Chapter 37
The Protector
Not being the first medical evacuation the Marauders had done, unfortunately, history repeated itself. Harry portkeyed back to the Training Room and flipped the shields and fields. The Marauders apparated over with the cases Hannah determined, about three dozen this time. They stowed their brooms and gear Ginny and Luna helped Hannah levitate the injured to medical. Seamus, Katie and Dean excused themselves. Flight team had stayed out of the thick of it this time.
It was on the walk to medical with Ron on order to be checked out that Hermione finally approached Susan.
"Susan, do-do you have a moment?"
"Ah… sure," she replied, reflexively looking around. "What do you need?"
"Are you alright?" Hermione asked, gravely concerned.
Susan gave her body another once over. "Cuts and scrapes, but fine."
"Sue, I wasn't talking about injuries. Those were some pretty dark spells you used today."
Susan's face immediately fell sullen. "It's a pretty dark war, Hermione."
"What even were those? I know Sergeant Tonks never taught anything like that."
"Banshee Wail for the tunnels," Susan replied coldly, "Though Vampiric Siphon is what saved Ron. You're welcome by the way."
Hermione was shocked by how accepting Susan seemed to be by all this. "Where did you learn them?"
Susan stopped their walking and turned to look Hermione fiercely in the eyes. "I'm Lady of House Bones. I'm a death elemental! I have more than one necromancer in my family lineage. You're not the only one that studied during a holiday, you know? And before you ask, yes I did look for anything on Horcruxes, no there wasn't any. I would have said."
"Necromancy? You don't think that's a little … dark?" Hermione questioned
"They were Death Eaters, werewolf Death Eaters." Susan said pointedly.
"That's not my point. My point is you're sucking out people's souls!"
"I'm sorry, have you not been on every mission I've been on shooting back just as much."
"I'm hexing them! Or jinxing them! Not….ripping their soul from their body!"
"Who cares?! They're both dead after either of us is done with them. The only difference is sometimes I can put their death to good use and keep us alive and going! Get perspective!"
"There's a difference! I'm not messing with people's lives!"
"No, you just mess with their heads! Don't think I didn't notice you charming everyone during the Howling! How does Ginny feel about your skill set? How did that conversion go over?"
"I was trying to save lives!"
"So am I! Talk to Ron!" Hermione tried to rebuttal but words failed her. Susan did not have that problem. "You listen to me, you privileged self righteous-"
"Privileged? How in Merlin can Lady Bones consider me pri-"
"How's your mum and dad?!" Susan spat out. "How are you sleeping at night?" She paused again to a speechless witch. "Ya, that's what I thought. I think you're the one that needs the reality check here Hermione. Who the fuck do you think the Marauders are! We're the ones out for payback!" Susan began extending her finger to count. "Harry's first in line. I admit I don't know half of what he's gone through, but that doesn't mean I don't know it's been shit for him. Neville and I tie for second place because the only question is what's worse, parents dead or vegetables, and that's a shitty argument to have so the hell with that. Hannah gets fourth. We both were at her mum's funeral. Ginny's next in line because… fucking possession! With the cherry on top of her and Ron's dad was attacked last year."
She stopped and looked at both hands up. "Look I'm not saying you don't belong on the team. Fuck, I'm not even saying we not friends. But don't you dare question what the hell I do on a battlefield until you've got a little more pain in the game! Good night!" Susan stormed off to her dorm leaving a very confused and perplexed Hermione in the hall.
She drifted more by feel than conscious thought and came to the hospital ward. It was more full than she had ever seen. Madam Pomfrey was working the right side, Hannah was on the left. Hermione was surprised to see Ginny even moving between beds and healing.
"Miss Granger," the Matron called.
Hermione's student reflexes quickly responded. "Ma'am."
"We could use you."
"I barely know any healing ma'am." Hermione said with more than a touch of shame.
Unaffected, Madam Pomfrey continued. "No, but you know scourgify, have two good hands and a strong enough stomach." She led Hermione over to the potions cart and presented her with a large bottle of dark red liquid and a shot glass. "I want everyone with a dose of blood replenisher. Clean the glass then mark their foot board with a red mark. You should see a white mark as well. That will be Miss Lovegood working ahead of you with pain treatment. I want the patients to be stable first, then Miss Abbott and I can catch up on charts while patients sleep."
Again Hermione opened her mouth, but as she looked at the ward, she relented and fell into duty as assigned. The ladies nodded in understanding as they passed in the aisle. Most of the patience all thanked her with deep appreciation, and she knew it wasn't for the potion, it was for their lives.
