. The password is 'victory'. You just have to think it. I'll signal Central and get these guys processed. You coordinate the medical evac back to Hogwarts."

"Yes ma'am." he nodded as he headed back to the front gate.

Tonks caught him with one final line. "Potter," she waited till she had his full attention. "Don't make me regret that."

Harry nodded in respect as he returned to duty. "Marauders, with me." he called out to summon the team.

"What's the order?" Hermione asked as they gathered.

"Sarge is going to contact Central to handle booking the bastards. She wants us to handle medical evac."

Neville opened the gate and they headed back to the Main Office. "Crimson, you're a good healer too, check in with Hannah. Odds are you'll be more help to her than the rest of us." he said as they got inside.

"Right." she said as she quickly ran over the busy medic.

"Everyone take a seat. Med check, anyone take more than average hits?" The Marauders all separated onto a pair of benches on opposite sides of the aisle and leaned back against the table. "Katie, this was your first fight, how are you?" Harry asked, already knowing he had received the worst. Susan seemed unscathed, Hermione had a singual gash over her left eye. Katie had gashes in her left leg and arm. Ron's and Neville 's left arms looked peppered with shrapnel from bombarda explosions.

"Um.." She looked at the marks from the fight. "I was grazed by some cutters, but I'm still here, so I don't feel right complaining." she said with uncertainty. Which quickly melted away as the team chuckled.

"Ahhh, Katie got her first love bites." Susan smiled.

"Careful, Dean will get jealous." Ron replied with a smile.

Hermione quickly elbowed him in the ribs. "Be nice you two, it's her first mission. You did great Katie. In fact, I'm certain I can patch those up for you." Hermione volunteered as she got up with her wand out.

"Wait," Harry said. "Let me patch your eye before you work on Katie. Otherwise, you'll wind up bleeding into your vision and likely heal her mouth shut."

"The cure wounds spell doesn't work that way, Harry. You know that."

"I'm also battle grumpy, you know that." Harry gurmbled. "And I've got Ron here too."

"Mione, let'em heal you." Ron said flatley and directly, much to the snickers of the team.

Hermione's mouth fell open for a moment. Then she crossed her arms and cocked her head to Harry standing next to her. "Go ahead," she relented with much annoyance. With a quick spell she was released and started working on Katie. Harry moved to Ron.

"Merlin, why am I even surprised?" they heard as Ginny returned. She too looked unscathed. Her eyes filled with annoyance at Harry, the worst injured being the medic. "Mione, not even going to throw a bandage at him?

"I choose not to engage in foolish arguments." She answered. Katie fought a giggle.

Looking up, Harry smiled at his girlfriend. "I'm fine. Full range of movement, nothing major. I thought I told you to check with Hannah?"

"I did." Ginny replied as she slid her wand from her sleeve. "She's got the locals handled and said I'd be best used patching you guys up. She wants to talk with Sarge or you when available."

"Right." Harry finished casting on Ron and Harry patted Ron's shoulder as he started to walk to Hannah.

"Whoa, wait, sit!" Ginny ordered, pointing Harry back to his seat.

"Ginny, I'm fine." he repeated to no avail.

"You're bleeding. Now I don't care which one you listen too more, girlfriend or field medic, but right now I'm both. Sit your arse down, let me patch you up, then you can continue soldiering on." She might be shorter than Harry, but damn to hell if Ginny couldn't be intimidating.

"Yes ma'am." Harry accepted as he sat down, much to the giggles and snickers of the group. "Shut up all of you. Especially you, Neville. Don't tell me Hannah doesn't do same thing to you."

"I listen to her and actually try to take care of myself." Neville replied with a wide smile.

"Traitors, the lot of you." Harry groused as he sat.

"Self sacrificing noble idiot you bloody well are sometimes." Ginny muttered as she moved from wound to wound healing them.

"I can still hear you, Gin."

"You're supposed to," she said even louder.

Harry retreated to safe territory. "Love you, Gin."

"And I love you very much too, but I bloody hate that damn after-battle 'everyone else first' philosophy you have." She bent over to look him square in the eye. "You're not an exception from triage process." she scolded with a finger pointed squarely at him.

Harry nodded. "Yes dear, sorry Gin."

Message delivered, Ginny smiled. "Just… try to be better, please," she asked with a kiss. "Now, go talk to Hannah. I'll cover the team."

Harry nodded then walked over to the medic working on another burn victim. She did a double take when Harry came by. "Ginny wasn't kidding, you do always take the worst in a fight, don't you?"

Harry shrugged and grinned. "But at least she patches me up. What do you need?"

She finished the spell on her recent burn victim then grabbed Harry's arm and pulled him off to the side. It wasn't until she grabbed his forearm Harry could feel the slightest tremble in her hand. Her voice dropped to a whisper. "Harry… I'm not Madam Pomfrey. I - I can't heal all these people. Some of them are pretty bad."

