harry_05_(1)

Chapter 1: Hotel Potter

NOTE: Hello again everyone! This is the beginning of the sequel to my first fanfic, Harry Potter and the Ring of Mykele. For those of you who are new to my stories, you may want to go read that one first, as this is a direct continuation. For those of you already continuing the journey, welcome back! Read, Review, and above all else, Enjoy!

　

　
Morning came to Number 12, Grimauld Place and it came noisily. Once the home of one of the oldest and most powerful wizarding families, it had been willed to soon-to-be seventeen year old Harry Potter, and he had quite a few guests to attend to. Rubeus Hagrid, former Hogwarts gamekeeper, and Draco Malfoy, former enemy, were staying at the house indefinitely. But Arthur and Molly Weasley had shown up bright and early with two of their five surviving children, Fred and Ron in tow. They were visitors only for the day because of the meeting set up for later that day. Ginny, the youngest Weasley had declined to come along.

Harry could feel the tension in his house wherever he went. Arthur and Molly had gone straight to the room reserved for them when they’d arrived, in order to have a private argument. Draco and Hagrid, who never had a great relationship, sat silently opposite each other at breakfast- each unsure what to say or if they should even talk. Meanwhile, Fred and Ron regaled them all with the story of how they had worn their mother down until she agreed to let them come along but they weren’t really as animated as they pretended to be. It was common knowledge that Molly was against her children’s involvement in anything to do with the Order of the Phoenix, and so the fact that she’d put up a mighty argument to keep them from attending the meeting was hardly surprising.

As Harry sat awkwardly with the others around the table, he could tell they were all four in their own way as excited to find out what Snape had learned as he was. At the same time, he detected something under Ron’s surface, something that was really bothering his friend. But Ron was apparently going to put on a happy face so Harry decided to let him.

Bill and Charlie Weasley arrived through the floo network just as their parents were returning downstairs. Arthur watched his sons emerge from the fireplace, and Harry caught flashes of words like risk, concern, and safety floating through his mind. When Dumbledore quite properly rang at the door, Arthur pulled him aside to have a private discussion. Although feeling a bit irked at being left out of the conversation, Harry had other guests to hold his attention. Lupin and Tonks arrived and he was glad to see that despite all that was and is happening, they looked happy and in love. Kingsley and Mad-eye were right behind them followed quickly by Professor McGonagall and a few other Hogwarts teachers.

More and more people kept showing up, though not nearly as many as the night before leaving Harry to realize that there had been too many people then. He supposed the Order had been recruiting over the past year and left it at that as his guests became restless. He tried to be a good host and make conversation with everyone while providing drinks and snacks. Everyone was waiting on Snape, who was the reason the meeting had been called in the first place and it was only with his arrival, that everyone finally settled and went into the War Room. Harry sighed in relief, put down his tray and followed them.

They all arranged themselves around the spy-turned-Professor-turned-spy, as he began to recount the Death Eater meeting he’d attended the night before. “In essence, the purpose of the gathering was to inform us that the Dark Lord is still deeply disturbed by the loss of one of his inner-most circle. Of course I mean, Bellatrix LeStrange.” Snape paused to look at Harry, making him feel as if he were back in the dungeon classroom, about to be upbraided for some imagined wrong-doing. “He doesn’t value many lives, but for some reason unknown to his followers, he valued hers.”

“Perhaps because of her loyalty?” Fred suggested with a hint of a dig toward Snape and his role as spy.

“Regardless the reason!” Snape continued, “He wants to avenge her death and made it very clear how upset he was that no progress has been made to that end. We were all to be put on guard for Harry Potter, to be captured alive. I of course informed him that Albus had taken the boy abroad.” Snape emphasized the word, sneering at the idea that so much trouble could be brewing over a child.

“Was there mention of the Dementors attack on Thorn Creek?” Dumbledore interrupted, before Harry could respond. He was outraged of course, it hadn’t been as if he had wanted to kill that woman! In fact he had left her alive, it was only through her actions that he had to take such drastic steps. And what of Harry’s revenge for all the people taken from him? Why did Voldemort have a right to vengeance, but he had none?

“Only after the meeting.” Snape answered. “He kept just a few of us after, myself included and asked what we had heard of the attacks. He informed us that Thorn Creek had only been the beginning.”

“And Lairmore? Did he mention that?” Arthur pressed.

Snape appeared agitated that he was being rushed along in his story. “He gave us no specifics, only that it was time to prove how dangerous it is to oppose his side. He insisted that the Dementors will be his most useful ally in that endeavor and he had a few more places to visit with them. There was also mention of other allies but he didn’t expand much. As I said nothing specific, and to have pushed for more detail would have only brought up questions in his mind.”

And so with Snape’s report out of the way, the rest of meeting was full of tactical planning. There were discussions on how to put the people on alert without much notice by the Death Eaters, as well as which towns and villages they were likely to hit. Arthur handled himself expertly, showing enough leadership to know when to listen and when to make a decision or issue orders. Harry was proud; he was also confident that with a capable leader, which former Minister Cornelius Fudge had never been, that they would be able to hold off Voldemort’s followers.

After most everyone had left, Arthur pulled him aside. “I need to talk to you about something, Harry.” He began seriously.

“Alright, I’m listening.”

“It’s your fireplace. Albus and I think it would be a good idea if we took it off the floo network, at least for awhile. Regardless of the many spells and charms protecting this house, there are ways for someone, anyone really, to walk right through there.”

“But what about the people who are supposed to come here? Isn’t it the safest way for them?” He was of course thinking of Hermione and Luna, and the whole Weasley family.

“I think we’ll be closing off quite a few stops on the floo network, including anyone even remotely involved with the Order. It is the safest way, trust me.” Arthur must have seen the doubt written all over Harry’s face, though he hadn’t tried very hard to hide it. Arthur sighed and continued. “Think of it this way, if someone gets to anyone connected to this fireplace, all they would have to do is step in and be here after calling up. The houses are connected, so there’s no need to identify oneself before arriving.”

“Maybe that’s something that could be looked into? Like some sort of caller ID? I mean if the muggles can do it through technology, surely we can figure a way with magic.”

“And that’s something to be looked into, of course. But more immediate action is needed now. Voldemort has shown he isn’t afraid of attacking the city and his next target could be Lairmore, or it could be anywhere. Please understand, I am not trying to block you off from anyone and I am not trying to keep you from leaving your own house. Alternate transportation can be provided for those wishing to come here, and soon most of you will be able to apperate.” He smiled at the sudden remembrance and placed a hand on Harry’s shoulder. “Hey, that reminds me! You’ll be seventeen in a few weeks. We better start getting you trained before the big test. I’ll talk to Dumbledore about it.”

And Harry left it at that as Arthur departed after the rest. He ran to his room to write to Hermione, with wild thoughts racing through his mind. He didn’t believe that as a drop out, he would be able to go for his apperating license, but he just couldn’t bring himself to tell Arthur and Molly that he wasn’t going back to school. He would let Dumbledore break the news, and then just deal with the fall out because it was their disappointment, which was sure to come, that he feared most.

(BREAK)

Hermione had been home for two days, and they were the longest of her life. Her parents were treating her like a stranger, and what’s worse, they treated her as someone to be feared. And so she had been very careful not to mention certain things when answering their questions about how her year had gone. When it came to Harry, she’d neglected to mention that she’d lost her virginity, gone through many break-ups and make-ups, and ultimately got engaged. When it came to the rest of her life, she left out how she’d nearly died when the quidditch stands had blown and Neville’s resulting death as well as witnessing George’s murder by the hand of his own brother. And she definitely didn’t mention having gone to fight the enemy in Hogsmeade where she’d watched someone get their arm chopped off and nearly lost herself in her own mind after suffering injury. In fact she’d given them the most watered down version of her time away at school as she possibly could without right out lying, just as she did every year.

So when she walked into the kitchen two days later, she was surprised by the hurt and angry expressions on their faces. Her father told her to sit with them at the table so she did, with trepidation. They all sat in silence for a few minutes, leaving Hermione to feel uncomfortable under their disappointed glares. Only when her mother produced a stack of old Daily Prophets, letting them fall heavily on the table and scatter, did Hermione realize her two lives were about to collide, or rather, crash together.

“Is there anything you’d like to tell us?” Mildred Granger asked with a strong hint of accusation.

“Well… you can’t always believe everything you read in the paper.” She finally answered, not sure what exactly they had read and not wanting to add information they didn’t already have.

“You’ve been keeping things from us! Important things! How are we ever supposed to trust you?” Her father erupted.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about!” She said, feeling panicked. “I never lied to you!” That was partly true she supposed.

“Oh please, Hermione.” Mildred grabbed up some of the papers and shook them in her daughter’s direction. “The things they say about…that boy. You told us he was a good boy, smart and driven. He’s a menace! And he’s dangerous!”

Hermione wondered just how far back those newspapers went. If they dated back to Rita Skeeter, well, stories about Harry were filled with more lies then than they were last year. “They don’t know him, and most have something against him for some reason or another! And besides, they write what sells papers! If the public is anti-Harry then that’s what they write about, and if the public is pro-Harry then they praise him. It’s about what the customer wants to read as much as it is about reporting the news! Surely you must realize that!”

“And I suppose everything they print about you running around getting in trouble with this boy and his friends, that’s all lies as well!” Wayne Granger shouted

“They’re my friends too!” she yelled back.

“Don’t you raise your voice to your father!” Mildred scolded. “You are the one in the wrong here, young lady. Leaving school to break into ministries, claiming to fight against somebody they won’t even give us the name of! And you told us nothing of all those people dying while at the school!”

“Because it didn’t concern you!” Hermione screamed. She couldn’t stand it! They would never understand, how could they? They were wrapped up safely in the delusional muggle world. They don’t know what any of what they read meant, and the frustration she felt with them was building. She wished Harry was there, or better, that she was away with him.

“You watch yourself.” Her father said in a low, dangerous voice. She had never raised her voice to them, had never really stood up to them in any way other than her insistence at attending Hogwarts. She was suddenly very scared of where this scene would go, and at the same time, she felt liberated enough not to care.

“Well, it’s true.” She said in a calmer tone. “All of that stuff is only in the context of that world, so it was none of your concern. I have never come home injured, I have never put you in any danger, and I’ve never gotten less than perfect grades. So it can’t be all that bad, can it? Certainly not as bad as the media portrays it.”

They looked at each other and communicated in the silent way only parents can. It was within those few quiet seconds that she realized there was nothing she could have said that would have satisfied them. They had made a decision before she had even woken up that morning, and they were going to stick to it.

“You won’t be returning to that school this year.” Mildred raised her hand against the protest bubbling out of her daughter. “We’ve already written to that headmaster, and tomorrow we’ll enroll you in a real school. One that will get you somewhere in the real world.”

“And what’s more,” Wayne cut it, “you won’t be seeing that boy anymore. And I mean not ever again!”

Hermione was stunned into silence. Finally finding her voice, she said quietly and vehemently, “I’ve never hated you more.”

Then she got up from the table and walked back to her room, slamming and locking the door behind her. She turned and glared at her surroundings, angry that it wasn’t her real room like the one she had at Harry’s house. In fact, she had never felt very at home in this room, where everything was so normal without that touch of magic and looking around at the cramped, boring, white-walled bedroom, she had the sudden desire to tear it apart. She settled for throwing her desk lamp against the wall, liking the glittering smashing sound it made. She waited for footsteps on the stairs, for her parents to come and tell her she was being childish as she knew she was. But they didn’t come and she was glad.

As she sat there, alone and unhappy, she made a decision almost before she realized she was making one. She would run away from this place. Of course! It was the simplest solution. Dumbledore would let her go to school, surely he would. And Harry would be there instantly if she asked him to come get her. She wouldn’t be homeless or anything like that, and she had plenty of money thanks to Sirius. Of course, that was only in the wizard world. Her galleons, stored safely in Gringott’s, would do her no good with the muggles- and that was the first problem that occurred to her.

The next was that regardless of how quickly and easily Harry would be able to either send for her or come himself, she wasn’t absolutely sure the adults in her life would approve of her leaving her parents home. After all, Dumbledore had been adamant that Harry return to the Dursleys each year, regardless of how badly he was treated. Of course she knew there had been other reasons for that but it didn’t matter in the midst of her fevered and desperate thoughts. She knew she would have to just show up and not give anyone a reason to say no. But she wasn’t sure how to move in the wizard world, and that was problem number three. Harry’s letter had mentioned the Order’s decision to close down their floo entrance, so she would have to travel there on her own. Sure she had read all about the secret wizard villages that lived in and around London, sure she knew all of the important places, and sure she felt comfortable in Diagon Alley; but she also hadn’t really ever been there, or anywhere else, by herself. What she needed was a confidant… someone who would help with no questions asked, someone who knew how to get around. Someone who due to the circumstances, couldn’t be Harry.

And at that she paused. Harry… was she starting to think like him? Was she doing the very thing that she had admonished him for? She felt desperate, as she knew he had felt… was she making a horrible decision just to get what she wanted, everyone else be damned? Well if I am, so be it! She finally thought to herself. If Harry could do it and still come out ahead, why couldn’t she? After all, she had still agreed to marry him even after everything he’d put her through.

The only thing she needed was a partner in crime. She wasn’t sure whether Ron would help her or not, since she wanted to flee to Harry’s house. The boys’ friendship was already so rocky; she didn’t want to add the final pebble that would topple it to the ground. And she wasn’t sure asking Fred would make her feel any easier about what she was about to do. Facing facts, he wasn’t the most responsible or serious person in the world and she wanted someone she could trust not to make things worse. Then she had a stroke of genius and sat down to write a letter.

(BREAK)

Ron was determined to talk to Ginny. He just had to know what this big secret was that Luna Lovegood was keeping for his sister. As far as he could gather from that last fight he’d had with her before the break-up, Ginny and the “others” involved didn’t know that Luna was also in on their secret. He knew that whatever the secret was involved Draco Malfoy. He also had a good hunch that Harry was somehow involved. He laid these facts out for Fred, letting his brother decide whether he was being ridiculous or whether this was something they should pry into. He also made it clear that he would very much like to pry.

Fred simply shrugged. “What do you want me to say little brother? I mean we all have secrets right? I’m in the middle of one right now as a matter of fact, but that doesn’t concern you.”

“The way Ginny’s secret doesn’t concern us, you mean.” Ron sighed, disappointed that his brother had seemed to grow so much more responsible.

“Now don’t go putting words in my mouth, Ronniekins. I’m no prophet and my words don’t need interpretation. I meant what I said; my business isn’t anything for you to concern yourself over. Ginny’s however, is another story and I’ll admit I’m intrigued. What could our baby sister possibly have to do with Draco Malfoy?”

“Let’s go ask her. That’s the most direct way.”

“In case you haven’t noticed, she isn’t exactly talking to any of us, or anyone else as far as I know.” Fred pointed out.

“Harry really messed her up.” Ron shook his head and sat next to his brother.

“Hey, you can’t blame it all on Harry. That’s too easy and you know it.”

“Can’t I? He lead her around like a puppy dog all year.”

“Oh please, with the lovely Miss Granger at his side? He had eyes for only her and you know it. Ginny’s the one who was trying to push herself between them all year and got upset when it didn’t work. Did Harry use what he knew about her to his advantage? Yes. And it was wrong of him, but if she weren’t so…whatever she is lately, it wouldn’t have worked.”

“I can’t believe you’re taking his side over hers! He’s my best friend and I’m still taking her side.” Ron felt agitated. First Hermione forgives Harry and tells him to move on from it all and now Fred is telling him almost the same thing. That it wasn’t Harry’s fault! When would anything ever be Harry’s fault?

“You do what you think is best, but I’m choosing to spread the blame around. And guess what, some of that blame belongs on us. Think about it. We should have protected her better. She’s our only sister. We never noticed something was wrong, way back with that diary. If we had, maybe she wouldn’t have had Voldemort or Tom Riddle or whoever running around in her head so long. Who knows what kind of damage that did…? George and I, we abandoned you all with Umbridge. And you Ron, you let her come with you guys to the Department of Mysteries where you both got hurt. And this last school year… with everything that happened, we never stopped to check her. Let’s face it, Ginny’s breakdown or whatever she’s in the middle of was a long time coming. I think the Harry situation was just the last straw.”

“You’re awful insightful all of a sudden.” Ron grumbled, upset that he couldn’t really argue Fred’s points. As her brother, he should have insisted she not go with them to the ministry, tied her up if he’d had to. But he didn’t and more than that, he’s the one who brought her to the Hogsmeade battle a few weeks before. He didn’t protect her any more than Harry did… although according to Harry, that’s all he had been trying to do, protect Ginny, and Hermione, and Ron himself. He shook his head, angry and frustrated but more than anything- he felt confused.

“George and I were talking about it, along with a few other things I’m planning.” Fred had a devilish glint in his eye. He was obviously dropping hints about this secret plan to lighten the mood, even if he wasn’t going to spill it.

Ron playfully slugged him on the shoulder. “If you don’t want me to ask about it, then stop talking about it.”

After a bit more discussion, they decided to at least ask Ginny if she would tell them what the big secret was. Besides, as Fred pointed out, if she told them then they knew it wasn’t a big deal, and if she didn’t then they knew it was, so either way at least they’d come away knowing something. Ron hoped it was a big deal, seeing as how he had ended his relationship with Luna over it. Or had she broken up with him? Had it just been a really big fight? He still wasn’t too sure what had happened.

They found Ginny in her room with a book in front of her. But reading was the last thing on her mind- her eyes were staring off and through the wall, making Ron worry a bit. “Hey, Gin?” He asked tentatively from the doorway.

She blinked and then glared at them with obvious annoyance. “What?”

“We wanted to ask you about something.” They stepped into the room and shut the door. Fred sealed it from prying ears, after all their mum was stealthy and could be anywhere.

“What?” she asked again with more annoyance.

“It’s about what you said in Trelawney’s tower, when we had that little argument.” He tried to downplay the actual event.

“Oh, yeah… You mean when you all ganged up on me to tell me you think there’s something wrong with me?” she asked, bitterness seeping into her voice.

Ron let it go and moved on to his point. “What were you talking about when you mentioned something about you and Draco?”

“That? That’s what the two of you came barging in here for?” She stood and moved to the door, releasing Fred’s spell and opening it for them to exit. “That is none of your business, and it’s all in the past so don’t trouble yourselves about it anymore.” She gestured for them to leave but they stood their ground.