About a half hour later, the doors opened again revealing Molly Weasley. This time though, even she was caught by the casualties. Madam Pomfrey intercepted her. "Molly, this one was bad. I don't know if a late night visit is the best idea."
Molly looked over to see both Harry and Ron in bed, but they both flashed thumbs up, Ginny's hair made her easy to spot as she was mending the injured. "Understood Poppy, but if you have gone to the point of putting my daughter and…" Molly looked over the healer's shoulder again, "... two of her friends to work, perhaps another volunteer? I'm the one who taught Ginny what she knows."
Madam Pomfrey smiled warmly and kindly grasped Molly's left arm. "Well, she's been making you proud tonight. Certainly, start at the far end, work your way down. We'll likely meet in the middle. Note the charts of what you did. Let me know anything beyond you…. and thank you."
Finally, once the patients were all tended to. Molly was able to steal a moment away with the family. "Neville, after Minverva flamed us, your grandmother flamed me. She asked me to give you this." Molly said, passing a note.
"McGonagall flamed Gran because of cuts and scrapes?" he asked. Rubbing hand over the already healed gash in his scalp.
"No, she flamed because she's a decent woman who knows that family will want to know their chi-" she stopped herself and corrected. "When the people they care about are injured during danger."
Neville read the note with Hannah sitting the bed next to him reading over her shoulder. Her face glowed with pride. Neville's painted with shock.
Ron piped up first. "Yo Nev, you're girl is giving away the ending. How 'bout spreading the good news."
Neville shook his head back to reality. "Um yeah, Neville, I've just received word of your recent battle in Holyhead saving at least three dozen injured and countless others, in the face of wolves and even dementors. And you have returned to tell the tale with honor. I'm glad to see I was right about you. It is your time. Your parents would be proud. I know I am." He looked up to Hannah. "I think that's the first time she's ever said that."
"Well deserved." Hannah beamed with a kiss to his head.
"Agreed," Molly nodded. "I'm quite proud of you too, Neville." He nodded in appreciation and Hannah rested her head on his shoulder.
"As am I, Master Longbottom." Slughorn said as he joined the gathering. "I don't believe I've had the pleasure." He said with a hand extended to Molly.
"Molly Weasley, I'm the mother, to both, well three, fo-"
"All of us." Harry said with a grin. Which was unanimously agreed and nodded to by all. Molly glowed.
With a face of pure confidence and pride. "Molly Weasly, the mother." she said, shaking his hand.
"Horace Slughorn, Professor of Potion Brewing. And might I say, having had the pleasure of getting to know some of your children, you've raised them well." With a turn to Ginny, "Miss Weasley, Madam Pomfrey said you had collected the used bottles of potion tonight. I've been asked to restock-"
"ARRRRGGGGHHHHH!" Harry screamed, cutting through the air. Horace stood frozen in terror as Harry arched his back off the bed in pain. Molly tried to step forward but was blocked by the Marauders.
"I've got potion!" Ginny yelled.
"Legs." Hermione held down.
"Chest." Ron secured.
Slughorn watched in horror as one of the finest young men he had known fell victim to what had to be the most excruciating pain he had seen a man endure. Harry's hands gripped the rails so hard his knuckles turned white and started shaking the entire bed. Sweat poured from his forehead. He was biting down so hard Horace was surprised he hadn't shattered a tooth. Quickly and calmly but with focus, Ginny poured his dosage and with flick of her wand apparated it into Harry. Moments later Harry relaxed.
"You okay babe?" Ginny asked with a kiss to his forehead.
Harry nodded. "Yeah, gods, that sucks…. Sorry, Molly-"
"I'll allow that one, son. That's accurate and honest." Molly said as the Marauders opened up and gave her room to pat his chest.
"Harry?" Slughorn asked, seemingly with genuine concern. "Are you alright?"
Wearlily Harry replied, "Remember the headache potion I was brewing? That's what it's for."
Slughorn's mouth fell agape and his eye showed his shock.
"Gin, why don't you help the Professor?" Harry asked, clearly to stop being stared at.
"Sure. Mum would you-"
"Wild giants could not drag me away." Molly replied with reassurance.
"Follow me Professor, they're in the nurse's office." After a kiss to Harry's head, Ginny led Slugorn back into room whether the staff on site would often keep the night watch, though with essentially a full house the full staff was on duty tonight no one had taken up this position yet. Ginny took a hand basket and put about half a dozen bottles inside.
Slughorn stood in awe as he looked through the windows at the injuries before him. All were tended and resting now, but it was the volume that struck Slughorn. With the bandages and the blood, their size and scope and impact of the war finally made a mark on the potion master's mind.
"This is how many you saved, Miss Weasley."