Harry held her shoulders to calm her. "Hannah, no one expects you to fully heal them."

"But I'm a Healer."

"You're a medic… in training to be a healer. We all know that. Look, take it from someone who has been through the medical ward a few times. We get healing is a process. You keep us alive, that's a passing grade. You keep our limbs attached, you get an E. You make the pain go away, that's an O. Everything else is bonus points."

Hannah took a deep breath and exhaled the stress she was feeling. "Thank you, Harry." After a second breath. "Ginny said you were in charge now?"

"Just for the moment. Sarge is working with Central to process the low level Eaters we stunned and such. Wanted me to manage the medical evacuation she even knew would be happening. So you're doing fine Hannah."

"Thank you again, but how? The fields and shield would have been reset by now. My understanding is they are on timers."

"They are." Harry nodded. "Sarge gave me the charms to flip them again. You worry about the medicine. I'll handle the doors. How many do you think we need to get back to Madam Pomfrey?"

Hannah closed her eyes and mentally went down the patients. "I'd like six to go over."

"No problem," Harry said with a smile. "We could all side along one maybe a double or two. Can you finish what you need with those staying and prep the others for an apparition?"

"Yes… yes I can do that. Sorry… I think the first deployment jitters got me."

"Don't even worry about it. You get back to work, let me know when you're ready."

After Harry left, Hermione's brain kicked into action again. "Neville, you said this was pumpkins and potion ingredients, right?"

"Ya, all our pumpkin juice has to come from somewhere. We produce a bit."

"But what kind of potion ingredients?"

Neville scratched his head. "This year, I can't say as I know. I'd need to talk to Winston. What are you thinking?"

"Rowle said Riddle wanted supplies from here. I think potion supplies would make far more sense than the pumpkins."

"Agreed," Neville nodded.

"About a month ago, when we were deployed to Liverpool, that was a potions supply heist too."

"You're thinking they are connected?" Neville guessed, seeing the breadcrumbs she was dropping.

"Riddle wanted the supplies for both, it's not an unreasonable supposition."

"Do you have the list from Liverpool with you?"

"No, but I'm willing to bet I know who does."

They both looked at each other for a second, "Harry."

After Harry left, Ginny made short work of the rest of the Marauders. "Respectfully, I hear Bill is here, I'd like to go see him."

Ron nodded, "I'll take you to him." Ron led the way but it wasn't difficult as the couple was rather distinct, even from the backside. Fleur with long silver blonde hair falling behind her shoulders in a navy blue coat, next to the tall ponytailed redhead wearing a brown trench coat and a fang earring.

As they walked around the work table the elder couple was sitting, Ginny got her first look at Bill's injury. A large blackened cinder over his right shoulder with his hand in a sling . "Oh gods, Bill!" she said as the sight registered. "Harry said you got hit. I didn't picture this."

Bill smiled and invited his sister over for a hug with his good arm. "Hey, relax Ginny. Harry's not the only bloke to take a hit. Curse breaker, remember? Before you visited Egypt there were a few … mishaps. I was fine then. I'll be fine now."

"If I am not mistaken, you are who we have to thank for much of the fire we just saw?" Fleur gestured outside, both as a distraction and impressed.

Still visibly shaken, she nodded. "Ya, um Ron's idea but my spell work. In the last few weeks I've gotten pretty good at blowing things to hell." The family all laughed.

"And still flying?" she asked with a smile.

She nodded with a smile, 'Sergeant Tonks and I both love me on broom. No one is used to it yet and it proves effective. We've been flying laps around the school grounds. The Sarge can get pretty… aggressive in her courses she sets, but I haven't wrecked yet.

"So you've become a fire mage," Bill said, then looking over to his brother, "And you're water?"

Ron nodded, "The irony has not been lost on either of us." Both snickered.

Bill's eyebrows raised. "And you're getting along?"

"I've tried to grow up a bit, keep my head out my arse." Ron said.

"Most of the time he succeeds. Sometimes he's even sweet." Ginny said with a wink. "We've had bigger issues to deal with, you know, wizard war and everything."

Bill sighed. "You know I admit I was hesitant when I heard your team was essentially…"

"Drafted?" Ron offered. "That's what we all call it." The younger Weasleys both laughed. Even Fleur smiled.

"Not incorrectly either." Bill agreed. "But seeing you in the field, seeing what you can do… I am glad you are and glad I called for you."

All of them shared a smile for a moment. "Any particular reason Harry isn't over here?"

"I need to slap some sense into him occasionally," Ginny grinned, "But Harry is quickly entering more and more into a leadership role." There was more than a small tone of pride in her voice .

"Sarge is handling cleanup out there," Ron agreed. "Got him handling the evac here."

The four of them looked over to see their newest family member move from counseling Hannah to talking with Hermione and Neville.

"C'est en forgeant qu'on devient forgeron."