“Tell me you didn’t date him or anything.” Fred laughed, but Ron could tell he was only half-joking.

To their surprise she laughed along with him. “So much worry over my love life! I’m so lucky to have such caring brothers. No, I never did anything of the kind with him, nor will I ever. Transformation or not, he’s still slime. So now that’s settled, you both can leave.”

And so they left, as it was obvious they weren’t going to get any farther with her at the moment. Ron was worried about Ginny and her new attitude. After discussing the outcome with Fred, he knew his brother felt the same way. The only question remaining was, do they bring up their concerns with their parents, who already were dealing with so much?

(BREAK)

Harry was bored out of his mind. Since the meeting three mornings earlier nothing, absolutely nothing had happened. He hadn’t felt so normal and average in quite a long time. Not to mention lonely. Hagrid was of course, thrilled to have finally been reunited with Buckbeak, who also seemed to remember his former owner. There was also Fang, Hedwig, Robin and all of the caged creatures Hagrid had brought with him to keep the giant entertained, and so Harry saw little of him. Draco stayed mostly in his room, attempting socialization only at meal times. Harry had sympathy for him, surrounded by former enemies, forsaken by everyone and everything he had known his whole life.

Though living with Vernon hadn’t been a picnic, he suddenly found himself wondering what it would’ve been like to have Lucius as a father and shuddered. He pictured a life lived within cold gray walls, very quiet and very lonely, with fear of failure always hanging over his head. He imagined the menacing figure of Lucius, always so chilly and unwelcoming, towering over him and demanding his son live and think the way he did. He thought of how desperate for attention and love Draco must have been, and suddenly felt closer to the boy. He could easily picture those things thanks to his own semi-similar upbringing and began to wonder if they were really his thoughts or if he had somehow tapped into the other boy’s mind.

The sound of the doorbell shook Harry from his reverie. He flew downstairs, excited yet curious as to who could be showing up unannounced, to this house in particular. Pulling out his wand just in case, he cautiously opened the door only to be greeted by a shock of red hair and an enormous grin. “Fred?” He was truly surprised.

“Hello, flatmate!” Fred moved past him into the house, carrying a briefcase and wheeling a trunk behind him.

“Excuse me?” He followed upstairs to Fred’s room and stared incredulously as his friend began to unpack.

“Look, I can’t stay at the Burrow, I just can’t. And I figured this would be the best place to stay, considering it’s the hub of all the action. Plus you have the ring, in case I want to ring up George.” He gave a nervous laugh.

Harry smirked and moved to help him unpack. “You obviously know that you are always welcome here. But what about the store?”

Fred tapped his briefcase. “I will be managing from afar, but I have an excellent man on the inside, keeping an eye on things for me. Perhaps you remember my dear friend, Jordan. Lee Jordan.”

Harry grinned at the thought as he opened the trunk’s lower compartment. The item inside gave him pause… it was the miniature version of the store he and Hermione had given Fred last Christmas. The tiny Weasley twins were still running around, tending to and pranking customers at will. Before he could think anything at all, the doorbell rang again. He turned and looked at Fred inquisitively. “Anyone following you?”

“Not that I knew of. I’m pretty sure no one got my letter at home yet.”

“You didn’t even tell them you were doing this?” He was shocked, having been sure Arthur and Molly had known their son was moving out.

“They would have probably said no or been upset and I would have had to remind them I’m legally an adult and there would have been a whole big thing. It’s better this way.”

He shrugged.

“Very adult-like.” Harry teased.

The doorbell sounding again stopped Fred’s response. They went down together and opened the door to find Hermione and Luna, surrounded by luggage.

(BREAK)

Hermione glanced around nervously, hoping she was in the right place. She had received a response back from Luna almost immediately and hadn’t realized they lived so close to each other. Agreeing to meet at the bus stop a few blocks away, Hermione had packed up everything she felt she just couldn’t live without and was surprised to discover she’d taken up a trunk, two suitcases and three travel bags. Plus Crookshanks, stuffed unhappily into his cat carrier. At the appropriate hour she’d headed out, enjoying the irony of hearing her parents on the phone arranging her place at a new school as she was walking out the door for good. They hadn’t noticed her; they rarely did unless it suited them.

Now, sitting by herself with all of her things as the clock counted down to the bus’s arrival, she began to worry she had gotten something wrong. She took out Luna’s letter and reread it to be sure.

Dear Hermione,
I’m sorry to hear that you are having problems with your parents. Of course I understand your decision and I’d love to help you anyway I can. My father will be going to Paris, to investigate reports of… well you aren’t ever really interested in that stuff, so I’ll save you the details. Anyway, he was going to send me to stay with my grandmother, but I think it would be a lot more interesting to stay at Harry’s house, and daddy agrees. We can meet up at the bus stop on the corner of Mayson and Charles. About 9 a.m. tomorrow? Hopefully Harry won’t mind. See you then!
Your friend,
Luna Lovegood

Hermione double checked the street signs. This was definitely the correct corner, but it was 8:55 and Luna was nowhere in sight. She grinned, thinking of Luna saying that staying at Harry’s would be, of all words to use, interesting.

Rereading the letter to pass the time, she wondered what Luna meant by implying that Harry may have a problem with them coming to stay. She felt that he would be thrilled to see her, and believed it with everything she had. Maybe Luna had been worried that it would be her own presence that would upset Harry. She doubted it. Harry had more patience for Luna than he did most people, and they had become very close friends thanks to those powers they shared.

“Hermione!” the sound of her name snapped her out of her thoughts. She turned to see Luna running toward her, luggage floating easily behind her.

“Luna! You can’t do that!” Hermione scolded as the other girl approached. “You aren’t supposed to use magic outside the school!”

“I’m already seventeen. They can’t say anything about it.” She checked her watch. “You ready?” she asked excitedly, raising her wand high in the air to signal the Knight Bus which roared to a stop in front of them.

The girls boarded quickly while trying not to draw attention to themselves. They had worn hats and sunglasses and sat in the back, talking to no one except each other. Luckily the bus was mostly empty, and Hermione truly believed Luna would be able to tell if anyone malicious was nearby. She noticed her friend had a way of reading people, and not just through their thoughts.

They got off three blocks from their destination and as the bus roared away, she felt her gut tighten with panic and uncertainty. They weren’t supposed to be doing any of this and she began to worry what they would all think of her, putting herself in unnecessary danger by running unsupervised through the city. Anything could have gone wrong. Anything could still go wrong in their short walk. Anyone could be watching them. She could be leading the enemy straight to the Order’s headquarters, and worse, straight to Harry.

“Relax.” Luna told her as they started walking. “We’re fine. No one is following us.”

“You read my mind? I had my wall up!” Hermione was amazed.

Luna laughed. “Of course I didn’t. It was written all over your face, not to mention the way you keep glancing behind us.”

They reached numbers 11 and 13 and waited patiently as number 12 appeared. They walked up to the door and Hermione nervously rang the bell. She looked to her friend for reassurance. Luna smiled and said, “I guess you’re home now.”

　

　

A/N: So, obviously these first few chapters will be setting up the rest of the story, but I’ll be throwing some action in soon, so have no fear. Coming up next- Ron tries to find out Ginny’s secret, the gang gets some info about the coven, the adults fight the kids over their decisions.

Chapter 2- The Devil is in the Details

NOTE: Hi! Welcome back, lots to cover in this chapter, it’s going to be a long one. And for those of you who caught it last chapter, and for those who didn’t, I made Luna older than she’s supposed to be, going into her sixth year. I had to age her for my purposes later on in the story and how she is older will be explained in this chapter. So without further adieu, Read, Review, Enjoy!

　

　

Harry had literally welcomed the girls with open arms, grabbing them both up in a tight hug half in joy at seeing them so unexpectedly and half in reassurance that they were really there. Their luggage was quickly brought in and left in the entryway, with the exception of Crookshanks’s cat carrier which they brought with them to Hermione’s room, the poor cat meowing pitifully the whole way.

“He’s much too big for this cage anymore, but I didn’t have time to get a new one.” She explained as she released the cat, who promptly ran under the bed in a clear desire to avoid them all- as if each one of them had played a part in his captivity and discomfort.

“Now that the shock’s worn down a bit, what are you two doing here?” Harry asked after grabbing Hermione in another, longer hug.

“You aren’t happy to see us?” She answered evasively. “And what’s he doing here?” she pointed at Fred.

“Who me? Why, I’m Harry’s new roommate. I live here now.” Fred announced, taking a seat on the bed.

“That’s still to be determined once his parents find out he’s gone.” Harry told them.

“You ran away from home?” Luna asked. “At your age?”

“And you lovely ladies are here because?” Fred asked defensively.

“I certainly didn’t run away. I have permission to be here, as long as Harry is okay with it.” Luna said, wandering off to examine the bookshelves. He wondered what she was really thinking when she pretended to walk around all unaware. He knew she was faking most of her aloofness, and he was beginning to think it was a pretty good way to throw others off how clever and insightful she was.

“I may have ran away, but I had no choice!” Hermione burst out. She told them everything, from her parents and the newspapers to the front doorstep. Harry caught her pause when talking about meeting Luna at the bus stop, and saw something flash in her eyes. She went on, and he was sure she had changed the story to omit whatever part had triggered her response. He had also felt a slight shift from Luna’s direction, but she was walking along as if she were browsing in a bookstore.

There were two parts of Hermione’s story that bothered Harry. The first he deemed the far more important issue. “Why didn’t you write and tell me? I could have come and gotten you. What if something had happened!?”

“Nothing did happen, and I had my reasons.” She crossed her arms, her smile smug and triumphant. “Maybe now that you know how it feels to have someone do something dangerous without telling you, you’ll think a little more carefully about your actions in the future.”

“Do not tell me that you ran around London alone with Luna, with enemies hiding everywhere, just to teach me a lesson!” He said angrily. “This isn’t like leaving Hogwarts to go to Hogsmeade-“

“You’re right! I wasn’t headed into battle, I was riding a bus!”

“Hey, hey, hey.” Fred interjected. “If this is about to turn into a marital spat, I have better things to do. Besides, I think we have a better question to ponder. Hermione, darling, how did your parents come by these newspapers? I never really pegged you as a pack rat.” That had been the other thing bothering Harry, and he decided any further conversation about the first would better be saved for private. They all, Luna included, turned to Hermione for an answer.

“That’s just it, I have no idea! I certainly wouldn’t have saved the horrible stuff I know they must have read.” She threw her arms up in frustration before slumping next to Fred.

“But you would save the ones marking Harry as the hero.” He teased. Hermione ignored him.

“You didn’t ask your parents where the papers had come from?” Luna asked.

“I didn’t think of it! I was so mad, and I think a little in shock. It happened so fast, they were saying all these things and then they were forbidding me from everything I wanted and I didn’t stop to think about the source of it all.” She sighed, rubbing her forehead. ” I think someone must have sent them. I can’t imagine where mum and dad could have gotten those papers themselves.” She looked and sounded so distressed, Harry put aside the fight they had been about to start earlier and sat beside her, pulling her close so she could rest her head on his shoulder.

“But who would have sent them?” Fred asked.

“Someone who wanted to ruin my life.” She answered bitterly.

(BREAK)

They had discussed it to no end, and though none of them wanted to admit it, Hermione was sure they were all thinking the same thing. And she didn’t have to be a mind reader to know it. She certainly believed sending those newspapers to her parents was something Draco Malfoy would be callous and sneaky enough to do, if he were still the same person. It would be an excellent way of dividing the group, and it had almost worked. Of course, none of them would say it out loud.

Luna and Fred had gone to their own rooms to finish unpacking, leaving Harry alone with Hermione. She had expected him to jump right back into their argument about her wandering London virtually alone, but instead he stood and started pacing. “They think it too, you know. Fred and Luna, it was the first thing we all thought. Though Luna dismissed it right away.”

“You mean about who sent those newspapers?” she asked. She was still reluctant to say her suspicion out loud, though she hadn’t needed Harry to tell her the others felt that way. Fred had looked straight down at the floor, to where Draco’s room was, right below hers. She shivered unexpectedly, though honestly, she agreed with Luna that it probably wasn’t Draco who’d sent the papers. It didn’t make sense.

“You’re the rational one here, Hermione. -At least you used to be-” Harry muttered the last part, but she heard him. So he was still upset by what she deemed her non-adventure. Nothing had happened, and so she really didn’t believe she had done anything wrong. She had simply been successful in her endeavor. “What do you think? Could he have, would he have done it?” He asked interrupting her thoughts.

“I may be rational, but you’re the mind reader. You tell me.” She shot back, still peeved by his little muttered comment. But when he looked at her, with real concern and a bit of embarrassment in his eyes, she let it all go and focused. “What? What is it, Harry?”

“I can’t see his thoughts so well anymore. Ever since the train ride home when Ginny-” He broke off mid sentence, his brow furrowing as he fought to remember something. She waited, but when he started again, he had changed his story. “On the train, or after it, I’m not sure, I began realizing he had walls up, like you guys. It’s the strangest thing, like one day he was almost an open book and now he’s a locked safe. I think- I think maybe he knows about me. I certainly didn’t tell him, you guys are really the only ones I’ve told. And Dumbledore is the one who first told me.”

“I don’t think our headmaster-“

“Your headmaster now.” Harry pointed out. She shook her head and continued.

“I don’t think he would tell your former enemy about all your new superpowers. And Draco is not dumb, you know. As much as you and Ron always wanted to believe he wasn’t good at anything, I knew he had good marks in school. He is capable, and probably more perceptive now that he’s so alone. He probably just figured it out, Harry. As for sending the newspapers, I just don’t know. What would he have to gain, really?”

“I’ll go find out.” Harry strode to the door.

“Harry! He’s your guest, he gave up everything including an arm to help at Hogsmeade, and there’s certainly no polite way of asking those kinds of questions.”

“That’s just it though, isn’t it? We don’t really want to believe he’s still an evil little jerk because of Hogsmeade and this miraculous new personality he’s found. Plus the last time we all thought he was the one doing horrible things, it turned out to be Cho. Why should we suspect him now? Maybe that was his plan all along! We supposedly have Snape on our side spying on them, why wouldn’t they want their own spy? And where better to place him than here, where I live and where Order members come and go and oh yeah, where the Minister of Magic likes to hang out.”

“You’re the one who told us he changed, remember? Last year you said you took a good look around in his twisted little head and found it cleaned.”

“What if he fooled me, Hermione? I needed to believe him then, with the trial going on and all the stunts Cho was pulling. But think about it, he came around and confessed to me at just the right time, didn’t he? And with everything going on after the trial, I mean he was easy to overlook because of preparations for Hogsmeade and especially since he finished the year out of student view.”

Hermione sighed and took his hand. “Harry, I see where you’re coming from, and I follow your logic. But why would his own father have sent the killing curse at him? Wouldn’t Lucius have been in on some big plot like that?”

“Well it didn’t kill him did it?” He pulled his hand free and crossed his arms, looking very much like an upset child who has been told no for the first time. She couldn’t help but smile though she knew he was really quite serious.

“No, it didn’t, but from my understanding, that was only because you pushed him out of the way. And before you say that they could have meant to do that, how far is a spy supposed to go to gain trust from the enemy? Loss of a limb? That’s a bit much for anyone, let alone a seventeen year old.”

He pouted even more before slumping down on her bed. “You admit I make sense, and I’ll admit, you do as well. So who’s right?”

“We both are.” She leaned over and kissed his forehead. He scooped her in his arms and held her close before rising and moving to the door.

“I’m still going to try and talk to him. There’s a few other things he and I need to discuss anyway.”

“Yeah, does it have anything to do with Ginny and the train ride home that you started to mention?” She sat up and smiled coyly. If he thought she was going to let him start keeping secrets now-

“Maybe, and I’ll tell you all about it when we sit down to talk about the little part of your story you left out- about the bus stop? Remember?” He grinned widely before heading out. Damn, he was getting more perceptive. She hadn’t realized anyone noticed when she’d had a hiccup in her story.

And then she remembered it fully, the reason she had given that small pause- Luna, who had walked up to the bus stop floating her luggage behind her. Still sixteen herself until September, Hermione had immediately rebuked the girl, who was after all one school grade below her. But Luna had ever so casually explained that she was of age. That meant she wouldn’t be punished for magic use outside the school. That also meant she should already have an apparating license. She hadn’t thought about it at all at the time, she’d been too wrapped up in her worries and fears about their journey and the greeting they would receive upon their arrival. But in retelling the story to the boys, it had finally struck her. Luna couldn’t be seventeen, she was supposed to be a whole year younger than Hermione.

It was certain that the girl was going into her sixth year, where all of her classmates would just now be straddling the age line between sixteen and seventeen. So what had happened to cause Luna to be so behind? She decided to go find out. Since Harry was on his mission to clear the air with Draco, their reunion was on hold anyway. Not that he had seemed to want to ravish her when he found out what she had done. She sighed and headed to Luna’s room, rehearsing what she would say to Harry later.

The door was ajar, so Hermione knocked lightly before opening it and wandering in. “Hey.” She greeted Luna who was lying on her bed, reading an old book. Her trunk and bags were piled next to the bed, still untouched. “Not planning on staying long?” Hermione joked, indicating the luggage.

“I don’t like to unpack. Eventually I’ll need everything in there, so eventually it will all get put away. And then…I’ll just have to pack again for school. So mundane.” She sighed. Putting the book aside, she sat up and looked at Hermione expectantly. “But that’s not what you came to ask me is it? What’s up, Hermione?”

“It’s just that… well… uh…” she didn’t know how to start. Suddenly feeling embarrassed and awkward, she chastised herself for coming down here preparing for the wrong conversation. Hadn’t she just told Harry that there were certain questions which couldn’t be asked politely? Well, how do you ask someone if they were held back in school? Was it even really her business?

“Spit it out. I can take it, I promise.” Luna smiled sweetly at her.

“I guess I was just wondering, well, it’s about your age…” she trailed off, hoping Luna would understand her still unspoken question.

Luna visibly stiffened, but her face was uninterested. “Oh, that.” She replied. “I thought you’d have noticed my slip right away, I kept waiting for you to ask me about it on the bus, but you were too busy clutching my arm and looking at everyone as if they were a Death Eater.”

“So, you really are seventeen? You’re older than Harry, Ron and me?”