"No." Ginny replied. "These were the injured that couldn't get away." She stood beside him to look at them also. "Unfortunately I would guest two or three times this … were left at the stadium. Tonks is taking care of them. I would estimate maybe ten times that is what I saw running and apparating away while we held the line. So at the end of the day we saved a lot more than we lost. So call it a 'victory'." Ginny spat out as cold comfort.
"And Harry becomes like that after a victory?"
"Yep," Ginny nodded. "We're not quite sure why. Harry's best guess is it is because, about two years ago in the ceremony to bring Riddle back, they took some of his blood to do the job. Ever since then, when Riddle gets mad Harry feels it. And Harry is good at making Riddle mad."
Slughorn released a guilty sigh. "Is there nothing that can be done for him?"
Ginny crossed her arms. "You actually taught him enough about potion brewing that he figured out his headache potion. We figure that's the best that can be for now. Only other option is killing Riddle." Ginny could feel the discomfort that Slughorn was in – and Slughorn struck her as someone who wasn't accustomed to being uncomfortable – so she decided to press it. She continued. "But for that we've got to find and break the Horcruxes that keep Riddle alive."
"Miss Weas-"
Ginny turned with her arms crossed and looked up to her potions professor coldly. "I know. You see, Harry and I do this really weird thing as a couple. We talk, not just snog. I know you are standing by the memory Dumbledor has, that Harry's seen. So I supposed I should thank you for sharing everything you have already. Because the rest of us already have done the same."
Slughorn tried to speak but the weight of guilt kept his words at bay.
"I mean we're a bunch of students, the worst we should be doing is cramming for an exam and figuring out what we're doing on a Friday night." Ginny gestured out to the mending crowd. "Welcome to our date night Professor." She paused to look at the potions master. She could tell stings were finding purchase in his exterior. "But you know, while you're safe and sound tucked behind the walls of this castle refilling these bottles," she said, giving him the basket, "Your students are the ones bleeding, crying, and trying not to die … so maybe one day we can be normal."
Slughorn closed his eyes in shame. A moment later when he opened them and finally regained the ability to speak, he turned to talk to Ginny, but she was already heading to the door. "Good night, Professor," she said with her back already to him and the door closing behind her.
Sunday evening, after actually taking the day to think, Hermione followed Susan after dinner. "May we please talk again… please." her voice was far more gentle than previously.
Susan stopped and turned around, her arms crossed and annoyance clear on her face. "I specifically said we were still friends, Hermione. You just majorly pissed me off."
Hermione raised her hands. "You made a good point with your necromantic abilities against my psychic abilities, I will agree to that."
Susan nodded, realizing that's about as close to an apology that Hermione got.
"I'm not here to talk about either of those things." Hermione took a breath and started to glare at Susan.
It was so unlike her that Susan was actually impressed the brain was showing some backbone. Susan leaned up against the wall and truly did pay attention.
"I will agree and acknowledge that I haven't lost anyone in the war. I'll admit that even makes me lucky. If you feel the need to … rank… the Marauders by pain, I won't even argue your order. But-" Hermione flashed genuine anger as she looked to Susan. "I am not some spoiled untouched virgin princess you want to pain me as. Last year, before you got involved, at the the Department of Mystery, Dolohov hit me with a Violet Flame spell. He tried to liquify my organs from the inside out! It felt like my blood was replaced with acid! For four weeks I was in medical, choking back ten potions a day! I still have the god damn scar."
The vivid description registered with Susan. She nodded in respect.
"Second year I was petrified and literally trapped in my own body. I couldn't move, speak, breathe! All I could do was see, hear, and think. If it weren't for Harry and Ron's visits I would have gone mad!"
Susan nodded again paying respect where it was due.
"And let's not forget me watching my best friend be chewed up and spit out for five years by this war. Do I know how you feel? No, and I admit that. But don't you dare suggest I've been untouched by this damn war."
Susan bit her lip and seemed to truly think about what to say. Nodding her head she agreed. "Alright Hermione, I'll offer a partial apology. You do have some pain in the game."
"Thank you for recognizing that." Hermione said, calming down.
"Incidentally," Susan said pointing to Hermione's area. "You should consider flashing this side more often. You make a hell of an impression."
Monday, 20 January 1997
The team healed over the weekend. Monday was a normal day when occlumnecy training came in Luna was invited to the Room's version of the Hogwarts grounds in summer. "Your performance under pressure was admirable and if I didn't know better I would call you and apparition savant." Tonks greeted.
"Thank you, ma'am." Luna replied with a smile and blush.
"If you keep apparating on that kind of frequency though. I do want you to keep up with regular check ups with Madam Pomfrey though, just in case."
Luna nodded.