"Still haven't learned French, Fleur." Ginny reminded.

"It is by forging that we become a blacksmith."

Just then they heard Harry whistle. "Marauders, fall in."

Harry had just turned away from Hannah when Hermione and Neville clearly were heading his direction. "Merlin, what do I need to know?" he said.

Hermione pointed to Harry's pack. "We're chasing a hunch. You always carry everything these days. Do you have a copy of the Liverpool list with you?"

"Er, ya." he replied as he put his pack down and grabbed his father's spellbook out. Hermione raised an eyebrow. "I swapped after that run in with Snape." He opened the black leather book to the back where his loose papers were kept. "Here," he said with an air of victory. He gave it to Hermione, who quickly passed it to Neville who quickly called out, "Winston."

The administrator quickly came to Neville's side. "Sir?"

"Winston, take a look at this list. Did we grow any of these? Do we have any of this in stock?"

The administrator read down the list. "Some, yes."

Harry passed him his pocket quill, "Mark them … please.

Lacewing Flies

Leeches

Powdered bicorn horn

Knotgrass *

Fluxweed *

Shredded boomslang skin

Mandrake *

Monkshood*

Powdered moonstone

Syrup of hellebore

Murtlap tentacles

Sopophorous Beans *

They read the list and Hermione said aloud what they all thought. "This can't be a coincidence. Especially, if Riddle is who sent a team this large and this was at minimum a second attempt."

"At minimum?" Harry asked.

"Well, there's no way to tell if he's had successful thefts elsewhere." Hermione said.

"And he's not broke, he's got a few Houses." Neville reminded. "None of these products are illegal, so he could have purchased them the old fashioned way."

"I don't like it any way you sliced it. It was a damn potion that in part brought his arse back. I don't like him or anyone under him brewing up anything." He looked up and out to a general direction as his attention turned more to his link. "Private link to Tonks."

"Status Potter?"

"Evac is fine, about to move out. I'll link when we officially are back at Hogwarts."

"Good."

"New information. Hermione and Neville discovered about five of the ingredients from the Liverpool list were grown and stored here too."

"You think there is a connection." Tonk observed it far more than asked.

"Same bloke goes after the same stuff twice, with increased force. Yes."

"I'll keep that in mind with interrogations."

"Thanks, Sarge. Miracle 'Mione, had another thought. What if these weren't the only robberies?"

There was an uncomfortable silence. Finally Tonks replied, "I'll put in an inquiry at Central. Merlin have mercy."

Harry turned back to Hermione and Neville and exhaled deeply. "Sarge is going to press the captives for answers and also put out an inquiry in Central."

"So, she believes us?" Hermione asked in surprise.

"I know, I'm not used to this either. Things change. For now though, our orders are to get us and those who need it back to Hogwarts. Hannah, you ready?" The medic nodded.

"Harry, I'm happy to help with the evac, but after I'd like to come back and keep watch till replacement staff comes in."

Harry looked at him and took a breath. "I can't say I like it, but I get it. And there is a logic of keeping a lookout here. Keep your link on." Neville nodded.

Harry whistled. "Marauders, fall in." Both Hermione and Neville smiled a bit at how easily Harry issued orders.

As every one assembled, Harry coordinated. "All right, I'll portkey over, flip open the door so to speak, and link over. Hannah, get a Marauder to anyone who needs one." The team all nodded to him, and Harry charged his portkey. With a pop and and spin he was back in the Training Hall. With touch of nerves he drew his wand. "Victory." The blue shine of the safety shield came over the doors as the fields flipped. He shook his head. "I have keys to the bloody castle now. Damn to hell." Then he cleared his head as he walked over to Tonks's desk to stand out of the way. Then returned focus to the link. "Hall is open, Come on in."

Harry visually confirmed the team arrived, and noted the nod and thumbs up from Hannah. While at Tonks's desk he wrote a brief note and noted the time from the mechanical clock on her desk. "Hey Neville," he called, "When you get back, sign in, please." Neville nodded and then popped away again. Then Harry locked down the Hall back to normal. "Private to Tonks. Sarge, Squad's back at school."

"Good work, good night, and give Bill and Fleur my best." she replied.

Once the doors opened Hannah levitated the stretchers and escorted them out to medical. With an air of relief, Harry happily announced. "Squad dismissed, get some sleep everyone. Katie, nice work."

The Weasleys and Hermione stayed beside, each of them watching Harry with smiles.

"What?" he asked as he came by.

Ron started it, with clapping and applause but Hermione and Ginny soon joined in. "Well done. Bravo."

"All of you shut up," he said, shaking his head. "I did what Sarge told me too."

"Ya, but you do it well." Ginny said, welcoming him with a hug.

"I agree, Harry." Bill nodded. "You're already better than some site managers I've worked under at dig sites."