“Only by a few months. And I wasn’t held back or anything, if that’s what you wanted to know. I got my letter to Hogwarts at the same age as everyone else.”

“So what happened?”

“Family crisis. I decided to stay home for the year to help. I went the very next year and you know the rest.” Luna picked up her book and pretended to read again, signaling that Hermione had gotten all the information she was going to get. She apologized for interrupting the other girl and went back to her own room, more curious than when she had left it a few minutes earlier.

She suddenly wondered if Harry knew what Luna’s family crisis had been. They had gotten so close last year, because of their powers, and Hermione knew he had confided in Luna when she herself had been unavailable to him. She had expected to feel at least a twinge of jealousy, but for once she felt secure. Luna wasn’t after Harry, and he wasn’t romantically interested in her. She knew it and basked in it, waiting for his return.

(BREAK)

Harry knocked so hard at Draco’s door his hand ached. It was his third attempt and still there was no answer. Harry tried turning the knob and found it securely locked. He thought it was ridiculous that he was unable to access any room he wanted in his own house. “Oh, let me in already.” He muttered to himself giving the handle another hard twist. To his surprise, it turned easily and flew open.

Stumbling in, he let his eyes adjust to the dim light of the bedstand lamp. He gave an involuntary shudder at the darkness of the room, and not just from the dim lighting. The entire room was so drab and colorless, except for a few touches of green and silver. The walls were a dark, charcoal gray, the floors a deep mahogany. A bookcase made of the same wood stood against one wall holding dark dusty volumes. Small silver lamps with coiled snakes decorating the bases sat throughout the room emitting low lighting through emerald shades that were the exact tone of the two small throw pillows on the bed. The bed itself was covered in dark silver sheets and a large black bedspread that matched the curtains covering the window. He couldn’t imagine staying somewhere so depressing and gave silent thanks for his bright golden and crimson room. He noticed the picture of Narcissa was gone and wondered just what Draco’s relationship was with his mother. Obviously it wasn’t very sentimental as he had hidden away her likeness.

It was pretty clear the room was empty and he wasn’t sure what to do. Of course Draco wasn’t confined to his room, but Harry was unsettled by the idea of the boy just wandering his house. Noticing a book lying open on the bed, he moved closer to try and see the title.

“Something I can help you with?” Harry turned to find Draco standing in the doorway. His eyes were immediately drawn to the boy’s elbow, where the sleeve was pinned halfway up with no arm to fill it.

Feeling guilty, he quickly averted his gaze to Draco’s face. “I was, uh looking for you. I wanted to talk to you about some things.”

“Well here I am.” He remained in the doorway, looking wary.

“Where were you, just now?” Harry asked, hoping his voice didn’t carry the suspicion he felt.

“I went to get something to drink.” He held up his good arm, where a bottle of juice was tightly griped in his hand. He moved into the room, placing his drink next to the lamp before turning to face Harry.

“Oh, right.” He muttered feeling embarrassed.

“Should I have asked?”

“No, of course not. Whatever you want from the kitchen is welcome to you.” He gave a weak smile, fully aware of the awkwardness of the moment. “Sorry to have barged in your room like that. I did knock, but, well…”

“Right. Well, it’s your house. You can go anywhere you want I guess.” he shrugged and waited for Harry to go on.

“Anyway, I wanted to go over a few things with you.” He paused. How was he going to ask? “Well, it’s difficult, but I need to know if you…if you know…about me?”

“I know a lot of things about you, Potter. You want to be more specific?” Draco smirked, suddenly more like his old self.

“The mind thing.” He blurted out, deciding it was okay, vague enough in case the other boy didn’t know and specific enough if he did.

“Oh, that.” Draco shrugged again. “Yeah, I kind of figured you and Loony Luna were a bit different from the rest of us. You pushed me over twice without touching me, remember? And without a wand, I should add. Plus I know what it’s like to have a mind reader running around in your head, I felt you in there Potter, dragging your big clunky feet.”

Harry didn’t push for info on the other mind reader in Draco’s life, figuring he meant Voldemort. Instead he was stunned into realizing he had never wondered what it was like for the people whose minds he invaded, whether or not they could feel him in their heads. He would have to develop more finesse with the skill. “So you’re saying you just figured it out? Who have you told?”

“You really don’t think much of me, do you.” It wasn’t a question, and for some reason, Harry felt ashamed. “I didn’t tell anyone. I haven’t been around anyone to tell if you recall. Dumbledore, my constant companion.” Draco said miserably. “But I wouldn’t tell any of them. Personally, I think it’s great that you’re better off than they think. I hope my father chokes on the knowledge that you, who he hated more than he loved me, are more powerful than he could ever hope to be. I hope he chokes and dies a miserable, terrible, painful death.”

Harry was left speechless. He had figured Draco would hold resentment toward his father, even if he were a spy. But the depth of the bitterness in the boy’s voice was unsettling. “Okay then.” He said weakly knowing he still had one more difficult thing to bring up. “So, there was something else.”

“Yeah?” Draco asked not bothering to hide his irritation.

“Do you know of anyone who would know enough to send old copies of the Daily Prophet to Mr. and Mrs. Granger?” Harry asked delicately.

“I know what you’re really asking. You’re asking if I had anything to do with it. No, I didn’t. I really don’t expect you guys to trust me or anything, but could you at least lighten up. Not everything is my fault you know.” He turned his back to Harry and began rearranging things absently, signaling his desire to end the conversation.

“Okay then.” Harry said again, unsure if anything else could be said. He moved to the door.

“By the way, Pansy Parkinson had suggested doing something to get rid of Granger last year, when I was still friends with her. Said her cousin told her that getting rid of your friends was the best way to leave you defenseless.”

“What’s her cousin got against me?” Harry asked, irritated that people as insignificant as Pansy had been trying to plot against him as well.

“Who knows, I barely paid attention to the idiot. But if it makes you feel better, from what I can recall it seemed like whoever this person is, they couldn’t have cared less about you, they were just giving Pansy advice.” He turned once more to look Harry in the eyes. His face was hard. “But she’s no brain surgeon. I doubt she’d be smart enough to think up sending old newspapers.”

“Right, um, thanks. Sorry to have bothered you.” Harry closed the door and leaned against it. Now in the hallway he felt lighter, less tense. Until he realized he had forgotten the other thing he had wanted to discuss.

On the train ride home, when Ginny had stormed out, Draco had risen as if to follow her. He had caught a glimpse of something then, something he had pushed aside for more important thoughts. Now he stared at the closed door before him and decided to let sleeping dogs lie for the time being. After all, he felt awkward enough after their conversation, how could he now ask if Draco had somehow developed some kind of attachment to Ginny?

Figuring it was none of his business anyway, he turned to the stairs eager to return to Hermione and share the news he had gathered- and hopefully rekindle a proper reunion. The doorbell put a stop to that plan and with a heavy sigh of regret, he went downstairs instead of up. He opened the door to reveal Mr. and Mrs. Weasley.

“Hello, Harry dear.” Molly said sweetly, hugging him tightly to her. She smiled at him before turning stern and saying, “Now where’s my son?” Unable to do anything other than point to the ceiling, he watched as she went straight up the stairs, yelling Fred’s name at the top of her lungs.

“Hi there, Harry.” Arthur tiredly greeted him. He led them upstairs behind Molly, who was already banging on Fred’s door.

Despite the disturbing situation, Harry felt a sudden sense of relief. Apparently, Dumbledore hadn’t yet broken the news of his decision to drop out of school so his own confrontation with the elder Weasleys was still only a future possibility; that knowledge allowed him to enjoy Fred’s turn thoroughly. He began to understand why the Weasley children so enjoyed seeing their siblings in trouble.

“Fred! I know you’re in there! Open this door!” Molly screamed banging on the door so hard it was rattling on its hinges.

“Not until you regain some composure, mother.” Fred yelled from the other side.

“What did you say to me?!” Molly shrieked.

“I will discuss this with you, in a calm adult manner, which you are unable to achieve at this moment.” Fred answered. He certainly had some guts, behind that locked door. Harry hoped it held up, the way he was goading his mother.

Noticing Hermione peeking down from the top of the stairs, he gave a silent nod to Arthur and dismissed himself from the hallway. “What’s going on down there?” She whispered.

“I do believe Molly and Arthur have found Fred’s note.” He answered with a smile. They sat at the top of the stairs, trying to stay out of view while watching the scene below as it played out.

(BREAK)

Eventually Fred had let his parents into his room, having only put off the inevitable. Harry and Hermione went to his room, letting the Weasley family sort it all out privately among themselves. Both inexplicably tired, they simply lay holding each other and talking. He told her about his conversation with Draco, and his amazement at gaining entry to the room after simply asking. She told him that it was his house after all.

After awhile, Hermione felt herself drift off, having found no other pillow quite as comfortable as resting her head on Harry’s chest. She was just beginning to feel her limbs grow heavy when he roused her.

“Hey, Mione?”

“Yeah?” she tilted her head to look at him.

“I was just thinking, well, you see my parents…they wanted to properly meet you, remember? Do you think it’d be okay to do that now?” He looked at her shyly through his eyelashes.

“Of course!” she beamed at him. She was touched, really. And with her own parents so far removed from her in every sense, she was glad Harry had found a way back to his. She would probably never be able to bring him home, to introduce him as the person she intended to love forever. The Grangers had formed their own opinions, even before the newspapers had confirmed their deepest fears.

She watched as he eagerly put on the ring and sat back down next to her to concentrate. Sitting up straight, she quickly adjusted clothing and smoothed her wild curls, hoping she looked presentable. It would probably always amaze her to watch the souls of the dead appear right before her. Completely different from the ghosts she had encountered at the castle, these people were somewhere else entirely and being brought back into this plane of existence. It was something she intended to research when she had free time… if she ever had free time.

The Potters appeared quickly, and had large smiles plastered across their faces. “Harry! And Hermione as well! Hello loves!” Lily exclaimed, floating closer to where they sat together.

Greetings and pleasantries were exchanged and the news of the engagement broken. Although they were happy and supportive, the Potters exchanged knowing smiles with each other… as if they were aware of something she and Harry weren’t. In all, it was going better than Hermione had hoped, despite their odd behavior after finding out the teens intended to marry. She pushed it aside, assuming whatever held them back from fully congratulating them had to do with how young they were.

The Potters were friendly, encouraging people. The kind of people the world needed when there were so many others it didn’t. She was saddened while talking to them; Lily, James and Harry seemed to make a natural family and it was tragic that they didn’t get the chance to be one. Eventually, as his parents must have felt him grow tired from the effort of calling them over, the conversation turned to business.

“Harry, you must begin looking into the history of the coven. I’m convinced there’s an answer there, and I had tried to start the process before…” She trailed off, staring into the distance. “Anyway I didn’t get very far.” She finished with a sad smile.

“How much did you learn?” Harry asked.

“Not much more than the library books had to say.” James muttered. “Whole afternoons wasted to learn nothing more than an extended version of the history we learned in school.”

Lily shot him a look. “Oh, hush. We had some good times in that library and you know it.”

“We didn’t learn anything about the coven in school.” Harry said, trying hard not to interpret the meaning in his mother’s statement.

“It was seventh year, in History of Magic class.” James replied. “I never napped better.”

Lily shot him another look before turning to her son. “Despite your father, I did find out one starting point, I was able to trace our ancestor within the coven. Her name was Lyraline Eldyrwood. Start with her and find the others.”

After bidding the Potters adieu, Harry and Hermione tried to decide the best place to start looking. Eventually they settled on both the Archives and the Hall of Records in the Ministry of Magic. Arthur would have to get them access, but Hermione wasn’t sure now was the right time to ask.

A heavy knock on the door interrupted their conversation. She went to open it and found herself eye-level with Hagrid’s massive chest. She looked up, craning her neck and gave him a smile.

“What’s up Hagrid?” Harry asked from behind her, still lounging on his bed.

“I jus’ thought you’d like ter know yer mail arrived.” Hagrid handed a letter to him. “Wha’s goin on down there?” He asked, indicating the yelling still going on from the floor below.

“The Weasleys are having a family discussion.” Harry explained distractedly. “Thanks for the mail.”

“See you later, Hagrid.” She said, closing the door.

Harry was sitting up now, staring down at the letter in his hand. Hermione waited quietly while he read it. “It’s from Ron.” He finally said.

“And?” she asked, certain that he wouldn’t have told her that much unless he wanted to share.

“We may have a problem. He’s asking if I know anything about a secret involving Ginny and Draco.”

“Oh.” Hermione sighed. They both knew what secret Ginny had that involved Draco, after all they had helped her get away with it. “He’s talking about the stabbing.” She said unnecessarily.

“It must be. How did he even find out?” Harry furrowed his brow.

“And how much does he know already?” she added.

“Not a lot apparently.” He held out the letter for her to read herself. “He intends to go directly to Draco if I can’t give him any answers. Hermione, if he finds out about this now….”

He didn’t have to finish his thought. She knew Ron’s temper, and she knew that he hated being kept out of the loop as much as Harry did. If he found out they were keeping such a huge secret from him, especially since it involves his sister… well, he definitely wouldn’t be thrilled. And after all the trust Harry had already destroyed between the two boys, she didn’t think Ron would be in the right frame of mind to hear the truth even if they did tell him.

Her rumbling stomach interrupted her thoughts. She realized she hadn’t eaten at all that day, having had skipped breakfast so as not to accidentally run into her parents. It was now nearly dinnertime. Harry smiled at her suddenly and muttered something about being a terrible host.

“What?” she asked.

“Nothing, let’s find you something to eat.” He took her hand and led her downstairs.

They had made it to the next floor down as Arthur was coming out of Fred’s room. He looked surprised to find them there, one of them more than the other. “Hermione? What are you doing here? Your parents let you came back already?”

“Um…not exactly.” She said looking at her feet.

Arthur looked from one of them to the other before growing stern and crossing his arms. “Then suppose you two tell me exactly what is going on, and why so many children are running away from their homes during these dangerous times?”

　

　

　


A/N: Coming up next, a little bit of action as the gang heads to the ministry to do some research. Also Ron is determined to find out what everyone if hiding from him while Harry finds out more than he wanted. Thanks for reading!
Chapter 3- Revealing Research

Author’s Note: Hi! Welcome back, there’s a bit of action toward the end of this chapter as we start to dig into the coven mystery, but still a bit of set up as well. Stick with me, those of you who prefer action scenes to prose and dialogue, it will be coming in spades throughout the story, we just have to get there. I know I’ve said this before, but this chapter is a really, really long one. And so my lovelies, without further ado, as always: Read, Review, Enjoy!



“Well?” Arthur asked once they had relocated to the parlor. Hermione felt better, away from the crushing presence that an upset Molly will produce… even behind a door yelling at someone else.

“She asked me to come get her because she had a fight with her parents.” Harry lied, looking just above Arthur’s eyes. “It’s my fault. I rushed over there and brought her back.”

“Oh, Harry.” Arthur sighed shaking his head. “You don’t think I believe you for one minute do you?”

“I don’t see why not, it sounds like something I would do.” He shrugged.

“It’s my fault.” Hermione blurted out. Harry shot her a look, but she couldn’t hold it in. She would lie to her own parents before she’d lie to the Weasleys. “It’s true I had a fight with my parents. Someone sent them a bunch of old Daily Prophets and they got angry and decided to keep me away from school…and Harry. I panicked! They said they’d already written to Dumbledore, and I just had to get out, I wasn’t thinking straight…or maybe I was. In either case, I didn’t want anyone to be upset and I didn’t want to be an inconvenience and I didn’t want to chance anyone telling me no. I knew it was wrong to come here without telling anyone but I did it anyway and I’d do it again!” she stopped to catch her breath, having let out her explanation/tirade in one burst of steam. Harry put his arm around her in support.

“Hermione, I don’t know what to say.” Arthur was shaking his head again. “You’ve obviously already lectured yourself on how foolish it was, and I’m sure you know that anything could have gone wrong. You kids just run around thinking there aren’t any consequences, or that you are invincible! You’re not! George proved that, didn’t he, while you all were running around Knockturn Alley?!” he gasped, having realized what he’d said. She watched him sink into the soft, blue armchair, a man who looked decades older than his age. She hadn’t thought about this effect of her actions and kicked herself for bringing more pain to this good man who was already hurting so much. “We just don’t want to lose anymore of you kids. There’s enough danger coming to us without you all going out tempting fate.”

Hermione threw her arms around Mr. Weasley. “I’m so sorry. In the moment, it felt like the right decision.”

Arthur patted her arm. “I know, I just wish you kids could sit in our shoes for a bit, and feel how much we love and care for all of you. It makes us worry, which makes us age.” He finished with a small joke to lighten the air. She stepped back, wiping away the few tears of shame that had escaped.

“Sorry to interrupt.” They all turned to find Luna standing in the doorway. She smiled sweetly at them. “It’s getting late so I was going to help out and make dinner, are you and Mrs. Weasley staying?” She asked Arthur.

He looked at Harry and Hermione, eyebrows raised in question. Hermione shrugged her shoulders and said, “Well, there was one person I told about my plan to run here.”

(BREAK)

Ron kicked himself for not going with his parents to get Fred. He had wanted to talk to Harry face to face and now he was forced to write that stupid letter. He had been in the middle of watching a pivotal quidditch match on television and hadn’t really comprehended where his parents had said they were going until after they had already gone. Stupid muggle contraption, he was angry his father had brought home the TV. His father may be intrigued by the thing and how it worked… but Ron found it was nothing but a time waster and now because it had drawn him in, he’d lost his chance. Harry knew something about this thing with Ginny, he was sure. Maybe not psychic, superpower sure, but he didn’t have to be. He had his gut and that was good enough.

When they had found Fred’s letter that morning, he had been mad at his brother. He found it incredibly selfish that Fred would leave on his own and without telling anyone when everyone was already so worried and stressed. Ron had sat down in front of the television to zone out, to not have to think. Then the match had come on, a newly televised event due to the number of magical homes buying televisions. He had been immediately zoned in on the game, and when his parents had said they were going to get Fred, it wasn’t until a break in the broadcast that he had realized that meant they were going to Harry’s.