"But for today though, squad, I want to continue testing and Building your Walls. Luna, has anyone ever used legilimency on you before, entered your thoughts?"
"No ma'am. I can't say as I can imagine a reason they'd want to."
Every Marauder smiled, including Tonks. "I think you undersell yourself, Miss Lovegood." Tonks looked around to the team. "A common problem." The team had a chuckle with Tonks smiling. "No matter. With your permission, I'd like to start you the same way I started with the others. I'm just going to pop in and say hello. Just want to you know what it can be like to have a visitor up there. It doesn't have to be like some of the experiences I know have been passed around. Okay?"
Luna took a breath to steady herself. "Yes, ma'am."
Tonks steadied herself comfortably, took her wand and hand and cast, 'legilimens'. Fractions of a second later Tonks screamed, "AAAAAAAGGGGGGGHHHHHH!" Tonks held the side of head in pure agony. Luna screamed out also, "AAAAAAAGGGGGGGHHHHHH!"
"Merlin!"
"What the hell!"
"Bollox!"
Harry ran to hold Tonks steady and looked over Hannah and Ginny doing the same for Luna. Seeing two of his friends curled up on the ground like babies writhing in pain was gut wrenching. "Hannah!" he shouted to her attention.
She shook her head. "Out of my league! I'm getting good with the body. This is clearly mental."
That reference sent Harry straight to the mind mage. "'Mione?"
"This is beyond me too. Clearly something is wrong with the legilimens! I'm not there yet!"
"Fuck!" Harry swore. Tonks had already dropped the wand but was convulsing in his arms and lap, still screaming in pain. Then it dawned to him.
"Mione, you can't keep a spell up in your sleep! Knock 'em out!"
"Which one?"
"BOTH!" he ordered.
"Mens novaculata! Mens novaculata!" Hermione cast… and with great relief both of the witches stopped screaming and looked to fall directly to sleep.
"Harry, what the bloody hell just happened?"
"I don't know Ron." Harry said in dismay.
"Harry," Ginny reminded. "It was Luna." She tapped her temple next to eye as she quickly gave her best friend her lap as a pillow.
"Probably Gin, merlin. I never thought about it."
"Never thought about what?" Neville asked. "I think you two are skipping details."
"Okay… well for Luna's privacy, this goes no further. Hannah I'll give a medical exception to Madam Pomfrey because she'll probably need to know for treatment." The medic nodded. Harry took a deep breath. "You all have had a turn looking through my glasses with Mage Sight on. You can see magical auroras with them on. I don't know how, I don't know why, I think she was born like this, but I think Luna has Mage Sight naturally. And now we're really getting into the weeds of theory of which came first, her sight or her mind but either way, her mind has to be highly unique."
"And Tonks walked right in, Merlin." Hermione shook her head in disbelief.
"All right. Hannah I'll help get these two to medical. The rest of you back to A.C.T. Mione, tell Remus and cover for him. When he gets to Medical. I'll cover for him the rest of the day."
"Me - you, what?" she asked in dismay.
Growing slightly frustrated, Harry took his wand to levitate Tonks as he sat up. "Not the first time we've taught defense. I suggest target practice. Tonks is down, I am assuming for the rest of the day. They both deserve to have Remus available, especially when we can handle it. Anyone else?"
The Marauders divided and conquered. Remus quickly Harry relieved in medical, with great appreciation. A quick call to Dobby delivered a crate of tin cans from the kitchen that Harry used to run the squad through the same target shooting Arthur taught them over the summer. After Training Harry and Ginny soon returned to medical. The weekend victims had been able to return home so medical was vacant aside from the expected patients. Luna was already awake and normal, Ginny was quick to hug her. Tonks awake but weak with Remus sitting close to her side. Everyone with questions, including the Matron.
"Mr. Potter, you seem to be the most informed here. I've scryed both of these patients and not found anything abnormal. What do you know?"
All eyes looked at Harry. "All I have is theory. And I only put it together this last Christmas, but as it's personal to Luna, I was trying to be respectful." Harry took a breath to try to sort his thoughts. "Let me take this step by step. Here in the wizard word, we are surrounded by magic." Everyone nodded. "The twins charmed my glasses so when I want to, I can see magic auras. He charmed his glasses and passed them around. "Luna I know this may seem odd but please describe how Ginny looks to you."
Luna looked uneasy until her best friend took her hand and nodded. "It's okay Lu. There is no way you can hurt my feelings here."
"Oh, I wasn't worried about that. You're always beautiful. I just don't understand. Everyone can see you."
Harry came over and reassuringly rested a hand on each of Luna's shoulders. "Luna, sis, do you trust me?" She nodded. "Humor me then. Tell me what Gin looks like."