"Alright, fine, I will accept a compliment." Harry said with a squeeze back to Ginny. "More importantly, how are you two?"

"I'll be fine, thanks. I'll head to the hospital ward and let Pomfrey work her wonders. Fluer, your welcome to floo-"

"Silly man, you think I would leave you like this? No! I will be staying right with you."

"Wow," Ginny said. "For once I agree with Fleur."

Bill looked around, "Right, I know when to surrender. As it seems I shall be escorted, I shall bid you four good night, and thank you very much."

They each hugged the pair good-bye, Harry last but not resisting this time. As he walked he could feel Ginny clinging tighter on his arm than normal. "You alright, Gin?" he asked in honest concern.

"Ya, ya I will be." she answered softly. "Bill rattled me a bit. Please don't take this the wrong way. It's just…"

"You've been used to me in the hospital for years. You're not used to Bill there."

"Is that horrible of me to say?"

Harry stopped in front of the portrait of the Fat Lady to give Ginny his focus. "No, it's honest. Do you want to go keep watch with Fleur? I'm sorry, I shoul-"

"No, no. I trust Fleur. That is her place, and she is… she is good for him and I am even starting to like her." She slipped in for a hug. "I guess… all this war crap adds up. Today it caught Bill and I know he volunteered into the Order…" her voice trailed off.

"It doesn't sit well when family gets hit." Ginny nodded into his chest. "Downside of having such a passionate heart. You care for your family just as strongly." She nodded again. He pressed a kiss into her flowering scented hair. Now in the winter air and undistracted he could recognize that as apple blossoms, just like the Burrow orchard. "Do you want to stay with me tonight?"

"Oh, I am tempted. But it's war, between you and six brothers, I should get used to them in the fray. Thank you though."

"Anything for you, Gin, standing offer. You know this." he finished with an extra squeeze.

"I do, thank you." she said. They brought their attention to the dreaded Fat Lady, who this time didn't seem so dreaded. In fact this time she seemed to be on the verge of tears. Trying, she seemed to be speechless. After a few tries, she gave up trying to talk and just opened up wide.

"Thanks," both of them said as they headed to bed.

The sound of her own beating heart filled her ears and she tasted the damp and dankness of the chamber as she breathed deeply running between the pillars. Her wand? Where was her wand? For months she had hand it strapped to her arm, now it was gone and she was vulnerable. Spell fire blew away at the pillar perilously close to her head as she weaved through the row of them. At the end she stopped and pressed herself firm against the back side to hide herself.

"Ginevra, why do you run? You are already here. You are always here." the ever charming voice of Tom Riddle echoed to her ear. She wanted to tell him to go to hell or worse. But she knew facing Riddle without her wand would be a fool's errand. She was so desperate to hide herself, that she tried to hold breathe in vain after running for who knew how long. Her lungs burned and her legs ached from a chase she didn't remember.

"For a year now you have given me your heart. Now the time has come for you to give me your soul… and your life." As Riddle's voice came to her ears the never ending sound of his never ending footfalls, growing ever closer.

Ginny didn't know what she was going to do. But she knew she wasn't going to quit. She searched her mind trying to think of options… then she heard the sound of stone scraping against stone… and a creature's hiss.

She looked to her left to see the statue of Slytherin open and a pair of eyes look to her.

"Ginevra… come to the pet or come to me…. Either way your soul will be set free."

On instinct and reflex she began running again as they basilisk chased after her. As she left her position she immediately felt the near misses of Riddle's cutting curses. Her ears were filled with creature's rasp and Riddle's sinister laugh.

She didn't know how far she ran but eventually the searing pain of Riddle's hex tore through her right shoulder. She cried out in pain as the blast sent her spinning then falling hard onto the cold stone ground.

Riddle stood over her with his wand pointed straight to her chest. From behind him rose the dominating sight of the basilisk, its fangs dripping with venom. "Fear not Ginevra, your sacrifice shall not be in vain, for by your death, Voldemort will rise. Sanguisuga."

Every cell in Ginny's being felt on fire as she felt her very lifeforce and soul ruthlessly and mercilessly ripped from her body.

"NOOOOOOO!" she screamed at the height of her lungs as she shot up in bed. She trembled as the cool night air against the cold sweat on her skin made her ever more aware she was awake now and back, or more accurately still, at Hogwarts, in her dorm room, in her bed. She looked again to the fabric cocoon of the canopy and drapes drawn around her bed and took some small level of satisfaction it was still her habit to always draw them close and silence them.

She drew her knees up and wrapped her arms around them and laid he head on them, 'Fuck," she swore. '127 days,' she thought to herself. A good stretch. The longest she ever had since First year. Between the length and the locket destruction, Ginny truly felt she had turned a corner, now she felt as if she was back at square one. Back to another sleepless night, stuck in her bed, or at best the common room, in the dead of night alone with just her thoughts reliving her worst night ever followed by a day of being like a near zombie because of a lack of sleep…again.