He didn’t know why Fred hadn’t just told everyone he was moving out, though he completely understood the desire to be at Harry’s house, the hub, where things were happening, where information could be had. It had to be far better than being trapped at the Burrow. Ginny barely left her room, and he knew their mother was starting to worry. She had asked him what was wrong with his sister, but he hadn’t known what to say. He didn’t want his mother to think badly of Harry, and so he hadn’t wanted to mention anything about that whole situation. They were all upset because of George… and Percy, and he couldn’t bring himself to mention either name in his mother’s presence. That left all the other horrible things that happened last year and in the years before to explain away Ginny’s mood, but what could he tell his mother about any of that? Finally he shrugged and just said, “Maybe she’s worried about her OWLs.”

He hoped his letter would get Harry to fess up, but he wasn’t holding his breath. His friend was too good at keeping secrets. Just like Luna. Well, he would demand to be brought there for the next order meeting, or the next time Fred ran away, or even just to visit. He would find out what Ginny was hiding, and what others were hiding for her. After all, finding out this secret had given him a feeling of purpose.

(BREAK)

After making Hermione repeat everything she knew about the newspapers, Arthur promised he’d look into finding out who sent them to the Grangers. Molly came down a bit later, and after a quick look at her face, Harry decided it would be best to wait to ask for permission to access the Ministry archives. Apparently Fred had argued his case and was staying. The Weasley parents took their leave anxious to get back to the two children they still had at home.

“I think we need to talk to George.” Harry told Hermione as they stood watching the Weasley car drive away.

“Oh?”

“I think they need to know there’s a way to talk to him.” He turned to start up the stairs but she grabbed his arm.

“You don’t know what everyone else needs, Harry.”

“Thanks a lot.” He muttered, pulling his arm free.

“Take a second to think it out. What will happen when George crosses over, and we can’t call him anymore, like Cedric? They’ll have to deal with losing him all over again. Do you really think Molly will be able to handle that?”

“You and your damn logic.” He went upstairs to Fred’s room and knocked, before Hermione could stop him. Yes, future pain would be inevitable, but could he really deprive his surrogate mother the chance to see her son again, the one who was gone because of him? Could he really keep them from the happiness they needed so badly now, just to save them more pain later? At least they would be prepared the next time, when George was really gone. At least they would be able to say all they needed to say before it was all really over.

Fred opened the door, his face red. “Oh, hey. I thought my mum came back.”

“Harry!” Hermione stopped at the top of the stairs, seeing she was too late.

“I think we need to tell your folks about the ring…and George.” He blurted out.

“You do, do you.” Fred eyed him thoughtfully. “I agree with you. I know it would make them feel a little better. It did for me. But I think it would be best to ask George like we discussed before. He may not want to see them, or rather, he might not want them to see him, not like that. I wouldn’t.”

Hermione sighed, obviously relieved that someone else understood the cons of the situation. For some reason, her sigh of relief annoyed him. He would analyze his feelings later; right now they had something more important at hand. They all went up to his room to get the ring, and Fred insisted on being the one to call his brother. Harry handed the ring over without hesitation; he was fine with letting someone else drain themselves out. Wanting a private conversation, the remaining Weasley twin returned to his room, promising to let them know what George said.

Luna called dinner. Harry felt guilty, he had forgotten she was in the kitchen cooking. She shouldn’t have to; it was something he should have done. He sighed, knowing he would have to work harder than he has been. Since piecing most of his life back together after nearly destroying it during the last school year, he had been trying very hard to be more aware of others around him. But it was so easy to be sidetracked. He was worrying about the Weasleys, and so everyone else was out of his head.

Looking around the dining table he almost laughed. If someone had told him at this time last year that he would be having dinner, in his own house, with Hermione his fiancé, Luna his newest best friend, Hagrid the unemployed and Draco Malfoy his new roommate, he would have told them they were insane. Fred coming down awhile later was the cherry on the top of the guest list. After all, this time last year, he had been with the Dursley’s. Anything would have been an improvement.

Eyeing Draco, Fred took the empty seat next to him. “So George wants some time to think about it.” He said without ceremony. It was a succinct statement, made only for the benefit of those to whom it pertained. The others looked confused, especially Hagrid, but let the statement pass. And despite all the underlying tension between the diners, dinner was light and pleasant. Harry wondered if Luna bewitched her cooking, as even his annoyance with Hermione had disappeared. After everyone decided to retire for the night, he followed her up to her room, determined to put everything else aside and show Hermione how much he had missed her in the few days that had separated them. He knocked softly on the door and she flung it open, looking at him expectantly as if she had been waiting for him to come finish their fight.

Instead, Harry gathered her in his arms, crushing his lips to hers. Within an instant she was kissing him back, clinging tightly to him. He lifted her off her feet, her legs wrapping around his waist as he walked all the way in and kicked the door closed. Carrying her to the bed, they toppled down, pulling off clothing while trying not to lose physical contact. He tangled his hands in her hair, kissed and nipped at her neck, tasted her sweet skin, and lost all coherent thought. They hungrily devoured each other, letting out every emotion inside of them through pleasure, sometimes gentle, sometimes playful and sometimes aggressive. Rolling around together for hours, they became one entity, peaking together until exhaustion overwhelmed them.

She fell asleep in his arms while toying with the key hanging from his neck. He had taken to wearing it for good luck- after all it led him to the ring. Looking down at Hermione’s peaceful face, Harry felt his heart swell with love, to the point where his chest hurt. He was deeply conflicted. Anything could have happened to her that morning, to her or Luna, and his entire world would have ended. Knowing how much he hated when others tried to control him, he none the less was undeniably angry that they had made decisions without him. She had made her point, stating the similarity between his own actions a few weeks before and theirs that morning. And as she said, she had only been riding a bus, not intending to go into battle. The difference she forgot was that he had the support of the Order and Ministry behind him. He hadn’t been alone there with Fred and Draco. And he had known what he was in for.

She snuggled in closer, her breathing deep and even. Sleep would be impossible for him. He thought hard about what to do with the conflict rising in his chest. Remembering his first shining example of an adult relationship- the Dursleys- he decided he wanted nothing like that. Vernon had no doubt been in charge of the household. (Until Dudders had learned to talk, that is.) Aunt Petunia had never done anything without Vernon’s permission or approval, with the exception of making him keep Harry. And Harry, himself had paid the price for that. But Vernon liked things orderly, and he liked being in control. He had gone far to keep control over his nephew all those years; his anger growing with every passing year that made it harder to pin Harry under his thumb.

He would never be like that, and he would never want Hermione to be scared of him, as he knew his aunt had sometimes been of his uncle. So how was he supposed to get his way and still give freedom to others? The only way to ensure Hermione would be safe was to keep her as far from all of this as possible, but that would mean distance between them, and a very big fight. And if he was being honest with himself, he didn’t want her to leave, even if it did mean her ultimate safety. After getting a taste of life without her, through no one’s fault but his own, he knew he wouldn’t be able to do it again. He felt selfish. His head was pounding as he lay and think and think and think. Finally deciding he would never again bring up how Hermione got there and just enjoy the fact that she was right there in his arms, he was able to focus on his other problem.

What in the world was he supposed to tell Ron? It seemed like a lifetime ago that he and Hermione had found Ginny on the stairs, covered in blood. It had been right after George’s funeral and they had decided it was best that none of the other Weasleys had to deal with the fact that their youngest had stabbed someone in the back. No, not someone… she had stabbed Draco Malfoy, the son of a very prominent Death Eater and witness to her brother’s murder. Deciding he needed advice, he gently untangled himself from Hermione and slipped out of bed.

After throwing on some clothes, he took the ring next door to his own room. Slipping it on, he concentrated hard on George Weasley and was very quickly rewarded. “Wow, two visits in one day! I feel special.” George teased.

“Hey. I need to ask you about something.” Harry replied, not sure how else to begin.

“All business. Gotcha. Proceed.” He furrowed his brow and brought his fingers together, trying to look like he was ready to listen intently.

Harry smiled. “So I don’t know how much you know from what you can see up there, but the short story is…Ginny got a note from Draco last year after, well, yeah, just after you were gone and she went to meet him and actually wound up stabbing him. Hermione and I found her and helped her out and kept it from the family because they were all in so much pain.”

“I did know about that. I haven’t breathed a word of it.” George joked. “Get it? Breathed a word of it?! I don’t breathe at all!” He erupted into wild laughter.

“Death has disturbed your sense of humor.” Harry grumbled, rolling his eyes.

“I’ve always been disturbed.” He shot back. “Anyway, proceed.”

“Well, somehow Ron got wind that there was some secret about Ginny and Draco and he wrote me a letter basically letting me know he’s figured out I know something about it. He’s demanding answers or else he’s going to go to Draco himself. It’s not really that I’m worried about that so much, but if Ron finds out I’ve been keeping something like this from him, well…”

“He is already a bit sore at you, isn’t he.” George shook his head. “You and Ron both, you just let your emotions lead you around. Not that I was one for the stop and rationalize way of living, but you two, it’s like watching a soap opera. Not that I’ve ever watched those.” He added quickly.

“Hey, I didn’t call you here to criticize. I need advice. What should I do?” Harry asked desperately.

“Tell him that Ginny needs to be the one to tell him. She does you know. She’s the one who has to atone for it, if she’s even sorry. I just don’t know about that girl anymore. Oh, pick your head up, Harry, I’m not blaming you.” George floated closer. “She’s been going downhill for awhile. Fred and I were talking about it and we think, well maybe it did start her first year at Hogwarts, when she had that stupid diary. She had Voldemort as his younger self, running around in her head, using her to do things. Mom wanted her to go talk to the healers at St. Mungo’s afterwards, but Ginny refused. Anyway, that’s my advice. Tell him it’s her secret to tell, and you are only doing for her the same as you’d do for him. If he wants to be a crybaby over it, send him to me, I’ll try to talk some sense into him.”

“Thanks George.” Harry smiled. It wasn’t helpful advice, persay, but it would do in a pinch. He could start with that and see where it went. He rubbed his head, which was throbbing worse. He wondered if it was a migraine.

“Harry? Can I ask you something now?” George asked hesitantly.

“Sure, anything!” Harry hid his pain.

“I want to see my folks, but I don’t want them to see me. I mean I want to talk to them but I wouldn’t be able to hold them, touch them. It would almost be like it wasn’t real, and I don’t want mum going through that. Other than Fred’s offer to stand there and let mother hug him in place of me while we talk, I can’t decide what to do. So I guess what I’m asking is, well, was it worth it for you? Is seeing your parents and Sirius again, even like this, is it worth knowing that they still aren’t really there?”

Harry stopped to think, realizing these were the very concerns Hermione had been trying to point out to him earlier. Now that he could accept the decision was entirely George’s, he answered as honestly as he could. “I’m happier knowing there’s a way to contact them, to just see them if I need to. But I didn’t have my whole life with them, before they were gone. So while I’m sad that I lost them in the first place, I couldn’t imagine how your parents feel having made you and kept you alive for seventeen years only to have you taken away by your own brother. And Molly was so deeply affected, I just don’t know. I think it would make them happy, but when the time comes for you to…move on, I don’t know. At least they’d be more prepared then, for you to be gone.”

“Hmm.” Was all George had to say.

(BREAK)

Ron got his chance to go back to Harry’s two days later. Apparently, Harry had written to Arthur asking for permission for them all to go into the ministry archives and his father had agreed to let them go into the office with him that day since he only had one meeting. His own letter from Harry had been unsatisfactory, merely inviting him along to research the coven- no mention at all of Ginny or Malfoy. Although, there had been one name brought up in the letter that made his anger flare. Luna had shown up at Harry’s with Hermione.

Apparently Hermione had had some huge thing with her parents and had run away without telling anyone. Picking up on Harry’s habits, she was- and as selfish as Fred. The fact that she went to Luna and not to him, irked Ron to no end. He, Harry and Hermione were supposed to be best friends, so why was Luna still in the picture. He wasn’t with her anymore, so his friends were supposed to take his side. He felt like he was being shut out. First Hagrid and Malfoy, then Fred, and now Hermione and Luna… Everyone was fleeing to Harry’s and he was left at the Burrow, with a sister who won’t speak to him and parents who’ve gone bonkers.

As soon as his dad pulled up to the curb, he was out and up at the door. Harry opened it wearing a cautious smile. “Hey Ron.”

“Hey, we need to talk before our little trip to the ministry.” He got out quickly before his father joined them.

“Hey, Arthur.” Harry greeted him. “Do we have time for lunch before we go?” Ron was relieved. He had been worried that Harry wouldn’t be willing to talk to him. His dad gave the affirmative, declaring his meeting wasn’t scheduled to start for a couple of hours.

Arthur went off to talk to Fred, while Ron followed Harry to his room. “Where are the others?” he asked as soon as Harry closed the door.

“Draco and Hagrid are in their rooms, Fred is in his room along with your dad I believe. And…the girls are in the kitchen.” Harry carefully concluded.

“You mean Hermione and Luna. You can say her name, Harry.”

“Okay, fine. Luna has taken over cooking duties for the house, not letting anyone else help. So she’s making lunch and Hermione’s keeping her company. Happy?”

“That my ex is in your house cooking for you? I’m thrilled.” He slumped down on the bed.

Harry sighed, taking a seat across the room in the desk chair. “She’s cooking for her and me, Hermione, Hagrid, Draco, Fred, and today for you and your father.” He ticked everyone off on his fingers. “It’s not like I’m starting a harem here, Ron. The girl I have is enough for me.”

“Yeah, I know.” He grumbled. They were getting sidetracked. He hadn’t wanted to talk about Luna.

But maybe you need to. Harry’s voice flitted across his mind. Not being around the psychic twins every day, Ron hadn’t needed to shield his mind, and therefore, had forgotten to build it back up for the visit.

“Maybe I do.” He returned angrily, feeling a bit violated. “But not right now. Right now I need to talk about what went on between Malfoy and my sister and you know about it.”

“Ron-“

“No, Harry. I want the truth. Ginny is… not herself anymore. And I need to know everything that involves the reason for that.”

“But why?”

“Because!” He shouted, jumping to his feet and pacing angrily. “Because if I have all the pieces, maybe they’ll make a whole picture. And then we’ll be able to fix her.”

“What if there’s nothing to fix, Ron? What if this is just what happens to her when faced with fight after fight, tragedy after tragedy, for years on end?” Harry asked. “None of us are the bright eyed eleven year olds we were when we first set foot at Hogwarts.”

“Some are more so than others.” He sighed and faced his best friend. “Please, just tell me what you know about it.”

He took a long time to answer. Ron could see the struggle behind his eyes. Harry wanted to tell him, but there was conflict. Finally he turned from Ron and quietly said, “I just can’t. It’s Ginny’s secret to tell. And Draco’s I suppose, if you really want to go ask him. If they tell you, I’ll be more than happy to tell you everything about it from the time I became involved.”

“That’s not good enough, Harry.”

“You think I don’t know that?” He yelled. “I’m sorry you found out about it at all because it doesn’t involve you. And now you are all twisted around, mad at everyone because they won’t tell you something that’s none of your business! How is that fair to anyone? It’s something that happened, that everyone has put in the past and you are running around trying to stir it up again! Do you think that’s good for Ginny?”

“It’s about my sister but not for me to know, but you know, and Luna. And let me guess, Hermione knows about it too, because you always wind up confessing to her in the end, as if she’s your personal savior!” Ron yelled back. “And who are you to judge what’s good for Ginny, you’re one of the problems that turned her this way! Twisted her all up you did, played on the stupid crush she had on you! All the girls come to Harry anyway, so I’m sure she’ll forgive you someday. I don’t think I ever will, not completely!”

“Yeah, I can see that.” Harry said. “I did what I did. I admitted it was wrong, I apologized. I can’t change it, and my only defense is that I was trying to do the right thing and get you all away from me. What else can I do, Ron?”

Ron stood with his fists clenched. He and Harry had needed to have this out for a long time, but they kept having small arguments instead. This time as they yelled at each other, he actually felt his anger fade. He was losing steam, as if all he had really wanted was to yell, to just shout out his anger at the one person who he felt deserved it most. And now that he had, he didn’t know what came next. “There’s nothing you can do, Harry. Except to promise to never again use my family like that. You knew what was going to happen when you kissed her in front of Hermione; you planned it. Just stay away from Ginny altogether.”

“I can do that.” Harry promised quietly. “But I really think it would be best if you just drop this other stuff. There are things you don’t need to know, or are better off not knowing. Plus you’re just dredging up the past. It’s not like it’s anything pleasant.”

“She’s my sister and she’s in trouble. What else can I do?” Ron clenched his teeth. He saw Harry’s point in not dragging any of the past up for Ginny. But that’s all the more reason Harry should just tell him. Or Luna should have.

“Just forget about it, Ron. That’s what you can do.”

“No, I can’t. I need to know everything that’s happened to her, I need to know why she’s acting this way and how I can help her.” He felt like he was begging, but at this point he didn’t care. He didn’t understand why Harry was being so stubborn.

“Ron, what if it’s not something that happened to her… What if it’s something she did that we’re all keeping quiet? Did you ever consider that?” Harry asked, a bit defensively.

He paused at the thought. Harry looked completely serious. “Well then, that’s all the more reason for me to know, don’t you think?”

(BREAK)

Hermione must have been waiting, because she was through the secret door behind the bookshelf almost before Ron had left by the real one. Harry briefly relayed their conversation, and how he had almost just broken down and told Ron everything. But George had been right. Although Harry and Hermione were co-conspirators by necessity, it was Ginny’s secret to tell. Luckily, Ron had agreed to drop the issue, at least for that day. And he had promised Harry that he wouldn’t go to Draco until after trying again with Ginny. Harry wasn’t sure why he was worried about Ron going to the other boy, just a gut feeling that the confrontation wouldn’t end well- especially if Draco decided to tell Ron everything.

Ron hadn’t been happy to strike a compromise, it had been obvious, but Harry held the card of knowledge and he hadn’t wanted to play it. He felt like the biggest hypocrite in the world; raging against everyone for being kept in the dark by those who said they knew what was best and then doing the same to his best friend.

Lunch went slowly, and Harry’s anxiety grew. He wanted to just go, get to the Archives and find what they needed. It had taken way too long to get the ring, he wouldn’t let time waste like that anymore. Patience was a virtue he had always been in short supply of, but now it was non existent. He wanted to take action and end all of this once and for all, in any way possible. He couldn’t handle the stress of worrying for the safety of so many people much longer. Sharp pains stabbed his right temple and he rubbed it, trying to find relief. These headaches had to stop.