"Well, she's lovely. Athletic, wearing the normal school uniform. Really looking good in the skirt these days by the way."
Ginny smiled, "Thanks Luna, but please go on."
"Light skin, with freckles. Amazing red hair that blends in with the fiery energy alway around you, warm brown eyes."
Everyone took notice when Luna went beyond Ginny's hair. But Harry continued. "That's good, Luna. Please describe Sarge."
Luna shrugged again. "She's pale skinned, her face always reminds me of a heart shape. Her eyes twinkle with mischief she wants to do. Right now her hair is purple down to her shoulders, but we all know she loves to change it. She never changes her energy though that's always a sunset orange."
Harry took his glasses to Luna. "Try these and tell me if anything looks different." Luna shrugged and did. 'Nope, nothing, why?"
Everyone was shocked. Harry came to Luna's other side. "Luna, you trust me right? Believe I'm honest with you and stuff?"
Luna smiled brightly. "You're one of the most honest people I know, Harry."
Harry grinned appreciation. "Thanks, well you've always admitted you were unique here at school right?" Luna nodded. "Well, I don't think you realize how unique you are." Ginny gave a reassured rub to Luna's back why Harry continued. "Luna, no one else sees the colored energy. You're seeing people's magic auroas. You're seeing all the magic auroas. That's why you can see nargles, and all those wonderful creatures and none of us can. You're uniquely connected to the arcane, Luna. I think this, your naturally mage sight, is part of that. I think you're some kind of Seer."
Luna smiled brighter than Harry had ever seen. "So… you believe me?"
"Credit where credit is due. I think Gin believed you years ago. I'll be honest a year or so ago, I believed that you believed everything you saw was real. And I was willing to accept it on friendship there. But after the twins got me those classes, pieces started coming together." He looked over to Tonks, "I worked the case, this is where the evidence points."
Harry gave Luna a hug. Which she squeezed tightly back. Then Harry turned back to Tonks. "Sarge, when you legilimensed Luna, what did you see?"
Remus squeezed her hand with care, and Tonks just patted it and smiled. "Nothing bad," she said more to Luna than anyone else. "It's actually hard to explain. Brightness, bright white and gold light, brighter than anything I've seen before. High pitch ringing, far worse, than that ring you have after and explosion, you know? It felt as if every nerve of every inch of my body was feeling every possible sensation all at once."
"If I may," Madam Pomfrey stepped in. "We are well in the realm of theoretical here but my professional opinion would be sensory overload. As clever and capable as you are Sergeant, you are still an average witch, medically speaking. If as you are saying Mr. Potter, that you Miss Lovegoood, have unique connection to the arcane weave, then your mind would be fully incompatible for legilimency."
"Matron, this sounds like your saying Tonks experienced… an overload." Harry squinted as he spat the words out.
"Muggle euphemism, crude, but apt, yes." Pomfrey nodded
"I am so sorry Serg-" Luna said looking crestfallen to her teacher.
Tonks already held up a kind hand. "You didn't know Luna. This was an accident. A simple accident."
Ginny agreed and hugged her friend in reassurance.
Remus asked the obvious question, with clear concern for Tonks visible. "How are they?"
Pomfrey nodded. "Miss Lovegood I am willing to release you now. Sergeant, I would like an overnight observation but provided no further incidents, I'll release you in the morning."
They all thanked the Matron as she departed to her duties. Tonks waved Luna over to her side. "Come here," she welcomed. Making sure she had the young witch's attention Tonks smiled warm and brightly. "It was an accident, and we're both okay. I want you back in class as normal tomorrow, okay." Tonks put her hand out as a welcoming gesture. Luna quickly bent over and fully hugged the surprised auror. After adjusting to the moment Tonks gently rubbed Luna's back, reassuring her. After a moment, Luna was standing back up, seeming to be feeling better. "Ginny, why don't you get Luna settled? I'd like a moment with my Cadet First Class."
The three cadets smiled and Ginny gave Harry a chaste kiss goodbye then soon escorting her friend off. Harry fell into formation before Tonks. She shook her head and smiled.
"I apologize in advance ma'am."
Tonks raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms. "What the bloody hell for?"
"Holyhead, I admit I was stepping out from your command issuing orders. To blow the West Tunnel, the Patronus def-"
"Potter."
"Ma'am."
"Do you think you intimidate me?" Tonks asked with a cheeky grin.
Harry let a grin out. "No ma'am."
"Good, because you don't," Tonks replied with a smile. "You didn't issue a single order I wasn't half a second away from giving myself. After having you take field command previously I expected it. We're fine Harry. And at ease, I'm trying to have a conversation with you."