Or maybe not. Something had changed since her last nightmare the night of the Department of Mystery. She wasn't alone now either. Not that privacy was ever anything Ginny truly had but she had a connection now she hadn't before. She certainly didn't care about rules. She didn't care about the lack of a magic cloak. At this moment she didn't even care if Ron was awake with the lights on and looking right at her. She had the singular thing that mattered, an invitation.

Before leaving the relative safety of her bed, she cast a few charms on herself. Then quickly, directly, but most importantly silently stepped out the bed and down stairs. Truly she didn't care if she ran into anyone. She long ago stopped caring about people's opinions, but she didn't want to be hassled. She made it down her stairs, crossed the landing, took a breath, and walked up the boy's stairs. She paused only briefly at their door to cast an extra silence charm on the door itself. As she opened it, she was actually comforted by the lawnmower of noise her brother was leading but all the lads added too. She paused for a moment, keeping her eyes low as she certainly didn't want to see some potential sights, but was simply amazed at how much snoring could be going on and everyone was still asleep. 'My gods… it's all of them!' she thought.

Ginny only paused for the moment though as she realized that wasn't safe. She continued over to Harry's 'bed'. She smiled again at how cleverly he had disguised his trunk as she lifted the lid, slipped inside, closed it again, and made sure to latch it. A small smile came to lips when she heard the distinctive sound of Harry's snore. Releasing all of her personal charms she walked over and had a seat. She stretched her out and gently rubbed his cheek, and with trepidation finally called, "H-H-Harry?"

Harry's eyes open and by touch, voice, and smell alone he knew already. "Gin?"

"Ya." Her tone of voice told him everything he needed to know.

"Riddle nightmare?" he asked solely for confirmation as he sat up to embrace her. She simply nodded against his shoulder. "I wondered when one would happen with me around. Come here," he said, gently slipping arms behind and under her frame to more comfortably position Ginny in his lap as he sat against the wall.

"I really like the fact you brought the whole trunk room to school. In here it's easy to forget where we're at. I can pretend right out that door is the Burrow instead."

"It's one thing I admit I am probably being arrogant and spoiled about, my private room, but as much as I've, or we've, gone through, I'm not going to feel bad about it." Harry lightly ran his hands through her hair and rubbed her back, letting her set the pace. After a bit he invited, "Gin, if you want to talk, you have my ear and my shoulder. Whatever you want."

She sat upright. "That's… that's just the bitch of if. I don't want to talk. But I feel I need to. But no one deserves to deal with all my … mental trauma bullshit, especially you."

"That includes you too, you know. You certainly don't deserve it. And I think both of us should worry less about what we deserve and just what the other needs. And clearly Gin, you need a night, and you need to talk, so please."

Ginny took her own courage breath, a deep and long one. "Harry… I love you. I swear to Merlin I do… but this… I am absolutely terrified if we talk about this… the more you find out… it's going to cross a line, you'll want out and that will absolutely wreck me."

Harry's initial reaction was to yell at the very concept but he bit his tongue and poured his energy in to a tighter hug. Once he felt he could try to be sensitive to the conversion he explained. "Gin… that's not going to happen. You have listened to me for so many things, it would be my honor to be here for you."

"Harry… it's Riddle… the bastard who killed your parents…. how do I talk to you about this?" he could hear she was fighting tears.

"With your words, Gin, anything you bring up will just be more reason I want to put him in the ground. And right now my bigger concern is getting you feeling better."

"It's just… shite… I should be over this… I should be past this all gods damn ready."

"Over a possession from Riddle?"

"Yes!" she yelled as she got up, needing to burn off anger rising. "I'm sorry… you of all people don't deserve this."

"Don't." Harry said firmly. He grabbed hin wand and raised the magic lighting to minimal levels. He could see Ginny pacing with angry tears and crossing her arms nervously. "Don't you dare stop talking to me."

"It's not fair to you… to hear my droning on about the very bastard you rescued me from."

Harry rose and wrapped her up. "Babe, for ten minutes or an hour or the whole damn night, please stop worrying about what's fair, what others deserve, any of that. We both know we love each other, and I promise we're still going to tomorrow morning." Harry took a deep breath. "Part of this is my fault… I took the chicken route and never asked, because the last thing I want to do is hurt someone, now especially you."

"Harry, I get it-"

"Hang on," he comforted. "But… since you are clearly still mentally there right now, let me man up and ask. Have you ever actually like really sat down and talked about it? Besides the initial 'what happened' when we first got out?"

She shook her head no into his chest. "I wanted to just forget and move on."

Harry sighed. "I get that, but if you're still getting nightmares like this after four years…I don't think that's an option love."

"I'm supposed to be unstoppable. I'm supposed to be grown up and over with this."