When they finally arrived at the ministry two hours after Arthur and Ron had gotten to Harry’s house, the headache had dulled to a manageable throb. As they were led through the Archives door, Harry foresaw an even worse headache by the time they left. Two rows of folders and filing cabinets seemed to stretch out in front of them, going on for eternity, with a large desk every few yards. The walls and cabinets nearest the door were all bright red and looking down the hallway, it appeared that the colors faded down the color scope, darkening all the way to the end.

“Alright kids, there’s a catalogue right over there detailing where you can find everything.” Arthur pointed to a large cabinet full of tiny drawers. “You are allowed access to this entire section. Anything past the door at the end is restricted.” He eyed them all suspiciously. “In case you get any ideas, there are ministry guards, patrolling past that door. I sincerely hope that none of you would abuse my trust. I had to go through quite a bit to get you all clearance to go this far.”

“Good guilt trip, dad. That should keep us all in line.” Fred cracked.

Arthur ignored him. “When I leave, the door will be locked for security. I will be back after my meeting, but if you are finished before I return, simply knock and you will all be escorted to my office to wait for me. You are to go no where else. And you are not to go anywhere alone.” He finished sternly.

“If we’re with each other, does that count as being alone?” Fred asked smartly.

Arthur glared at his son. “Just because you took it upon yourself to leave my house does not give you the right to disrespect me. There are rules here for a reason. Let us not forget, dementors have infiltrated us here before.” Harry watched Fred blush deeply at the scolding he had received, but he thankfully held his tongue as Arthur took his leave. He didn’t understand why Fred was trying to push his dad’s buttons, but he had other things to focus on. They were on time restraints here.

“Where do you suggest we start this little hunt of yours, Potter?” Draco asked. Harry knew the others were unhappy to have Draco Malfoy among them, especially with Ginny having declined to come. They weren’t the Marauders anymore. But Harry felt better knowing Malfoy was not alone in his house. Hermione and Ron had agreed, however unpleasant they found the idea when he ran it past them, and that was enough for him.

“Isn’t that why we brought the egghead?” Fred asked nudging Hermione playfully.

She sighed and moved to the catalogue drawers, carefully reading the contents written on each one. Finally, near the bottom, she pulled out a drawer and removed several files. “Here, these should lead us all to some information about the coven.” She counted out the folders, there were eight. “Okay, everyone take one, I’ll take what’s left over.”

As soon as everyone had their folders, they spread out to hunt down the place among the filing cabinets where their information could be found. Hermione of course found hers first, right away in the red section. But since she had also taken the two left over, Harry wasn’t worried that she’d run out of things to research. Luna and Fred found theirs near each other in orange, and sat down with large stacks of papers at the same table.

Draco stopped suddenly in front of a cabinet painted bright green and hungrily pulled out the drawer. Harry had a feeling the information he was pulling out was something that he had found to interest him, not their quest. “Hey, Malfoy. Focus.”

“Don’t worry Potter. I’m a multi tasker.” He replied without looking up.

Harry and Ron walked on and on. He reread his folder to make sure he hadn’t passed what he wanted. They were only in the blue and he needed to get to violet. “Finally!” Ron said at last, pulling out a drawer in the last blue column.

“Lucky you.” Harry muttered under his breath. Of course he would pick the one furthest away… his impatience was quickly reaching a breaking point. He went on for another few minutes, leaving Ron far behind him. He began to hope one of Hermione’s folders would bring her this way as it was beginning to feel dark and very lonely surrounded by all this deep violet. And he didn’t like the tingling feeling in the middle of his forehead either. Rubbing the spot, he remembered Luna saying something about psychic energy passing through a third eye and purple being the color for intuitiveness. Well, it must have been true, because the exact drawer he wanted seemed to radiate its presence to him among all the others as he searched it out. He hastily ripped it open and grabbed all the relevant papers.

Rushing to the table a few feet away Harry spread everything out. It appeared he had picked the file with all of the information regarding the Coven’s battle with Marquees. The name repeated over and over and he tried to make sense of what he was seeing, but most of it appeared to be written in another language.

There was one part Harry had no problem reading, and it was exactly was he was hoping to find. Right there among accounts of some grand battle, were the names of the original 12 coven members: Mun-Hee Xing, Isamu Shao, Drishya Talwar, Savita Jha, Meskhenet, Sakhmet, Alexandra Nikas, Thanos Romanos, Hermelinda Aguilar, Gwendolyn Crowley, Lyraline Eldyrwood, and Ashford Deveroux.

He felt victorious. Quickly using the copying spell Hermione had taught them all, he magically transferred all the relevant information onto a blank piece of parchment. Thinking hard, he added all the parts in a different language. After all, if Hermione had been able to read Latin for them last year, who knew what other languages she had mastered. He put everything back in the drawer, the way he had found it and turned to go.

And he really had intended on going back to the others. But he had seen something out of the corner of his eye. It was the door Arthur had told them about. He hadn’t realized he was so near the end of the hallway. Walking closer he felt beckoned, like someone was pulling him closer. The last thing he wanted was to get Mr. Weasley in trouble, but the need to go through that door had become unbearable. His intuition was poking him, prodding him, and he knew there was something back there that he wanted to see. No, that he needed to see. Desperately. The feeling was so strong and so swift, he was acting before conscious of it. And by the time his brain began processing on it’s own, he was through the door.

Footsteps echoed to his left. This was nothing like the rainbow hallway he had just left. It was much darker and three separate tunnels stretched out in front of him, curving out of sight. The footsteps grew louder, someone was coming and Harry had to make a move. Letting his gut guide him, he threw himself down the center tunnel, moving stealthily. Finally he emerged in a bright room with three doors. Without hesitation he went to the one on the left and opened it easily. Something was waiting for him behind that door, something he needed to find. His pulse quickened as he entered the dimly lit room. Inside was one small filing cabinet with only two drawers and stacks and stacks of chairs lining the walls, as if whatever was in those files was studied by several people at once. He moved closer, his heart racing, his breathing shallow, his head pounding in anticipation. The top drawer was clearly marked, Tom Riddle/Lord Voldemort. He had expected this, if he was being honest.

No, it was the second drawer that held his attention. This drawer was marked in big, bold letters, Harry Potter. They had a drawer, all about him, here in this restricted back room, and in the same cabinet with Voldemort. As if we are one thing in their minds, he thought bitterly.

Angrily he pulled out the drawers and his role of parchment and began copying everything. Harry wanted to know what they knew about Voldemort, and what they thought they knew about him. He had just stuffed the last papers back into his drawer when he heard the knob on the door jiggle. Panic swept over him. What would happen if they found him here? Would Arthur lose his job? Would they add this to Harry’s record? Would the others get in trouble? Would they make him leave without all of the information he had gathered? The door slowly swung open as Harry moved quickly to hide himself behind the cabinet. He squeezed his eyes shut and tried to make himself very small, wishing he’d had the foresight to know he’d need his invisibility cloak. Didn’t he always somehow get into trouble; usually doing something he knew he shouldn’t.

“Hello?” a familiar voice called.

Harry’s heart leapt to his throat as he jumped to his feet. “Draco?! What the hell are you doing here?”

“I saw you come back here.” He quietly closed the door, his voice a whisper. “You weren’t supposed to, so I figured you found something worth getting Weasley’s dad in trouble for.”

“What do you mean you followed me?” Harry demanded. “I left you way back in the green section.”

“Yeah, and I finished up what I was doing there.” He held up a sheaf of papers and shook them in front of Harry. “Your little quest brought me all the way to the end in violet. I saw you in front of the door and called your name but you must not have heard me because you went right in. I went to follow you but I heard someone coming and closed the door to wait them out. Then I went in and found this a few feet into the middle tunnel.” He threw down the papers and pulled something else out of his pocket using his only hand. It was his key necklace. Harry felt around his neck, and sure enough, it was gone. How it had fallen off, he didn’t know.

“Thanks.” Harry said taking the necklace.

“We should go back. Did you get everything you wanted out of here?” Draco sneered, obviously glad he caught Harry doing something wrong. Some things may never change.

Without a word, Harry stuffed all the scrolls of parchment into his pockets and hurried to the door. Cracking it open, he listened hard for footsteps. He also sent out his mind, trying to see if anyone was in the vicinity. They appeared to be in the clear. Signaling Draco, he opened the door the rest of the way and led them back down the tunnel. Now that he didn’t feel the pull or desire that had blinded him earlier, he was able to better take in his surroundings. They were dark and depressing, much like his mood. The tunnel felt like a sewer tunnel, dingy and forgotten.

Suddenly footsteps sounded behind them. Still a ways off, but coming closer none the less. The boys sped up their pace, and Harry was grateful to see the opening and exit door come into view, they were easily home free. He skidded to a stop and grabbed the knob, twisting, pulling, pushing. Nothing was happening.

“Come on! What are you waiting for?” Draco hissed right behind him.

“It’s locked or something.” Harry whispered back, scrambling for his wand.

“Alohomora!” He said, but again nothing happened. The footsteps were echoing off the tunnel walls behind them and Harry felt himself panic. With his ears ringing, he shouted out mentally for everyone on the other side of the door. All he and Draco could do was pray someone heard, and was quick enough to open the door.





A/N: So we’re picking up a bit…getting past the set up. Here are some things to ponder…What’s going on with Harry’s headaches? What will George decide to do about his parents? How far will Ron go to uncover a secret? How will Harry ever find all of the descendants of the original coven? What is in those files Harry found? What did Draco stop to look through?…Some answers and a few more questions in the next installment of Harry Potter and the Coven of Warriors.

A/N: All reference to Tom Riddle’s Diary from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling.
Chapter 4: Beginning Again

NOTE: Okay, here we go again. As always, READ, REVIEW and ENJOY!




Harry’s heart was in his throat as he waited desperately to see if anyone heard his call for help. Footsteps echoed in his head, they seemed to come from everywhere and Draco was starting to show his panic as well, clutching at Harry’s shirt as he silently berated himself for going through the door. Harry screamed for the others with his mind, frantically pulling and pushing on the door. It was hopelessly locked. They were going to be caught.

Suddenly the doorknob jiggled in his hand. Someone was on the other side! It swung open and he rushed through pulling Draco with him and quickly shutting the door. Then he grabbed Ron, who was looking at them puzzled, and they all three ran down the corridor until they came back to the others, waiting patiently in the red section.

“What happened to you guys?” Hermione asked as they skidded to a stop, doubled over trying to catch their breath.

“I have no idea! I heard Harry yelling behind the door so I went and opened it and they ran through, grabbed me and we ran down here.” Ron gasped.

“You guys went through the door?” Hermione asked in a stern voice.

“We’ll talk about it later. Let’s just get out of here!” Harry said, going to knock and bring the guards.

(BREAK)

Back at Grimmauld place later, they all gathered in Harry’s room to go over their information. Draco had given Harry his parchments before disappearing into his own room and no one really lamented his absence. Hermione sat next to Luna on the floor, trying to be supportive since Ron had taken a seat between Fred and Harry on the bed. It was a doubly beneficial location, since she didn’t feel like being anywhere near Harry at the moment. She was deeply disappointed that he would risk getting Arthur in trouble by doing the one thing he was asked not to. And he went with Draco no less, someone they just barely trusted. Hadn’t they just been fighting the other day about her not following directions?

“It looks like most of it is written in some weird language.” Harry said, looking through everyone’s notes.

“It’s old English.” Hermione pointed out. She had recognized it right away and thought everyone knew what it was, even if they couldn’t read it. But three blank faces stared back at her from the bed and she was awed.

“Like Beowulf.” Luna added trying to be helpful.

At least one other person in the room knows something about something, Hermione thought. The boys faces remained blank. “I can look it all over later.” She said with a sigh.

“That’s why we keep you.” Fred answered with a grin.

“I know.” She countered.

“Well, whatever the rest is written in, I have the most important part right here.” Harry pulled out one of his papers. “It’s a list of the original twelve coven members.”

She took the list he handed her and looked it over, nodding her head happily. They finally had a starting point. “I can probably use genealogy to trace lineage to the current generation. We should be able to find out who their direct and present descendants are.” She handed the paper back as Fred leaned over to take a look.

“Whoa, check out some of those names. They came from all over didn’t they?” he pointed out.

“Dumbledore did say they had to jump language and cultural barriers to come together.” Harry shrugged. Hermione didn’t see why that would be a problem today, when communication across the world was so much easier.

“I can help you read all this stuff if you want.” Luna offered her assistance.

“You can read it?” Ron asked. It was the first time he had said anything directed to Luna. Everyone appeared startled, Luna included, and waited to see what would happen.

“Um, yeah. My grandmother taught me and Ka- well she taught me. She liked that poem.” Luna stumbled out.

Hermione wondered what she had been about to say, but respectfully, didn’t push the matter. If it was something she wanted them to know, she would tell them. After all, couldn’t any of them be entitled to a secret?

(BREAK)

It had been difficult, being around Luna and pretending nothing had ever happened between them, but Ron had managed. Maybe that meant the next time would be easier. Now, back at the Burrow and in his own room, he thought over what he wanted to say to Ginny. He wouldn’t back down this time, that was for sure. If it was as Harry had implied, and Ginny’s secret was something she had done wrong, then he had even more right to know. If anyone should be protecting his sister, it should be him. He had always felt the most responsible for her, even if he hadn’t always acted upon it as he should have. Walking slowly to her room, he tried to steal himself. He would NOT back down. Knocking twice, he opened the door with his hand in front of his eyes.

“If you’re that worried about it, why not wait for me to answer your knock before barging in?” Ginny asked.

“Are you decent?” He demanded.

“I’m dressed, if that’s what you’re asking.” She replied.

Lowering his hand, he saw her sitting up on her bed, a few books scattered open in front of her. “What are you up to?” he asked trying to sound casual.

“I’m looking through some of the things I had problems with last year at school. What do you want?”

“I just got back from the ministry with everybody.” He told her, as careful as Harry had been earlier not to mention any names that may cause pain. Unfortunately, that was basically the whole group at this point.

“Fabulous. Hope it went well.” She rolled her eyes and returned to reading.

“I asked him, but he wouldn’t tell me anything about it, Ginny.” Ron said.

She looked up at him, fire in her eyes. “It’s none of your business.”

“You are my business. What happened? What did you do?” He asked quietly but sternly.

“What did I do?” she asked rising from the bed. “I thought you said Harry didn’t tell you anything,!”

“He didn’t.” Ron didn’t know why he was protecting Harry. That small fact had been the only thing his tight-lipped friend had let out. “I’ve been thinking, putting things together. So you can straight out tell me what happened, or I can stand here and work on it until I figure in out. Either way, neither one of us is leaving this room until I get answers.” She glared at him. “Fine, have it your way. Let’s see, something last year, that you did, that involves Draco.” He tried to consider everything he knew about either of them last year.

“This is stupid. You’re stupid.” She tried to push past him and leave, but he blocked her way. “This isn’t funny, Ron.”

“No, it isn’t! Nothing about you is funny lately, Ginny! We all know it.” He shoved her back in the room and she stomped away from him.

“Fine! You want to know so bad! I’m the one who stabbed him!” she screamed.

Silence choked the air as her words sunk into his soul. “What?”

“Remember after George was murdered.” She began coldly. He simply nodded. “Well, I got a note from Malfoy asking me to meet him so he could explain. I brought my wand, and just in case, I grabbed a big kitchen knife.”

“Why did you go at all?” Ron interrupted.

“I don’t know. I don’t know why I did a lot of things last year, okay? Shall I go on or have you heard enough?”

“Go on.” He urged. He just had to know how Harry fit into all this.

“Anyway, I went and saw him standing there waiting and I was so mad I just…I don’t know. Suddenly I was walking away, a bloody knife in my hand. I don’t remember anything in between. Then I went home and Harry and Hermione found me. They cleaned me up and hid the evidence. Harry was worried about Malfoy dying, and didn’t want me in trouble for murder, so he placed an anonymous call to the ministry about where to find the body. And, obviously, they found him in time. And that’s it, Ron. That’s all.”

“That’s all! You stabbed someone and made my best friends accessories to the fact! What if Draco decides to turn you in at some point?! Does he even know it was you?” Ron felt frantic.

“Of course he does.” She didn’t seem fazed.

Of course, she’d had time to process. “I can’t believe Harry didn’t tell me about this! Or Hermione.”

“I guess they were worried about what it would do to all of you so soon after George.” She shrugged, completely detached from the moment.

“But you stabbed someone!” Ron was repeating himself, but he had to keep saying it, in order to really believe it.

“Yes, but Harry and Hermione chose to become involved. I didn’t ‘make them accessories’” Ginny said bitterly.

“They were protecting you! And us I guess. Mom would not have done well with that news back then. She wouldn’t do well with it now either. Oh god, Ginny. What were you thinking? He could tell someone!” Ron was torn equally between anger, betrayal, shock and worry.

“If he wanted to, he would have already. I think Malfoy is basically a de-fanged snake at this point. Guess that makes Harry a snake charmer.” She laughed wildly.

“You need to go talk to someone. Someone at the hospital. You’ve needed to for a long time.” Ron said quietly.

“Are you going to make me?”

“Maybe. I’m not going to let you go the way of Percy!”

She threw out her arms and laughed. “And he utters the great betrayer’s name! Is that what you think, Ron. A boy rejects me so I’m going to run to the other side? I’m not that weak.”

“Then be strong enough to admit you aren’t well. Be strong enough to admit you need help. And be strong enough to let me or anyone else help you.” Ron took a step toward his sister, but she put out an arm to keep him away.

“Get out. You got what you wanted, do with it what you will. Just leave me alone from now on.” And to keep the peace he left, but with new resolve to get Ginny the help she needed.

(BREAK)

“I had no control over it, Hermione! That’s what I’m telling you. It was like something was pulling me back there. And I found something after all, didn’t I? And Arthur didn’t get in trouble.” Harry was pleading his case later that night, but even to him, it was weak and he knew what was coming.

“And I just rode a bus and nothing happened after all, did it?!” Hermione shouted.

“I was wrong, I admit it, okay!” he shouted back. He felt terrible. Once again knocked off his high horse, doing something very much like what he had been angry with her for. But he wasn’t going to back down either, he had found those files and he needed her help to go through them.

“I can’t believe you Harry. King of the hypocrites aren’t you? And to risk getting Arthur in trouble when he was doing you a favor! Get out of your own little world, Harry! Your actions affect the rest of us, just like ours affect you!” She turned away from him to wipe away angry tears.