"Yes Ma'am. Thanks Sarge." Harry shifted in to a parade rest, while Remus chuckled, appreciating again technically being a civilian.
Tonks noticed and affectionately scratched under Remus's chin. Then she turned back to Harry. "So Hannah tells me I have you to thank for some quick thinking and also covering for both of us in class?"
Harry nodded and a grin. "No offense, not trying to replace either of you. But for a one off like this, on short notice, yeah, I figured 'Mione and I could handle them like we did last year."
"Tin can target practice?" Remus asked wryly, chuckling as he looked at Harry.
"Hey, it worked for the four of us last summer."
Tonks joined in the chuckle. "Harry, we can order training orbs. These things do exist."
"Well, I didn't know that!" Harry said, throwing his hands to the side. "We didn't have any at the moment. You know how I operate. I work with what I have on hand to get the job done."
"And you do well, Harry. Moving target practice was on the short list. Good instincts. I will go ahead and order the target orbs. They will help with scoring and such, but you did good. I may tap you for that more often."
"Really?" he asked, surprised. "I mean D. A. is one thing, but I don't want to mess up Auror Training."
Tonks nodded. "Harry, I've seen what you do in the field. We would all be better off with cadets more like you."
That caught him, especially from someone he had come to respect so much. He fought through a choking feeling to say "Thank you, Sarge." Then he looked to see the pair of them, thinking of them having a night in medical, and a thought came to mind, and grin to his face. "Hey, if you guys are stuck here tonight. Let me help."
"Harry," Remus protested. "We're fine."
Harry shrugged indifferently. "Why settle for fine, when it can be better?" Harry looked up and called out, "Dobby!"
"Master Harry Potter!" the elf cried as he popped in to the room and bounce onto the bed Luna had been using. He always smiled wider than seemed physically possible.
"Hi Dobby, how are you today?"
"Dobby is well thanks you sir." Then Dobby stopped to look where he had apparated to. "Oh no, is Master injured again?"
Remus and Tonk broke out in hysterical laughter. "I'm-I'm sorry Harry." Tonks said through chuckles. "But there is truth to that."
Harry crossed his arms and shook his head. "I know, I know." He dismissed their laughter and returned his attention to his elf. "No Dobby, I'm fine. My friend Sergeant Tonks is the injured one today. This is her boyfriend Professor Remus Lupin. Lupin is an old friend going back to when Sirius was my age and even had a room at Grimmauld for a while. Everyone, this is Dobby, one of my hired elves."
Tonks and Remus smiled when Harry stressed Dobby's employed status.
"Dobby, my friends are stuck here tonight. Take care of whatever they want."
"Harry!" Tonks objected.
"You can't." Remus protested.
"Certainly Master Harry Potter." Dobby said with a nod and proud stand to attention.
"It's done." Harry said with a grin, then headed back out of medical.
Later that evening, it was Harry waiting by the fire, studying his occlumency when Ginny came back in and took the offered lap hugging closely.
"You didn't have to wait up for me, Harry."
"How often have you waited for me during my Dumbeldore meetings?" He asked, gently running his fingers through his hair. "More importantly, how's Luna?"
Ginny nodded reassuringly. "She's okay. Actually talking with Sarge helped."
"How is she with the Mage Sight?"
Ginny curled up and rested her head on his shoulder. "Surprisingly well. Almost relieved. Like that explains so much. Her being unique isn't just perception or in her head. It's real, you know?"
Harry breathed a deep sigh of relief. "Good, I was worried about that. Glad she's okay."
They took a few moments to just appreciate each other's company. Harry breathed deeply the scent of apple blossoms while they watched the fire crackle and burn.
Then Ginny sat up and looked at her boyfriend. "So Harry, there is something I want to ask."
"Sitting right here Gin," he replied, showing he was happy to talk.
"The stadium, your patronus, your stag changed. At least I don't recall it surging with lighting before. I have a theory, but…"
"You'd like to hear the words?" Harry finished.
"It is Rule #1." she said with a smile and gentle scratch of her nails against his cheek.
Harry caressed her back and took deep comfort from her presence. "Well there are two things. First, yes you probably guessed. Patronus is a memory and emotion based spell. Back when Remus taught me, I was using my only memory of my parents… which is emotionally mixed to say the least."
"And as we are starting to say a bit, things changed?"
"It's been a good year. I have better memories."
Ginny gave a sultry smile. "I wonder what?"
Harry actually smiled. "Actually not that. I try to keep the blood going to the proper parts of my body in a fight, thank you." That elicited a full laugh from Ginny and kiss to his cheek. But Harry smiled and continued. "Your birthday actually. You got the whole day about you. Nothing tragic happened. You were smiling the entire day. We were able to get away and have a great evening alone."