"Gin," Harry said in love and kindness. "Please, stop worrying about what you are supposed to be. Let's just be you and me, in this magically hidden room, be who we are, which quite frankly, are a couple of people who have massively been shafted."

She let out a slight tutter of laughter. "Such a fucking understatement."

"Gin, did your dad ever tell you about my first boxing lesson?"

She shook her head as she still squeezed his torso. "Mum and Dad were pretty tight lipped about your talks and stuff around them for the first few days."

"I've flat out told you that the workout is an emotional vent."

"I know, I've been with you for most of them."

He took a step back to look her in the eyes, and rubbed her cheek. "Exactly, you've worked out, you've supported me, you have gone on and been absolutely fantastic at a hundred different things. Have you ever taken a moment just to vent and bitch about the shittyness of it all?"

"To who? If I see Riddle, I'm shooting him long before I start talking to him. And Lucius is in prison."

"Doesn't matter. To the world, to the universe itself, trust me she's used to it. I've bitched to the heavens quite a lot."

Ginny took a deep breath. "You're serious?"

Harry took a step back. "My first session with your dad. He made me picture the Dursleys, and beat the hell out of 'em, to yell and scream and cry."

Ginny crossed her arms and paced back and forth. "To his credit, Dad tried a lot to get me to go for walks and take me out that summer. I didn't want to do anything though, I wasn't ready."

Harry leaned back on his desk. "Completely understandable."

"And by the time I finished second year, I'm sure he figured I had just gotten past already. I wanted everyone to think that… because that's what I wanted it to be."

"But." Harry added, specifically to encourage her to keep talking.

"But it wasn't fair!" Ginny finally yelled. "I was eleven. I was a fucking child! And Lucius Malfoy dropped some piece of shit cursed horcrux into my things? Did he even know what it was? Did he even care? Why me? Does he really hate me and my family enough to do that to an innocent eleven year old girl? Or was it just bad luck and timing? If we had waited ten minutes at the Burrow would someone have had this shit happen to them?"

Harry nodded and watched her with pure acceptance and understanding. No, he never dealt with Riddle's diary, but he had yelled questions just like that at one point in his life or another.

"Riddle… fucking Riddle!" she screamed. "Who does that? Make a cursed item to suck an innocent child's soul because you're too fucking scared to die!" AAAAAAAAH." she screamed to the roof with tears streaming down her cheeks.

Harry took a tip from Arthur. He walked over one of his bean bags with his wand and transmuted it into a standing punching bag. He didn't even need to say a word to Ginny. He slightly waved and Ginny landed one of the hardest pouches he'd ever seen her throw. He just held the bag and nodded. "Keep it coming, babe."

"Fucking killing chickens. Writing messages in blood just to scare people. Opening the damn chamber to let out that fucking monster and everyone hurt by it." Ginny continued to beat at the bag while crying and screaming. "Then fucking bringing me in to fucking kill me and suck my soul when he doesn't even have one…. fuck!"

"And that's not the worst part." Ginny stopped punching for a moment and looked up to HArry "This is what I'm really scared about telling but… fuck it." She took a breath and closed her eyes. "It wasn't just one way. Riddle didn't just have my body. He wasn't just in my head. I was in his. Or when he was in mind he didn't mind being a bastard to me while he drove my body. He showed me his plans. He made me watch his depraved dreams for the students. For the muggle born, especially for the girls. I was eleven…ELEVEN….GODS DAMN IT!" She screamed with another punch.

"So there it is. There's Crimson Witch! There's your girlfriend!" She backed away from the punching bag and turned around to present a full view as she bawled her eyes out. "That's why we're moving so fucking slow. Because I am absolutely terrified that you're going to find some part, some piece, some fucking fingerprint of Riddle left behind, that you will justifiably not be able to stand in your life and you will smarten up and take the easier option like Romilda or someone." She flopped back onto Harry's bed with her elbows on her knees and hands covering crying eyes.

Harry didn't say a damn thing. He silently knelt down in front of her. "My turn." he calmly said in comfort. Gently, he took her hands, being careful he did ask, "Please."

She relentented and let Harry look at the sobbing flushed mess she drove herself into. With the kindest expression Ginny ever saw on Harry's face he took a handkerchief and gently wiped away every tear. Once the tears were gone. He sweetly kissed her cheek as he wrapped her up in a hug. Her arms quickly hugged him back.

"Riddle is a bastard. All you're ever going to show me is more reasons to put him in the ground. I love you Ginny Weasley. And I love Ginny Weasly because she is a bad ass. That girl has been stealing her brother's broom since she was six. She doesn't take shit from anyone, not Malfoys, not her brothers, not even the bloody Chosen One."

That succeeded in getting a small chuckle out of her.

"You are the fastest witch in the sky. You are literally the hottest fire mage."

She shook her head at the pun, but a small smile poked through.

"You are the most passionate person I know and you put that into everything. I feel privileged to be the one who gets to experience that heart."