“I’m not going to stand here and go in circles with you, Hermione. I was wrong. And the more times I’m wrong the easier it is to admit it.” He smiled at her, trying to lighten the mood.

“Then it must come to you as easily as breathing at this point.” She muttered, her face a mask of stone.

“Okay, you can have that one.” He sighed. “Look, Hermione, I did what I did, and the end outcome is that I found something.”

“So what?!” she threw her arms in the air. “So what if they’re keeping a file on you and it happens to be in with Voldemort’s information? They probably have files on all of us somewhere in there!”

“Well, we’ll see what you say after I go through it all.”

“How many projects do you need going on Harry? The coven, this mysterious file, keeping Ron from self-destruction over this secret with Ginny, and remake an old enemy into a new adventure buddy, when is it enough stress? When you have a premature stroke or heart attack by your birthday?” She stalked out of the room and into her own.

He followed. “Look, if you don’t want to help, that’s fine, I can ask Luna. Or Fred.”

She froze. “I never said I wouldn’t help.” She said in a low, dangerous voice. “Leave me alone.”

“Hermione-“

“Get out!” she shouted, shoving him out the door and slamming it in his face. They both knew he could open it if he wanted. He didn’t want to.

He was in shock. What had he said to get that response? What had he done? Understanding was so far out of his reach, his only hope was to wait her out and see if she calmed down enough to yell at him. Only once before had he made her so angry, she couldn’t even be near enough to scream her outrage. He hadn’t realized he had just done something as bad as all that. It made him feel tense and uncomfortable.

Walking down the stairs, he ran into Draco coming up, a sandwich in his hand. “Potter.” Draco nodded as they passed. Distracted, Harry merely nodded back and continued on his way. Then his foggy brain cleared and he realized he had wanted to speak with his roommate. He ran back up the stairs and pounded on Draco’s door.

“Something you wanted?” the other boy answered with irritation.

Harry barged in. It was his house after all. “What information did you take from the ministry?”

“Well, I couldn’t read most of it, but it appeared to be about the countries of origin for your stupid coven people.” Draco crossed his arms and leaned against the bedpost. “And I already gave it all to you.”

“You know what I mean.” Harry insisted.

“No, not the slightest idea. Now, if you’ll excuse me?” He motioned toward the door.

“What did you take from the green section?” Harry asked outright.

“Oh, that. Just a little personal information I found relevant. Like you’re the only one who is looking for answers.” Draco walked to his desk and threw the papers at Harry. “Here, so you don’t think I’m trying to create some sort of uprising. It was all about Lucius. You know, my father? Yeah, I figured the ministry probably knows more of the truth about him than I did and wanted to educate myself. You aren’t the only one who never really knew their parents.”

(BREAK)

Hermione threw the book on her bed across the room. Who did he think he was? She tried to breathe out some of her anger, rationalizing that Harry probably hadn’t even realized how much he had hurt her. It didn’t help.

She had always felt that she was indispensable to Harry, if for no other reason than her intelligence. Now, he had Luna, who knew old English, and Fred who could learn anything once he put his mind to it. She may be the smartest, but she wasn’t the only smart one in the group. Even Harry, despite his impulsiveness, was quick to learn things and very adept at applying what he’s learned.

She slumped down to sit on the floor, holding her head in her hands and letting the tears come. Her biggest fear was losing Harry, and she seemed closer to it than ever, for so many reasons. But for him to imply that he wouldn’t need her help, and that it was okay with him that she not help, well that hurt her deeply and made her realize a whole new way she could lose him. She had feared his death, his interest in another girl and his turning into someone she no longer recognized. It had never occurred to her before, that he simply would lose interest in her, for no reason at all.

And how was she supposed to explain any of it to him, when she herself didn’t understand. He hadn’t realized what he’d said, but it was very close to telling her he didn’t need her. What’s more, it was very close to saying that he didn’t care that he didn’t need her. Had he meant it that way? Maybe not, but the way people say things can subconsciously imply things they are really feeling. Never one to put much stock in psychology, she had still studied a bit of the field and found it interesting. Now, it all flooded her mind and she lay herself down on the floor and cried herself to sleep.

(BREAK)

Hermione refused to leave her room for the next two days. By the third, she admitted Luna only long enough to drop off a tray of food. Harry was beginning to worry. He went over it and over it in his head but it wasn’t there. He didn’t know what he had done, but he was sorrier than he’d ever been, because whatever it was, had obviously hurt her very much. He sunk into one of the overstuffed blue chairs in the den and tried to remember every moment of their fight.

“You really don’t know do you?” Luna asked from the doorway a bit later.

“I really don’t.” He admitted.

“You told her it was fine if she didn’t help you because there were other people for you to go to.” Luna said with a sigh.

“Yeah…?” Harry was still confused. They had been fighting and he’d assumed she wouldn’t want to be any part of it at that time, so he assured her he could find someone to help him. What had been wrong?

“Are you kidding me? It was all wrong! Don’t you know Hermione at all?” Luna answered his thoughts.

“Stay out of my head, would you?” he grumbled. “Hermione told you all this?”

“Nope. I watched the argument in your mind a little bit ago.” She shrugged at his look. “I was worried about her too, and her mind is a steel fortress right now. Anyway, she’s obviously upset because you basically said, ‘It’s okay with me that I don’t need you.’”

“That’s not what I said at all!” Harry protested.

“Yes it is.” Luna disagreed. “It’s what Hermione heard, because she measures her own worth in what she feels she’s worth to other people. When it came to you needing her, she felt like she was priceless, and you just crashed her down to bargain bin.”

Harry was saved having to respond to something that suddenly made so much sense by the doorbell. He went to see who was there, Luna right behind him. Opening the door to Dumbledore and Arthur standing on the porch was a shock. The fact that they had a stranger with them trumped it.

“Hello, Harry. We need to talk to Hermione and Draco.” Arthur said.

“I’ll go get them.” Luna volunteered quickly and ran upstairs to comply.

Harry showed them into the parlor where Dumbledore made introductions. “Harry this is Roscoe Drake, he is a Healer from St. Mungo’s. Healer Drake, this is Harry Potter, formerly of Hogwarts.”

“Formerly?” Arthur asked in confusion. Harry grimaced as he shook the Healer’s hand.

“That is perhaps a conversation for another time.” Dumbledore said.

Then why did you bring it up now? Harry thought cruelly at his former Headmaster. He saw the old wizard wince and felt a hint of satisfaction.

“You wanted to see us?” Hermione suddenly asked from the doorway.

“Ah yes! We have news for the both of you. Please, let us all have a seat.” Dumbledore suggested as they all moved to find a place. Harry noticed Hermione had seated herself as far from him as possible and felt guilt roll over him again. He hadn’t realized he’d said something so wrong, he had simply been responding to the argument. It wasn’t the way he felt at all. Was it? Of course not, he told himself shaking his head.

“Hermione, we have contacted your parents, and after a lot of discussion and convincing, we have moved them to a much safer place. Whoever sent those newspapers obviously knows where you lived, and it was unsafe for them to stay there, even with you gone.”

Hermione simply nodded as Arthur picked up the narrative. “As to who actually did send the papers, we’ve made no progress yet, but we are still investigating. We’ll find them.” She nodded again. Harry hoped they took her morose attitude as she was affected by the news she was receiving. He also hoped she wouldn’t ask them to move her somewhere else, safer, away from him. He had to make it right first.

“As for you Draco, let me introduce Healer Roscoe Drake. He specializes in limb regeneration and is the best in his field. Best in the world in his field, actually.” Dumbledore smiled at the shock on Draco’s face.

“You mean…?” He began, but couldn’t finish the thought. He simply looked down at the arm that was no longer there.

“That’s right, Mr. Malfoy.” Healer Drake moved next to Draco and put a hand on his shoulder. “I believe I may be able to help you.”



A/N: How about that? May not be able to call him stumpy anymore. Stay tuned for more!

Chapter 5: Translations and Explanations

NOTE: And we’re back! Look for the action to start picking in the next few chapters as we learn more about the coven and our characters. Come along and Read, Review, Enjoy!



Harry could tell that Draco was trying very hard not to let the hopefulness he felt show through. His face was set in a grim expression as Healer Drake rubbed on the final lotion, but his mind, as Harry saw, was full of light and promise. Harry himself felt a bit disgusted by the sight of Draco’s uncovered stump of an arm. Although it had been magically healed over and was no longer bleeding and oozing the sight of it, ending so abruptly when it should have gone on, was unsettling.

“Alright, Mr. Malfoy. You may feel some soreness tonight, all that means is that the lotions are working. I will be back in the morning to check on you and administer the next dose of lotion and some more hands-on energy work.” Healer Drake was explaining to his patient.

“Thank you.” Draco quietly choked out. Harry saw that it wasn’t getting any easier for Draco to be gracious to his former enemies. He knew it must be strange, to be treated with more kindness by those you were brought up to hate, than by those who did the bringing up.

“Just remember what we told you, Mr. Malfoy.” Dumbledore said solemnly. “This is a new process with limited results. You are the first Healer Drake has tried his newest treatment on.”

“First person.” Drake corrected with a chuckle. “I have had good results in my lab, with animal limb regeneration.”

Harry hoped this worked out for Draco. Though he still wouldn’t venture to call him a friend, Harry was beginning to feel a kinship to young Malfoy. And to give him the expectation that he would be physically (if not mentally or emotionally) restored, well, they had better deliver. He hoped Dumbledore knew what he was doing, bringing around this healer and his new miracle cure in the first place.

And doubting the old wizard’s judgement brought him right back to his anger from earlier. Arthur Weasley had been eyeing Harry the entire time Healer Drake had been working. Dumbledore’s intentional slip during introductions hadn’t gone unnoticed and now that the healer would be leaving, Harry knew what he was in for.

(BREAK)

Hermione had gone back to her room right before the healer had started on Malfoy. Although she was no where near liking him, she wanted this to work for Draco. She found his situation sympathetic, but that didn’t mean she wanted to watch. Besides, Harry was down there, pretending everything was okay. Some part of her had hoped he would follow her, and she had told herself that she would talk to him if he did. But the only one to follow her was Luna, offering assistance with the ministry archive documents.

“Am I overreacting?” Hermione asked as the girls sat, going over all the papers. She feared she was being the oversensitive, overbearing girl she had pledged to no longer be.

“About Harry?” Luna thought for a moment. “I would say, yes and no. Yes, in that you already know he had no idea what he was saying or that his words were being interpreted differently from how he had intended them. No, in that he shouldn’t have wanted to do this without you and therefore if he finds it easy to say something like that, it must be close to the way he’s feeling, which could be a problem. Let’s just say I can see it from both sides.”

“That’s not helpful.” Hermione groaned, collapsing back onto her bed, scattering parchment everywhere.

“No, well that’s because you need to talk to Harry. That would be most helpful. He won’t understand why you’re upset unless you tell him, you know that. It’s just how he is. It’s just how most guys are, if you really think about it.” Luna gathered the papers together and ruffled through them.

“But what if I’m tired of always having to explain myself? Why can’t he just get it? Why can’t he get me?” she whined.

“What fun would that be?” Luna smiled before turning serious. “So, then…. do you think I overreacted with Ron? Should I have just told him about Ginny, and you and Harry helping her?”

“No. I think this power that you and Harry have is something that must be used responsibly. Just because you can know something doesn’t mean you should, right?”

“Right….but he felt like I was always keeping secrets while he didn’t get to have any because I could see his mind so clearly.”

“Well, it’s not your fault he has no depth.” Hermione said smartly, gaining a smile from her friend. “Besides, Ron gets too impatient with people. I would say your situation is completely different from mine, because he was entirely in the wrong.”

“Also because you two are still together. For now.” Luna said sullenly.

“What’s that supposed to mean, ‘for now’?” Hermione demanded. “And I thought you didn’t want to be with Ron anymore.”

” I don’t. And all I meant was, absolutely everything in our lives is so uncertain right now. You yourself felt that it was better to make the most of the time now, since it could be gone tomorrow, didn’t you? Well, put that into action Hermione. Talk to Harry forgive, forget or both or neither. And then move on.”

Hermione began to feel dread gathering in the pit of her stomach. “Why the hurry, Luna? What are you seeing coming to us?”

Luna only shook her head. “It’s just a sense of urgency that’s overtaken me lately. I feel on edge all the time, but nothing clear will come to me.” She confessed. “All I can say is, something’s brewing.”

(BREAK)

“So you just aren’t going back?” Arthur asked in amazement. Harry had relayed his decision and the reasons he had for it after Dumbledore left with Healer Drake. Now Mr. Weasley was staring at him as if he was a stranger, someone he didn’t recognize. Harry felt his heart twinge, but held steadfast.

“Not until Voldemort is gone. Don’t you see Arthur? I can’t sit there anymore and pretend I’m normal or the world is normal. Don’t you see how hard it will be for me?”

“But, Harry-“

“No, I won’t change my mind. Once I know who I’m looking for, I intend to gather the ancestors of the coven. I’ll be doing something useful.”

“And then what?” Arthur asked. “You find these people, and they are everything you hoped, and you somehow convince them to lay down their lives for the fight, and you all gather together and train. And then what, Harry? Even if this works out exactly how you want it to, what happens next?”

“We take action and get rid of Voldemort.” Harry answered simply.

“Okay. And then that works, but it’s taken years to do. Then what?”

“I don’t know! Is that what you want me to say?” Harry threw up his arms. “How does anyone live after so many years of misery and fear and pain? How does anyone live after war?”

“Harry, I’m not trying to change your mind and I’m not trying to make you feel bad. I just want you to think. I’m treating you no differently than I would any of my own children, and you know that. I want you to consider everything in your decision. What if it doesn’t work out? What if you can’t convince these people to join you? What if, gods and goddesses forbid, you lose?”

“So what do you suggest?” he challenged, arms crossed defiantly across his chest.

Arthur thought for a moment. “How about a compromise. For my sake, Harry.”

For Arthur’s sake… Arthur, who only wanted the best for him… who only wanted him to have everything. Arthur, who was the only father he’d ever known. Surely he could find a way to compromise with this man who had given Harry so much when he himself actually had so little give. And he had never asked Harry for anything in return except to be a friend to his son. “Such as?” He asked in a more subdued fashion, uncrossing his arms and facing Mr. Weasley openly.

“Such as, we discuss early graduation with Dumbledore.” Arthur suddenly looked pleased. “Yes, that’s it! You are so quick at learning, Harry, if you could take your exams and place highly for your seventh year, maybe Albus could find a way to have you finish your NEWT year in one semester. Then, with a completed education, you could go out and do whatever you wanted in the world.”

“And if it can’t be done? If I’m unable to finish in one semester?”

“Then do as you please, Harry. But at least you would have tried, instead of just giving up school altogether. And besides, you’ll need time, not only to trace and find these people you’re looking for, but also to learn. To study the past and learn from your ancestors victory.”

A good point. Why not try and get school out of the way in the time they needed to prepare. Harry had decided he didn’t want to waste time, but as Hermione had told him days ago when she was still speaking to him, the research would take as much time as it took, it was unavoidable. “Okay. If it can be worked out as you say, I agree. But…”

“Yes?” Arthur asked, looking happy and proud once more.

Harry liked that Arthur was proud of him again. He and Molly were the ones he had most worried about hurting, and now there was a way to avoid it altogether. If it worked out. But he wanted Hermione and possibly even Ron to benefit as well. Or at least have the opportunity, even if they didn’t want to join him anymore. “I was just wondering if the same arrangements could be made for Hermione. And Ron. Assuming they want to graduate early.”

Arthur looked thoughtful. “I’ve no doubt of Hermione, but Ron. Well, he is a matter I would have to discuss with Molly. You know it will be a lot of work, if we can fix this for you.”

“At this point, I’m prepared for just about anything.”

(BREAK)

Draco sighed and ran his hand through his hair. So far everything he had found out about his father in the ministry archives was public knowledge. Though he still had several more papers to go through, he was already feeling frustrated. He looked down at his arm, which was tingling painfully, and thought of Drake’s words. He wanted to hope that this would work, even believe it. But he just couldn’t. If it didn’t work, well, he just couldn’t stand anymore disappointment. Better to keep one’s expectations low.

He knew he had led a life of selfishness, and while he still didn’t see anything wrong with most of it Draco now knew, after watching how friends and family are supposed to act, what he had missed out on. While he had never been denied any physical need or want, attention had never been paid to his emotional needs and wants. He grew up revering his father, and then fearing him and now, hating him… this cold, proud man whom his own son barely knew.

Feeling drained, he reached for another stack of notes. These appeared to be a chronicle of Lucius’s early life. He intended to merely scan through them, but three pages in, his eyes caught a few words that made him go back and read through more carefully. He couldn’t believe what he was reading and smiled with a deep sense of demented satisfaction.

(BREAK)

Harry knocked lightly on the door. He wanted to share the news with Hermione, even if he would feel he was talking to a brick wall. But some part of him hoped that returning to school, even for a semester, would thaw her feelings toward him. He hated when she was unhappy with him; his stomach had been churning for days. Of course, he hated when anyone he cared for was unhappy with him. Isn’t that why he was giving in at all? To keep Arthur and Molly happy?

“Harry.” She said simply when she finally opened the door. He could see Luna through the door, sitting on the bed surrounded by parchment.

“Hi. I, uh…well I sort of wanted to talk to you.” His tongue felt two sizes two big.

“Okay. Well I, uh, sort of wanted to talk to you too.” She said sharply.

“I didn’t mean it that way, Hermione.” He sighed. “I’ve wanted nothing other than to talk to you, but it didn’t seem like the best idea since every time I open my mouth around you I seem to stick my foot in it.”

“I think I’ll be going to bed now. It’s very late.” Luna said, rising and pushing through them into the hallway. “Goodnight. Good luck.” She added before disappearing down the stairs. It instantly felt colder, now that it was just him and Hermione.

“Can I come in?” He asked.

“I don’t see why not.” She answered, moving away from the door as he cautiously followed closing it behind him. “Harry, I don’t want it to be like this, us always fighting.”

“You think I do? I guess I need to be more careful of the way I phrase things, because I never meant to say I didn’t need you, and I certainly never meant to say I didn’t want you.”

“I know.” She said quietly. “But sometimes, we say things we didn’t mean, because secretly, without even knowing, it’s how we really feel.”