"That enhanced your stag that much?" Ginny asked with a smile.
"That's the memory change. There's also an understanding part. The incantation, expecto patronum, roughly translates to 'I expect a guardian.' Patronum, patron, father essentially." Ginny nodded her head to show she followed. Harry took a breath seeming to further relax in her presence. "I don't expect one anymore. I accept what's happened to me in the past, my parents, Sirius. I accept that's my job now. I guess you could say the second time I cast it, to me the incantation now means, 'I expect to be the guardian' … at least of you. Small difference, apparently a big impact."
Ginny smiled very deeply. "Very big, very impressive, and I am very proud… but remember Rule #2, Partners, we protect each other."
Tuesday, 21 January 1997
The next day returned to relative normalcy. By the end of the Harry and Ginny had moved into a loveseat working on their respective class work, laced with more pleasant conversation, when they had a visitor.
"Um, Harry?" a nervous voice asked between him and Ginny.
They both looked up to see Colin standing, looking almost panicked. "Hey, Colin, you okay?" he greeted.
"What's going on?" Ginny asked with a smile.
"Er - ah, Harry can I talk to you for a sec?" Colin finally stammered out.
Harry smiled as warmly as he could. "Sure, mate, what do you need?"
Ginny grinned but tried to be kind. "Is this a man to man talk? Do I need to go away for ten minutes?"
"No, Ginny, you're fine. It would probably be smart to have you here too."
"There's a Ravenclaw game this weekend." Colin started.
"Against Slytherin, yep." Harry nodded.
"Put your money on Ravenclaw. " Ginny said but Harry nodded in agreement.
"No… but thanks for that." Colin nodded in appreciation. He took a deep breath, which Harry was happy to see because he looked like he would otherwise pass out. "Hogsmeade is in about three weeks, I want to ask Luna to be my date."
Harry and Ginny paused waiting for Colin to continue. When it appeared he wasn't, Harry was confused. "Um, Colin, if you are looking for advice, Gin will confirm. I'm an idiot."
"Meh," Ginny replied, smiling as she bobbed her head back and forth.
"No - no advice. H-H-H-Harry, I was wanting your permission." Colin spit out as his face became as red as Weasley's hair.
"Why on earth would you need my permission to ask Luna out?" Harry asked now, thoroughly confused.
"Because the whole school knows that for the last date Luna had, you put a dagger to their throat." Colin reported it as a cold hard fact.
Harry rolled his eyes. "I did not hold a dagger to anyone's throat -"
"It was a longsword." Ginny made up, but delivered with complete sincerity. Colin's eyes bulged and he began to tremble nervously. But still he stood his ground.
"Ginny!" Harry scolded.
"What?!" she continued. "You were awesome!" Turning back to Colin, "He stole it from one of the suits of armor. Pulled it out like a sword from the stone."
Harry looked over to his girlfriend and the smile she had, he knew there was no winning this prank, he turned his attention to Colin. "Anyway… Colin do you know why I did… whatever I did?"
Colin quickly shook no. "All I heard was McLaggen had it coming?"
"He did." Harry nodded in deep agreement. "McLaggen was being a sodding bastard to a friend of mine. He couldn't keep his hands to himself or take no for an answer." The statement immediately canceled Colin's nerves; his face was covered with an expression of anger. One that earned much respect with Harry.
"So here's the deal Colin. Can you be a decent bloke and friendly to Luna?"
"Absolutely! I promise," he said with confidence.
"You'll listen to her? She says stop or no or whatever, you drop it the first time?"
"Of course, I'm not a jerk!"
"Okay then Colin, four of us should get along fine. I'll leave you with two statements her brothers told me." Harry said with a nod to Ginny. "First, you hurt her, I'll hex you." Through trembling nerves, Colin forced himself to nod in agreement. "Second, and more importantly, give her a good day."
Colin lit up like it was Christmas morning. "Yes sir! Thank you Harry! Absolutely!" He kept repeating as started walking backwards practically tripping over a poor First year. Finally he turned around and ran out the door to the main castle.
Harry and Ginny smiled. "Think Luna will say yes?" he asked.
"To Colin? Of course! He is ridiculously cute and sweet!" Ginny confirmed. "And he just massively impressed me. I'll wait for Luna to ask first but I know exactly what I'll say when she wants my opinion."
"What will that be?" Harry asked with curiosity.
Ginny looked over with admiration. "Colin Creevey walked straight up to one of the most powerful and dangerous wizards in Britain to ask his blessing to take you out, Luna. That's massive points for courage in my book. I think that definitely worth giving him a shot."