She smiled and nodded in agreement.

"Gin, you are absolutely right with every question and every sentence. But you're not a victim. You're a survivor too, more than me in some ways. You've taken all that pain and you've used that to be awesome."

He paused, pulled back and took both of Ginny's hands in his. "Gin, do you know anything about blacksmithing?"

"A little I 'spose." she shrugged. 'Why?"

Harry moved over and sat next to her and slipped an arm around to rub her back. "Just for example. You know how most of the time the smith takes a piece of ore. Then he puts it through the fire, beats the hell out of it, often has to go through this a few times, even has to grind the edges, but at the end of the day he walks away with a sword. That's people like us, Gin. Don't get me wrong. Ron and Hermione are great mates, I wouldn't wish ill on them for the world. But when someone goes through true real hard shit like us… we come out a lot harder and sharper on the other side."

"I know… but Merlin… it sucks sometimes." Ginny replied as her head fell to his shoulder.

"Completely agree." Harry nodded his head and took her hand in his.

Ginny entwined their fingers together. "I have never told anyone any of that before. Thank you."

"Thank you for sharing, and for trusting me. I wish you wouldn't worry about my reaction so much. It's not going to change. I'm not losing you. I know when I've peaked. I'm sticking with you."

She let a small laugh out again. "I know, it's just… there is a paranoid thought, you know?"

"I can understand your point of view. Let me give you mine. Gin, you've seen me with my shirt off."

Ginny smiled. "Yes, and considering the level of honesty I'm at I'll admit that is one of my favorite views."

"Why? I'm pretty scarred up. Hell, I'm know for my fucking scar."

"Oh Harry, I truly don't care about those. That's just proof you haven't been warming the bench. You've been in the fight, you've paid your dues, that kind of thing. You know there's that expression. 'Pain fades. Chick dig scars. Glory lasts forever.' There's some truth to it." She brushed a few stray hairs back behind her ears and smiled.

Harry leaned over and pressed a kiss into her hair. "Riddle cut you. He cut you deep. Frankly, I don't think there is as much there as you may fear, but whatever marks are still there, it's just scars. Proof you faced him and you're still here, because you are just that awesome."

"And because you had no small part in a rescue either. And you have the scar to prove it."

"Right now, I won't even play it down."

She squeezed his am close. "I wish you wouldn't at all. Especially now, Harry, with the war. You are who you are, and who we need, the Man Becoming, and thank you." She sweetly returned the kiss to his cheek and Harry doffed the lights as they retired for the night.

Saturday, 26 October 1996

Ginny awoke better the next day than she went to sleep. As Harry expected he did have another Riddle headache, but his potion did numb the pain he could function through the day. The next few days were a return to … whatever passed for normalcy for Hogwarts. Hitting the books in one fashion or another, either for class proper, or the clues to the horcruxes.

Saturday though was another Slug Dinner, another opportunity for Harry to work on his 'official mission' from Dumbledore, 'charm Slughorn'. He would have been immersively grateful to know even know what kind of help Slughorn was supposed to be, but that would have required Dumbledore to be open and forthwrite and such, and Harry knew there were things that even magic couldn't do.

So in absence of a better detailed plan, they opted to repeat what worked last time. Blessedly Romilda was nowhere to be found, when Harry met Ginny in the common room. And as much of a tom boy she truly was, when she chose to and wanted she was a ravishing lady. Harry was in a suit with black shirt and green tie, specifically because he knew Gin liked it on him, claiming it brought out his eyes. He wasn't so sure about that, but he wanted to try and give her a cheer up tonight. "You look great, but how do you feel?" he welcomed.

"Better, tonight though, I just want to relax, maybe have fun."

"What, no asserting our position in the pecking order again?"

"Harry, what did you think I meant by fun?" she grinned. That grin was extremely reassuring to Harry.

Hermione and Ron made the same arrangement. He'd signed up for astronomy tower hours, Hermione would meet him after. Harry would play escort until then and send her off with gift basket from Doby. It seemed to be shaping up to be a normal night… until Ginny noticed the crowd.

"Harry, I need a second opinion." Ginny asked as she looked across the room. "Who's that?"

"Seems to be several guests here babe, who do you mean."

"Speaking to Slughorn. Black dress with green accents, long black hair, dark skin, muscular build."

Harry looked over, then took a second look. "Alright I feel like I know her but, I can't place her."

"Swap the dress out with a dark green quidditch outfit."

It took Harry a moment to do the change, then surprise came to his face. Then he looked down to Ginny who was already grinning. "Ya babe, I think you're right. It's Gwenog Jones."

Slowly as to not attract attention Ginny turned her back to Gwenog and looked at him. "Harry, just how much of a stupid fangirl would I seem like if I walked over there?"

Harry grinned. "I don't think you would seem like that at all. Aren't you a celebrity in the quidditch circles too, Crimson? I mean I swear I have memories of you hosting your own autograph signings, with a bit of an ad campaign."