“Not the case here. I’m just horrible at expressing myself. Or you’re horrible at interpreting my meanings.” He smiled.

Surprisingly, she smiled back. “Whichever, I don’t want to waste anymore time on this. So just promise me something, Harry.”

“Anything in the world.”

“If you ever do feel like you don’t want me, please just tell me right away, rather than lie to my face because you think it’ll make me happy. In the end, we’d both be miserable.”

“It’s a ridiculous promise, since I’ll never have to keep it, as I don’t intend to ever tire of you, Miss Granger.” He reached out and picked up the ring hanging from her neck. “Besides, I already made a promise to you, to love you forever.”

“You can love someone in many ways, Harry. And you can keep a promise to love me, even if that love changes forms.” She whispered.

“I already love you in every single one of them.” He said before lifting her chin and bringing his lips to hers. She didn’t pull away as he had feared, but rather sighed into his arms.

“Promise me anyway.” She said quietly when they broke apart.

“Okay, I promise.”

(BREAK)

Harry sat at breakfast, feeling a new man. He and Hermione had made up several times the night before, and he was more grateful than ever that they had the whole top floor to themselves… no offense to Ron. He hadn’t had the opportunity, or inclination, to bring up school but he was much more satisfied with the way they chose to spend their evening than if they had spent the night talking.

Fred came into the kitchen, grumbling to himself and interrupting Harry’s daydream remembrance of his night. “I can’t believe it!”

“What’s wrong, Fred?”

“Someone broke into the store!” He pushed his plate away in disgust.

“What? What are you talking about?” Harry asked, instantly on alert.

“I just got an express from Lee. He went in to open the store and found it completely trashed. Someone set fire to the place and he thinks some things may have been stolen, but almost everything is broken or ruined, so it’s hard to tell. He wants me to come down there.”

“Well, the floo entrances have been closed off. Maybe Lupin can take you. I’ll go too, help if I can.” Harry offered.

“Thanks.” Fred grumbled.

(BREAK)

It was a bad idea to go to Diagon Alley. But Harry had made up his mind, and she knew better than most how his mind worked. Luna sighed. She had tried to tell Hermione her fears, but she had brushed them aside, determined to accompany Fred and Harry to help. Or so she claimed. Luna knew the truth; Hermione didn’t want Harry going anywhere without her, as her biggest fear was never seeing him again should he leave her sight. Perhaps they all feared that. Luna knew she did herself. Harry took too many chances.

And so, here she was, going along with everyone else to Fred’s shop. Even Draco had come along, arranging to meet with Healer Drake at the Leaky Cauldron for his next treatment. Luna smiled. Draco knew Harry didn’t like having him alone in his house and had changed his plan accordingly. Maybe she could trust this new Draco she was seeing. Of course, once Harry and especially Ron found out the secret Draco was keeping, even from himself…well, time would tell with that one.

She sighed to herself, looking out the window as the others chattered nervously about what condition they would find the store. There were so many secrets she knew, and so many she was keeping. Her head ached. She wondered when she should tell Harry the second biggest secret she was keeping. It had taken only a glance at his notes from the ministry to know. Her grandmother had kept her and Kane well apprised of their family and their ancestors since they were young. She knew many of them by name, and felt closer to some, even though long dead. Gwendolyn Crowley had been her ancestor. On her father’s side, and whether through her name alone, Luna had felt an instant kinship with Gwen most of her life, though she had lived a few thousand years before. She had even wondered once if she was Gwen, reincarnated.

Of course, intuition had poked at her the instant Harry had begun speaking of the Coven, but she hadn’t really believed it until she had seen the name herself. And now, how was she to deliver the news. Perhaps he would be happy that there was one less person to find. The fact that he had asked her once about her family made her think he may have suspected already. She had told Harry once, that she had seen them all standing together at the end, and she still saw it. But she also saw this as one more thing to tear them all apart. It was one more thing she and Harry shared that Hermione and Ron couldn’t be a part of, and while for now, Hermione was unbothered by Luna’s closeness with Harry, that could all change in the blink of an eye, and with the right stimulus. And Ron, he was so far gone with jealousy over Harry, even he didn’t know how far. Ron felt he was losing his entire life to Harry, and it was hurting their friendship more and more. While she didn’t want to be with him anymore, she still cared deeply for Ron, and wanted him to be happy. He deserved to be happy, they all did.

But their collective happiness was still a long way and many battles off. She knew that too. It was the biggest secret she was keeping from them, because they just weren’t ready to admit what would make them happy, herself included.

(BREAK)

“You okay?” Harry asked Luna as he extended a hand to help her out of the car.

“Here already?” she asked, shaking herself out of her reverie.

He wondered what she had been thinking that had so consumed her that she hadn’t noticed their arrival or the fact that everyone else had gotten out of the car already.

She placed her hand in his to allow herself to be helped from the car. Her hand was clammy and cold. Her eyes held worry and confusion. And her mind, it was swirling, tumbling, crashing. And then she let go of his hand and it was over. She was Luna again, calm, cool, and collected. Her eyes were a normal sparkling blue and held nothing more than a hint of secrecy.

After leaving Draco in the capable hands of Healer Drake and his assistants, they headed out behind the Leaky Cauldron to the alleyway. Once the bricks moved aside, there was a small group of Aurors, led by Kingsley, waiting for them. “You don’t have more important things to do than escort us about town?” Harry asked with a smile.

“Nope. This is the most important job I could be assigned.” Kingsley returned with a smile of his own.

Taking Hermione’s hand, Harry let Fred and Lupin lead the way down Diagon Alley to the Weasley Bros. Laugh Emporium. Upon entering, they all stood looking around in shock. Apparently, Lee had been holding back in his description. Nothing really could have prepared them for what they saw. Every piece of furniture had been shattered into splinters, merchandise sat in pools of melted messes, and the walls were charred black. Shattered glass littered the floor, and fallen ceiling beams lay crashed, forming a dangerous maze through the entire store.

“Lee?” Fred called out, his voice shaky with uncertainty and anger.

“Back here!” was the reply.

They all carefully picked their way through the mess, Harry helping Hermione and Luna over the larger obstacles. Once clear of the showroom, they went down the short hall to the office/lab in the back. Lee was huddled on the floor, gathering papers that had been thrown all over. “I don’t know if they just wanted to make a mess, or if they were looking for something.” Lee told them desperately. “I don’t know what was in all these files.” He said apologetically to Fred.

“Don’t worry about it.” Fred answered, low and dangerous.

“I’m so sorry, mate.” Lee said, looking as if he wanted to cry.

“You didn’t do it. And better you weren’t here. I just wish I knew why. I didn’t have anything important here.”

“Nothing important at all?” Lupin prodded.

“You’re absolutely sure?” Kingsley demanded.

“Yes! Everything important I keep with me. This was all orders and receipts! I don’t even keep the potion recipes here!” Fred threw his hands up in frustration, looking around desperately.

“Well they had to have some reason.” Hermione said softly.

“Fred! Harry! Remus!” they heard Arthur calling frantically from the front.

“Back here, Dad!” Fred shouted.

Arthur arrived at the door of the office, panting, his face bright red. “We have to go! Now!” he shouted. Grabbing the arm nearest him, which happened to be Luna’s, he pulled her toward the back exit, motioning the others to follow.

“What’s going on?” Harry and Lupin asked at the same time.

“We have to go!” Arthur replied urgently, still pulling Luna.

“They’re coming, aren’t they, Mr. Weasley? The Dementors? I was afraid of that.” she replied.

He stopped long enough to look at her inquisitively. “My dear girl, they are already here.” He quietly replied. And then, Harry could hear people screaming out in the street.





A/N: Well! With dementors flooding Diagon Alley, Draco discovering a secret about his father, Luna keeping some big secrets and Ron’s discovery of his sister’s secret, there certainly is a lot to look forward to! Stay tuned for the next installment, and leave your thoughts in the form of a review at the door!

Chapter 6: Battle Scars

NOTE: And the battle begins! In this chapter, I hope we can gain a little more insight into our characters, as they are now fighting in a completely different dynamic than they have in the past. After all, they are no longer the Marauders, with Neville and George gone, Ginny and Ron avoiding their friends, and Draco Malfoy now part of the group by necessity. So go on, Read, Review and Enjoy!



Harry followed Arthur, Lupin and Kingsley down the alleyway, his wand out and ready, his other hand tightly clutching Hermione’s. He didn’t want to chance losing her in any sort of mob. Behind them and with their wands out as well, were Fred and Luna, also holding hands so as not to get lost. Lee and a few Aurors brought up the rear. Reaching the outlet, Arthur brought them to a halt while Kingsley poked his head around the corner.

He turned back to them, his face grim. “It doesn’t look good. It appears there are some who are fighting, but there are already casualties.” Kingsley reported.

Harry’s blood was bubbling, and hiding here in the alley was not the place he wanted to be. Regular witches and wizards were out there risking their lives, and he, Harry Potter was cowering in an alleyway because no one wanted him to be hurt. Well, wasn’t this one of those times for him to prove why they’re all supposed to put their faith in him?

“Do you see any clear path out?” Arthur asked desperately.

“Not unless you can set up a portkey.” Kingsley answered, worry clogging his voice. “They are everywhere and unless we move, they’ll find us here soon.”

“Then let’s go get them!” Harry yelled, releasing Hermione’s hand, summoning his Patronus and racing out into the street, ignoring the frightened calls behind him.

(BREAK)

Healer Drake had just packed up his things and left. Draco remained in the room Potter had booked, grateful that he had been provided privacy. It was almost more than he could take the night before, having not only Potter, but Arthur Weasley and the Headmaster see his bare stump. Hell, Draco himself had trouble looking at it. Examining the arm now, as it tingled in a ticklish, slightly painful way, he tried to see any progress. There didn’t appear to be any.

Draco’s head was reeling and he lay back on the bed to rest before Potter and the others returned. Between the vague hope that his arm would be healed, the emotions swirling from having to depend on Potter’s side of the war, and the information he had learned about his father the night before, he wasn’t sure he even had the drive to go on. He felt exhausted all the time now, and despite how much he ate, he was losing weight at an alarming rate. Not to mention the fact that he hadn’t slept more than four hours in the last five days. Drake had said it was due to stress, and probably even depression. Well, duh. The healer had left him with some herbs to take, but Draco doubted they could help heal the gaping emptiness he felt inside. Sometimes he wanted to take them all out, his father, Lord Voldemort, and Potter, Dumbledore and their Order. He sometimes wished they’d go up in flames so that he would finally be free of them all.

Screams from downstairs knocked him out of his thoughts. Curious and a bit fearful, he grabbed up his wand and slowly opened the door. Creeping down the hall to the railing at the top of the stairs, he carefully peered down at the lobby below where his eyes took in the unlikely sight of his father, surrounded by Death Eaters and a few Dementors to boot. Lucius was staring down the patrons of the Leaky Cauldron, who had pressed themselves against the wall, as far from danger as they could manage. Draco stifled a gasp, as Lucius turned with a vicious smile toward the figure now entering the inn. It was Lord Voldemort himself.

“Where is Potter?” Voldemort hissed at the terrified innkeeper. “He was seen coming in here. Where is the boy?”

He didn’t wait to see anymore. Draco turned and ran back to his room, looking around desperately. The only window faced the alley and peering down he could see the entrance to Diagon Alley. He now had a choice to make. Stay and hide, or run to get Potter and the Aurors. What would he do, be the coward or be the hero?

(BREAK)

Lupin had immediately taken off after Harry, though not to stop him. It was clear the man was as ready as his young friend was to fight. Hermione was two seconds behind him, slipping through Arthur and Kingsley who had tried to stop her. As she called on her own Patronus, she knew they were all behind her now, running into battle. Her silver otter glided steadily through the air at the nearest dementor, but it was Harry’s stag, enormous and determined that was really doing any damage. Already, she realized they had kept the Dementors from moving any further down Diagon Alley. They were now being pushed back, though still attempting to fight their way forward. It was obvious they knew Harry, maybe had even come for him, because they were coming at him faster than his stag could block them.

She shouted for Fred, Luna and Lee, and together all four focused their own Patronus creatures toward Harry. The adults, along with those on the street capable enough to call up the spell, had begun taming the stray Dementors while others began tending the afflicted. They were making headway, and very soon began moving forward, pushing the Dementors even further back. They had to retreat soon, didn’t they? How much could they take? They seemed stronger than Hermione remembered and she wondered if giving into their true dark nature had given them more power.

Suddenly, a large, long snake appeared, wrapping itself around a group of Dementors to her left. Looking for the caster, she saw none other than Draco Malfoy limping towards them. He had come to help, and her relief far outweighed her surprise. That is, until Malfoy shouted over the din of battle to Harry. “Hey, Potter! Voldemort’s at the inn and looking for you!”

(BREAK)

Draco’s words pierced Harry’s brain. Voldemort was right there, not more than a quarter of a mile down the street. Seeing that the Dementors were now heading back that way, he began to follow them, but was grabbed unexpectedly by Arthur, Kingsley and two other Aurors. “Don’t fight us, Harry!” Arthur said harshly.

“What are you doing?” Fred demanded of his father.

“Let me go!” Harry shouted at the same time.

“If you think I’m going to let you just run in there and up to Voldemort you’ve got another think coming.” Arthur said with determination as Harry struggled against him.

“If you think I’m going to let you stop me YOU have another think coming!” he shouted.

“Dad! Let him go!” Fred began pulling on his father and the Aurors. Without question, Lee joined him, both trying to help free Harry.

“Arthur, someone needs to go to the inn and help. Stopping him may not be the best idea.” Lupin suggested, looking down the street nervously.

“Sir?” Kingsley asked Arthur, still with a firm hold on Harry’s left arm.

“Come on!” Arthur yelled. “We are getting the kids out of here!”

“I am not a child!” Harry screamed. He knew what he had to do to get free. He really didn’t want to, not against these people, but he had no choice. Voldemort was there doing god knows what to god knows who because he wanted Harry. Well, he’d give himself over, if Voldemort had the ability to take him. Harry stilled himself, focusing all of his energy.

“No! Harry, don’t!” someone yelled. He thought it was Luna. But that wasn’t going to stop him.

In his mind he put each one of his captors in a protective bubble. “Duck.” He said simply, looking at Fred, who threw himself to the ground, dragging Lee down with him. Instinctively, Lupin lowered himself as well. And then Harry pushed and Arthur, Kingsley, and the other two Aurors flew down the street. He bound them there with his mind. “Just give me a few minutes head start.” He asked of the adults now struggling on the ground to free themselves from Harry’s spell. He hadn’t used his wand to bind them, and he knew, with enough time and distance, his mind would release them. Without a word to the others, he ran toward the Leaky Cauldron.

(BREAK)

Luna had stood on the sidelines with Hermione and Draco, watching Harry struggle against the adults as Fred and Lee tried to free him. She searched and searched, but the feeling wouldn’t come and she couldn’t get a sense of what the future held. Of course, from what she had seen previously, she didn’t believe this was Harry’s time to die, and therefore, wasn’t sure that holding him back would be the best move in the long run, agreeing with Lupin that they should let him go. Harry already had so many trust issues with the adults in their life, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were the only ones besides Lupin he still held in any sort of regard. She hoped Mr. Weasley wouldn’t ruin that now, with his own fear for Harry’s safety.

And then she caught it. Harry’s thought and his regret for what he was now being forced to do. “No, Harry! Don’t!” she tried to call out, but it was too late. Fred, Lupin and Lee had thrown themselves out of the way as Harry’s four would-be saviors flew backwards.

Then Harry had taken off as Lupin the boys quickly climbed to their feet and followed. And before she knew it she and Hermione were running as well, with Draco limping along right behind them.

(BREAK)

Fred finally felt alive again. The battle, the chance to avenge George, Ginny and even Percy was before him. And then his father had tried to stop Harry from going and Fred had seen red. He wasn’t an idiot. He knew he needed Harry to help get the revenge, the satisfaction that he needed against these people who were tearing his family apart. There was no way Fred could come up against Voldemort and not be pummeled. But Harry could, and he could help Harry. But here was his father, trying to ruin everything.

He yelled for Harry’s release, pulling on those holding his friend back. He felt desperate, and anxious and angry. He hated his father in that moment, for not understanding when he should have. They all needed this to end, and if Harry could do it now, if they could help Harry do it now, then it would finally be over.

Harry’s voice broke through in his thoughts, telling him to duck. He knew instantly what Harry intended to do and dragged Lee down too, for his protection. As his father, Kingsley, and the others flew down the street, Fred didn’t feel remorse. They had tried to tell them, after all. And now, it was time to work.

They exited Diagon Alley and Harry stopped them outside the back door of the inn. We need to get in there stealthily. Any ideas?

Draco simply pointed up, where the end of a bed sheet dangled just out of reach above their heads.

That’s how you got out? Luna thought to Draco. He nodded and shrugged his shoulders.

Harry went first, silently instructing Fred and Lupin to help hoist up Draco and the girls. He and Lee helped pull them all through the window. Once they were all safely in the room, Fred steeled himself, ready for anything.

(BREAK)

Okay, you guys stay here. I’ll be back. Harry thought to everyone.

They hell we will! Fred thought back, finally able to both hear and respond to Harry’s thoughts. Harry assumed it was because he was growing stronger with his new abilities, but didn’t have time now to figure it all out. His quarry was down there.

He shot Fred a glare, and thought, just to Fred, I don’t want Hermione or Luna down there!

Too bad, we’re all here and we’re wasting time! Fred answered.

Harry, I’ve let you come this far, but I will not in good conscience let you go down there by yourself. Lupin thought angrily.

Fine! Will you two at least wait at the top of the stairs, out of sight? Harry thought desperately to the girls.

For as long as we can. Luna answered for them both. Hermione gave her a sharp look, but Luna only shook her head at the other girl. They were obviously having their own private conversation.

Finally Hermione was in his head. Okay, we’ll say up here and watch for as long as we’re able to.

Harry couldn’t stop to analyze the comment. It was enough that she had promised anything at all. He led the way down the hall, wand at the ready and peered over the railing, the others crowding around to see. It wasn’t a very nice sight.

Voldemort was sitting at a table. A man, whom Harry recognized as the innkeeper who had rented him the room earlier, was seated across from the powerful wizard, bleeding from his ears, sweating and panting. The man’s wife and two children were being held off to the side by Lucius Malfoy, who was grinning wickedly at the innkeeper and waving his wand threateningly in his family’s faces. “This can end. Just tell me where Harry Potter went. We’ll find him anyway, my Dementors are out searching Diagon Alley as we speak!”