A week of temperatures above freezing had cleared the snow and ice from the pitch. The face off of Ravenclaw vs Slytherin gave the Gryffindors a clear team to root for and a Saturday to be spectators not competitors. As it was very much a group outing Ron even charmed Hermione away from her studies. The Ravenclaws came to play. Harry kept an eye on the Marauders map and Malfoy was with Snape in the Professor's office as was becoming more and more a regular occurrence. But as there was little he could do at the moment, he tried to enjoy the match and with the company, it wasn't hard.
The seeker in him kept looking at the snitch. His reflexes darting his vision to it. Though as fast as they flew they were next to invisible. He chuckled to himself. If they had just loaded the scry charm on the snitches, they could have mapped the school in an hour instead of a week.
Wait… idea!
Harry leaned over to Ginny's ear. "I've got an idea. Do you think you could get me a delivery of a dozen or two snitches from Nimbus. Get me a figure, and you know I make it good."
Ginny smiled. "Lightning, I love that grin on your face. No problem, though when I ask, I'm pretty sure Mr. Whitehorn will say to hell with the cost. Whatcha thinking?"
"I'm doing the crazy thing and trying to be clever. Get me the snitches and I'll let you know if I get even close to it."
Monday, 27 January 1997
Leaving lunch the Monday Harry was the next delivery of news. Katie caught him as they sat, her face filled with confusion and a touch of concern. "Harry, you have Sarge's ear right?"
"Yeah, what's going on Katie?"
"I heard from some of the Seventh years, the ones in Snape's Defense class, he's saying they're planning some sort of cross duel contest between both classes?
"What?" Harry asked. "That would be insane. We're miles beyond them. We're actually being deployed."
"That's what I thought. But Snape is really drilling them and expects them to 'remember who has a real Professor teaching them.'"
"Oh sod that, Tonks is tenfold the teacher he is!" His face puckered like he tased the most vile candy yet.
"And I agree with you Harry, but can you do the squad a favor and ask Sarge please."
"No problem, happy to." He comforted with a grin and a nod.
She breathed a sigh of relief. "Okay, I gotta go meet Dean. Thank you."
Harry had the same question asked to him more than once through the day, and he gave the same answer. When he finally found Tonks saw him coming and held up a hand. "Yes, I heard he announced it. Yes, it's true. We'll talk about in training."
Harry respected that and Tonks assembled the squad together. With Remus beside her she fell into command with more rigidity and formality than usual. "Yes, I've heard the same things you have. Yes they are true. The full reason why is because reports of our abilities have reached even the Ministers desk. He wants a personal demonstration of our unit." Tonks swallowed hard and Harry could tell she was forcing herself through this. "In the Minister's wisdom he has requested a demonstration duel of our squadron vs the graduating N.E.W.T. class."
Murmur and whispers began to fill the floor and the realizations started.
"Quiet on the deck!" Harry snapped, which did deliver a silence as if from the grave and eyes to Harry. He simply nodded to Tonks. "Sergeant has the floor." Remus smiled and stifled a laugh.
"Thank you, Cadet Potter. Yet another reason you were promoted."
A bit of rage came to Tonk's eyes. "Listen up and listen good. No, I don't anticipate a true threat from them. But what this will be is an exercise in apprehension. In the old days of what used to be the local constable work one would hope you actually stunned or captured the bastard, not simply eliminated him from the census. That is why we've been working on wand blocking and defensive magic. I know you can hit hard. I've trained you to hit hard. But can you control yourselves? Can you keep your skill appropriate for the situation? For some of you… we have two weeks to teach you self control."
-SNEAK PEAK, -
Next Time in the Riddle-verse.
Her rolled out of the way and cried, 'Sectumsempra!'
Time seemed to slow down. The cadet screamed in pain as the entirety of his chest was gashed open. Blood sprayed out like a geyser from his body and rained out to the stone beneath. He fell to his knees with a sickening thud, then a second thud sounded when he fell forward and his head hit the ground.
Author's Notes:
Okay Comments Section sound off… Hermione vs Susan. Who's right who's wrong? Do the ends justify the means? Are there some lines we ought not cross even in war? You decide.
Welcome to (my version) of Luna Lovegood everyone soon to be dating school photographer Colin. I don't think I ever see this ship.
And for the reference, No, Neither I, (nor Harry or Ginny) think anyone needs to ask Harry's permission to take Luna out. But both Luna and Harry agree and appreciate their adoptive sibling relationship. And after Christmas, the event definitely would have been news. And I admit, I really like the idea. I like my sweet and innocent little Colin, walking up to one the man who's dealt with trolls, basilisk, dementors, and dragon, to date his sister. I like mirrors and closing circles.