The cheshire cat smile came to Ginny's face. Harry was so relieved to see it. "Thank you, Harry. Every once in a while I forget how awesome I am."

"This is why you keep me around," he said with a reassuring caress to her cheek. "Seriously, clearly you were both invited to this party. I don't expect you to be like a First year and go 'oh my god' or anything. But keep it relaxed, maybe even respectful. Tell the truth, you've been a fan for years. You like the way she plays. It would be an honor to shake her hand."

Ginny nodded. "I could do that, I could do that and not feel like a complete arse. I owe you a snog later tonight."

Harry shook his head with a smile. "Lucky me then, let's go."

The pair covered less than half the distance before they caught Slughorn's eye, who then even waved them in.

"Excellent, now this is someone I wanted to introduce you too-"

"Oh my god," Gwenog interrupted in surprise. "You're … her aren't you? You're Crimson Witch."

"The one and only," she purred, extending her hand. "But please since we're here, Ginny will be fine. And you are Gwenog Jones. I have been a Harpies fan for years."

"Really?" Gwenog asked, happily shaking her hand. Slughorn's eyes seemed to twinkle as the ladies connected. He smiled very brightly, seemingly almost proud of himself and slowly slipped away.

"I can vouch for her," Harry added. "In fact, it is a bit of an argument between she and one of her brothers who… Merlin have mercy, is a Cannons fan."

Gwenog laughed, "I am so sorry for him. This is not going to be their year yet. Good taste on you though Ginny."

"Thank you."

"I should be thanking you, I picked up a Reign of Fire this season. That is a hell of a broom!"

"I know," Ginny smiled brightly. "But I will be happy to send Nimbus your praises."

"Please!" Gwenog said emphatically. "I've read your flying one into actual battle?"

"Indeed I am."

Harry could tell Ginny was doing just fine so bent down and whispered, "Enjoy, I'm going to go talk Slughorn." Ginny nodded to let him know she heard him but otherwise was diving deep into Ginny's battle stories and Gwenog quidditch stories.

Harry slowly looked around. He nodded to Neville and Hermione talking. He caught a heated glare from McLaggen that he completely ignored. Finally he found Slughorn towards the rear, looking between the crowd and the shelf of photos to his side.

"Ah, Harry, please. I have heard good things about you!" Slughorn welcomed him.

"Fine sir, thank you, sir." Harry nodded. "How is my reputation preceding me now?"

"I spoke with Madam Pomfrey. She tells me she too is most impressed with your recent potion and accepted a bottle of it into the hospital supplies. That is quite the impressive feat for any student. Well done."

"A student is only as good as his teacher, sir."

"Oh ho ho!" Slughorn laughed as he began fixing a drink and slid it over to Harry.

"I wanted to thank you for this evening, Professor"

"Really?"

"Wednesday was a bit of a battle, literally, for us cadets. I'm happy to see the team have something like this for many of them to relax in."

"Ahhh… and nonetheless especially a certain redheaded young lady?" Slughorn raised his glass.

"Guilty as charged." Harry grinned.

"Seeing the two of you, I feel twenty years younger sometimes."

"You taught both my parents, sir?"

Slughorn smiled as he thought back. "Yes, I think I mentioned before, your mother was brilliant, beautiful, but also modest too. The latter quality seems the only one missing from the pair of you." Slughorn chuckled. "Your father… well you come by your confidence honestly Harry. But both of them knew their way around the potion lab."

"Professor, may I ask a delicate question, in a more or less official capacity?"

"Oh Harry… I like you. Speak your mind."

"Well then, We have discovered Riddle is actively collecting potions supplies for something unknown. You knew him, didn't you, sir? Tom Riddle. You were his teacher. I was wondering if you remembered how skilled a potion maker he may have been then?"

Slughorn became very stiff. His eyes lowered and Harry saw the faintest tremble in his hand. "Mr. Riddle had many teachers while here at Hogwarts."

"I'm sorry, sir. Forgive me. I admit I have … several … personal motivations to his end. I look for leads and understandings when I can. But as I am still a student, much of my time remains here at school."

"Of course. It's only natural that you should want to know more. I'm afraid I must disappoint you, Harry. When I first met young Mr. Riddle, he was simply a quiet, albeit brilliant, boy committed to becoming a first-rate wizard. Not unlike the others I've known. In fact, not unlike... you. If the monster existed, it was buried deep within."

Author's Note:

This is one of those subplots that I have wanted to get into since I started this story. I have dropped hints along the way, but finally we come to it: How bad was it for Ginny when Riddle possessed her? I never felt the books covered it with justice and I can't help but believe there would be some significant trauma. Now I give you my author's word at the end of Riddle verse there will be a Happy Ever After for these two... but right now, we're in war... and war is hell... and not every battle is on the outside.