As Voldemort raised his wand to submit the man to more torture, Harry flicked his eyes and sent the wand flying. Concentrating hard, he flew it toward himself, catching it as he started down the stairs with Lupin, Fred, Draco and Lee close behind him. “You were looking for me?” he angrily asked his foe, now rising to meet him. “You seemed to have lost something.” Harry held up the wand.

“Harry Potter.” Voldemort hissed.

“Tom Riddle.” Harry responded.

(BREAK)

It was more than Hermione could bear. She watched as Harry faced down Voldemort, and felt her heart lodge in her throat. The last thing she had wanted was to stay up here while he faced this without her, but Luna had been in her head and had made a good point. If Harry had to worry about what they were doing, he wouldn’t be able to focus on Voldemort and could grow careless. That was really the last thing she wanted, for him to lose because of her. So she stayed behind and watched, having vaguely promised to stay put. Of course, if the boys needed help, she and Luna both were determined to jump in.

“No headmaster to save you this time, Potter.” Voldemort was saying.

“Maybe I don’t need him this time.” Harry growled back.

“You don’t seem to realize that you are outnumbered here.” Voldemort sneered, indicating the twenty or so Death Eaters, all with wands pointed at the four boys and Lupin, as well as the four dementors waiting patiently behind the small army.

“You don’t seem to realize that I’m not the only one who is tired of you.” Harry sneered back, indicating not only his four allies and their wands, but the other patrons of the inn who until Harry’s appearance had been cowering along the wall. Now, every witch and wizard of capable age who had their wands drew them, and were advancing on the Death Eaters, now looking slightly less menacing.

Unlike his followers, Voldemort appeared unshaken. “Then let our pawns go to work, this is between you and me.”

“If that’s true, why not let everyone else leave, and you and I can settle it.” Harry suggested bravely. Hermione was proud of him, scared for him and rooting for him. And then his voice was in her head.Hermione, Luna! Find a way to get all the small kids out of here!

Looking at Luna, they reached a silent agreement and snuck downstairs, their wands out. Carefully moving through the crowd, they gathered children from grateful parents who were determined to stay and fight, but scared for their progeny. Together, the girls led all the kids into the back alley, where they saw Kingsley, Arthur and several Aurors heading straight for them, angry expressions plastered on their faces. Hermione let herself feel the dread that comes to her from disobeying authority. But she refused to be sorry. If they had kept Harry from the inn, they would have lost him completely, he would have hated them all and she knew it.

Arthur reached her first and took her by the shoulders. “Hermione! What’s going on, where’s Fred? Where’s Harry?” he asked desperately.

“In there. He told us to get all the children out so the parents could focus.” She said quickly.

“What’s it look like in there?” Kingsley asked, pulling out several weapons.

“Harry has Voldemort’s wand, but I’m not sure how much good that will do.” Luna answered.

“There are about twenty Death Eaters, four Dementors, and about thirty people on our side, only about half with wands. Harry and Voldemort were in the middle of the room facing each other down last we saw.” Hermione completed the report.

“Okay. You four,” Kingsley indicated four random Aurors, “stay here and watch out for the girls and the children. Arthur, are you ready?”

“As much as I can be.” The minister replied before turning to the Aurors assembled behind him. “My sons are in there, please, let’s be successful.” Arthur begged.

(BREAK)

Luna had caught Arthur’s words. He had told them all his sons were in there when begging for their discretion. And he had meant it. To Arthur, Harry was his son in every way that counted. She felt for him, worried as she was for Harry and the others herself.

And then the feeling came, some decision had been made that was setting something else in motion. Her ears roared, drowning out any noise, and her head swam, her vision blacking out. She knew she was swaying on her feet and quickly lowered herself to the ground so she wouldn’t fall. And then the flashes came, the images showing her the future.

(BREAK)

Harry glared down Voldemort, sensing the girls moving through the crowd. He kept his focus, so that the enemy wouldn’t notice. As soon as he sensed they were out of the building, he stepped forward, Voldemort’s wand held out. “Take it back, Tom. I’m not you, I wouldn’t go after an unarmed man.”

“I find it amusing, that you think I need that piece of wood to take care of you.” The other sneered.

“I find it amusing that you think it’ll be so easy to get rid of me. Wasn’t that easy in the past for you, was it?” Harry shot back.

“I could say the same. You forget, I’ve been surviving since before your pitiful parents even knew each other!” Voldemort roared. Harry knew his enemy was angry. Angry that he had been so easily disarmed, angry that Harry dare stand up to him in front of so many witnesses, and most angry that Harry was offering his wand back to him, as if that were the only thing that could save him. He knew Voldemort wanted nothing more than to reach out, take his wand and curse Harry to death, but to do so, to take back his weapon from his enemy would be a show of weakness in front of his followers.

Harry felt a foreign presence in his head, Voldemort was trying to push his way in. Steeling up the fortress he envisioned around his mind, Harry pushed the other completely out. He felt satisfaction at the brief flash of surprise in his foe’s eyes. “Tell you what, how about if I put this right here on the table for you. That way you don’t even have to come near me.” Harry taunted. He felt Fred and Lee’s smiles and Draco’s disbelief.

“How about if I just kill you where you stand?!” Lucius yelled coming forward, wand waving wildly. Draco stepped between Lucius and Harry, his own wand trained on his father. “I’ll kill you too.” He threatened his son in a whisper. “We both know I’d do it without hesitation.”

“Lucius!” Voldemort shouted, never removing his eyes from Harry’s. “What you do with your treacherous son is your own business. Potter is mine. He has some things to answer for.”

“As do you.” Harry countered. He threw Voldemort’s wand to the floor, raising his own. He was tired of playing games, it was time to get this show on the road. He didn’t need the coven, and he didn’t need the order. He only needed his own drive. The wand stopped rolling at it’s owner’s feet, but Voldemort made no move to pick it up. And then it seemed everything was happening at once.

Lucius had made a move, and Draco and Fred had stepped up to stop him, one throwing a stunner the other a binding spell. And that was all it had taken. The Leaky Cauldron patrons had moved as a whole and clashed against the Death Eaters. And then the back door had crashed open and Arthur, Kingsley and several Aurors rushed in, aiding in the attack.

Surrounded by fighting, only two figures remained still. Harry’s gaze and wand had never wavered from his enemy, and Voldemort still hadn’t made a move to recover his wand. He was studying Harry very carefully. “Something’s different about you, Potter. What are you hiding?”

“Oh, sure. No problem, I’ll just let you in on all my secrets.” Harry returned sarcastically. “How about sharing a few of yours as well?”

“Why don’t you just kill me?” Voldemort asked, an amused smile on his thin lips. “I’ve been unarmed for quite awhile now. Why don’t you just kill me?”

“Give me a reason.” Harry challenged.

“I think that you believe I have already given you several. So where’s the follow through, Potter?” Voldemort taunted.

Harry turned hard. “You know who you sound like? Bellatrix LeStrange. She kept taunting me to kill her, you know how that played out.”

His comment had hit home, as he had hoped. Bellatrix had meant something to Voldemort, though what Harry didn’t know yet. It sure hadn’t been love. “As I said before, you have some things to answer for.” Voldemort replied darkly. And then, almost quicker than Harry’s eye could follow, quicker than he had thought it possible for his enemy to move, Voldemort had bent down and retrieved his wand. Harry dodged the spell thrown at him and threw one of his own back. The two enemies had locked themselves in dueling mode.

(BREAK)

Draco didn’t know what to do. Ever since attempting to climb out the window to warn Potter, injuring his leg in the process, he felt he had made the wrong decision. He had landed hard on his side when he fell, having realized too late that it was extremely difficult to climb out a window and down a bed sheet with only one arm. And now because of it, his leg was throbbing painfully and he examined it for serious injury as he hid.

After Fred Weasley had helped him stop his father, he had bravely run off to help the others. Draco had instinctively hid behind the bar, knowing there were many people out there who wished him dead, his father first and foremost among them. He felt like a coward, he felt like a child, he felt like he never hated Lucius more. But he didn’t know if he could kill his own father if it came down to it. He really had no problem if someone else did it though. He just hoped he’d get a chance to ask his father a few questions first, but if that didn’t happen, it wouldn’t keep him up nights anymore than he already was.

Peering over the counter, he saw Potter, locked in a duel with the Dark Lord, both moving more quickly and with more determination than any of the other fighters. Neither appeared to be making any headway against the other and both were breathing hard from the effort. Secretly, he admitted to himself he wanted Potter to win. He was far less terrific and troublesome.

Glancing around, he saw that the others were making progress. Fred, Remus Lupin and a few other people were keeping the Dementors at bay, their Patronus spells weaving in between their prey. Arthur and the Aurors were taking down and rounding up Death Eaters as they went, though Draco took the time to wonder where exactly they would be taking such prisoners. And then he saw Lucius, finally free of the binding cast on him earlier. He was cursing random people in the back, and Draco watched them fall in agony. The Auror called Kingsley had apparently seen the same thing and raced to stop him. Unfortunately Lucius’s angry cry of “Crucio!” reached the other first. He watched as his father prepared to cast again, intending to end the man’s life as he writhed on the floor. It wasn’t fair.

“Father!” Draco screamed for the elder Malfoy’s attention. It worked. The Auror was safe, all but forgotten now that Lucius had his son in his sights. Draco wondered what exactly he had intended to do, but didn’t let his uncertainty show. He held his wand out steady and stood firm.

“So that’s where you were hiding, you little sneak.” Lucius advanced.

(BREAK)

Hermione shook Luna again, but the girl’s head lolled uselessly on her shoulders. She was breathing, she had assured the Aurors of that and asked that they take the children around the corner so they wouldn’t have to see anything they shouldn’t. One Auror stayed behind, determined to carry out orders. After all, they were supposed to be protecting her and Luna as well, but he kept his back to them for privacy.

After what seemed like an eternity, Luna fluttered her eyelids open and came back to her. “Luna! What happened? What was that? Are you okay?”

The other girl simply gasped and tried desperately to get up. Hermione tried to hold her still. “No!” Luna cried, pushing Hermione away and jumping to her feet. “We have to help or Lucius will kill him! We need Draco!” And without waiting for Hermione or the Auror, she dashed inside.

Hermione immediately made to follow, but was stopped by her guard. She didn’t have time for this, and taking a cue from Harry, she used her wand and bound the man where he stood. Then she quickly followed Luna in, wondering what in the world they needed Draco for.

The other girl had stopped just inside and was scanning the crowd. Hermione instantly searched for Harry. He and Voldemort were fighting alone, launching spells at each other almost faster than her eyes could perceive. Harry was tired, she saw it clearly, but so was his adversary. She prayed Harry’s determination was stronger. Arthur was busy with his Aurors, dueling down the last nine Death Eaters not captured. Fred, Lupin, Lee and some of the inn’s customers were holding off Dementors. Only now, instead of the four that had originally been there, more were pouring in through the front door, possibly the ones they had dispelled from Diagon Alley earlier. As they had been entering, more people had jumped in to call up a Patronus and hold them off. They appeared to be running out of people who had the skill and most of those that did, weren’t casting nearly as strong as the Aurors and Fred and Lee, former DA members, taught by Harry himself.

She had been about to go aid Fred, when Luna clutched her arm and pointed. Draco was behind the bar, his wand pointed directly at his father who in turn had his own wand directed at his son and was advancing. “What do we do?” Hermione asked desperately.

“I don’t know, but we better figure out something, fast.” Luna said, rushing toward the scene. Hermione went the other way, so that she and Luna could flank Lucius. Once they were positioned on either side of him, they pointed their wands and called for attention. “Mr. Malfoy!” They yelled at the same time.

(BREAK)

Fred was tired. Sweat ran down his face, his back. He was drenched. He began to wish he was home, at the Burrow, safe with Ron and Ginny. He felt his resolve melting and his Patronus faded. NO! he thought to himself and dug down deep for inspiration. The Dementors were coming, pushing against each other, trying to gain entry and aid their master. He was leading the line of defense against them, and failure meant defeat. It also meant horrible things for his friends fighting behind him. For his father. He thought of Arthur and Harry, of Hermione, Luna, Lee, Lupin, Kingsley and even Draco. His Patronus brightened. He dug deeper thinking of Ginny and of George. His Patronus grew brighter and brighter still becoming a blinding beacon against the dark creatures struggling against it. And then, they began to retreat from it.

(BREAK)

Harry didn’t know anything outside of himself and Voldemort. Not anymore. He was so tired, but wouldn’t let himself slow down. They weren’t doing much damage to each other, both seeming to be evenly matched. And then he remembered. Perhaps they weren’t so evenly matched. Harry cast his spell and at the same time, used his mind to turn up a table and hurl it at his enemy. Voldemort was taken by surprise and went down. Not stopping to see the damage caused, Harry called another table and another, burying his foe under the heavy furniture. Finally drained and unable to lift anything more than a feather with his exhausted mind, Harry allowed his legs to collapse, falling to his knees. His head was in so much pain, as if someone were repeatedly stabbing a rusty dagger through his temples. He reached up to try and rub the pain away, lost in his own self.

Forcing himself to block it away and crawl over to the wreckage he had thrown at Voldemort, Harry began digging through, trying to find him, desperate for nothing else. Until someone screamed his name.

He wretched himself from his task, and found Lee motioning for him. The Dementors were trying to pile in again and only Fred and Lupin were holding them back now, and everyone else, having run out of steam, looked on in horror. They were winning at the moment, but Fred was shaking and unsteady on his feet. Harry worried that he may to be too far gone himself to be of much aid, but made his way over anyway.

“Go and start helping to get the injured out of here!” he ordered the group of people fearfully watching the fray. “Lee! Get them going!” and Lee began dispersing people, either to help those few still fighting, or to help get those allies unable to leave on their own.

Harry turned to Fred, who shot him a worried glance. “We can do this.” Harry said, placing one hand on his friend’s shoulder and using his other to call on his Patronus.

(BREAK)

Draco was shocked. He hadn’t seen anything other than the man advancing toward him. The man he had tried to love his whole life… the man who had wanted him dead and was about to make it happen. And this man was his own father.

And then they had been there, Granger and Lovegood. They stood on either side of Lucius, their wands out, daring him to make a move. Draco had been unusually cruel to these girls, and had called them all sorts of names, looking down on them since knowing of their existence. Yet they were the ones here, standing up for him. Shame washed over Draco and he hated his father anew for putting him in this position.

“You little girls better watch that you don’t hurt yourselves with those.” His father taunted them.

“Don’t worry, we intend to hurt you not ourselves.” Granger had shot back, her wand arm steady, her face hard.

“Drop your wand, Mr. Malfoy.” Lovegood demanded. Her voice was devoid of the dreamy quality it usually held. She looked at Lucius with so much hatred, Draco wondered if she had some kind of personal vendetta against his father. And then he remembered, so clearly and suddenly that Loony Luna could have put it there in his head herself. Kane Lovegood… accidental death at the Malfoy mansion- Or had it been murder? Apparently Luna thought the latter.

Without consciously realizing he was doing so, he came around the bar and stood with the girls, wand pointed at his father’s heart. He felt more resolve now, than he did before. He had people to stand up with him and what’s more, these people were more capable and trustworthy than his former Slytherin cronies. “Surrender.” Was all he was able to say.

“Death first, Draco.” Lucius replied viciously. “Loss of life before loss of honor, something I obviously was unable to teach you.”

“Nothing you do is honorable.” Granger spat out. And then, Draco heard Loony Lovegood’s voice in his head. Bind him, NOW! And without hesitation, he did what she asked, casting before his father could react. Hit from three sides Lucius hadn’t a chance and fell to the floor, bound head to toe and unable to move.

(BREAK)

Harry focused everything he had into his stag, and along with Fred and Lupin, was making progress. But they were all three tired, and he wasn’t sure how much longer they’d be able to hold them off. He didn’t know why the Dementors seemed so much stronger than the last time he had come against them, but they undoubtedly were. He reached out with a very small part of his mind, requesting assistance from whoever could hear him and call on a Patronus.

And then Hermione, Luna, and Draco were there beside him, almost at full power since they hadn’t had to fight as long. Their Patronus spells gleamed bright and strong, otter, snake and from Luna, a large butterfly. Harry was grateful. The Dementors were on the retreat, finally appearing to lose some of their stamina. When Kingsley and Arthur joined a few minutes later, the fight was all but over.

When the last of them disappeared, Harry instantly staggered back to where he had left Voldemort. He began digging through the wreckage, becoming more and more desperate at not seeing the body. “He’s not here!” Harry cried out in frustration. Falling back into a seated position, dropping his head into his hands in defeat.

Arthur sat down next to Harry and put a hand on his shoulder in an attempt to console him. “Who’s not here, Harry?”

“Voldemort.” Harry whispered. “I left him right here. And they needed help….the Dementors kept coming and coming…..I lost him.” He admitted as angry, hot tears filled his eyes. He looked up at the faces surrounding him. Kingsley was shaky on his feet, and appeared worse for the wear. Fred’s face was a mask of horror and exhaustion, though he appeared uninjured, as did Hermione, Luna and Draco.

“How did no one see him leave?” Hermione asked incredulously.

“It would’ve been easy.” Kingsley answered, settling himself heavily in a chair to rest. “We were all focusing our attention elsewhere. And from what I was able to catch glimpses of, Harry here gave him a run for his money. He’s very adept at survival.”

“That’s right.” Arthur agreed. “And Voldemort is also intelligent and saw he was outnumbered here, and very possibly, is injured himself. He most likely slipped out to regroup and fight another day. I’m just grateful you are all still here.” He finished, putting his arm around Harry and summoning Fred to join them on the floor. Once Fred had settled himself on his father’s other side, he pulled both boys to him. Harry threw his arms around the two Weasleys, allowing himself to feel nothing other than love for his family.

Draco had wandered over the bar and now called for their attention. “If that’s true and he did run off, he took my dad with him.”





A/N: Well, that was a lot to write. Here are some things to ponder: What did Draco learn about his father, and why does Luna think he’s so important to their group? Why is Voldemort so upset by the death of Bellatrix LeStrange? What is going on with Harry’s headaches and how will he, Hermione and Ron react to news that Luna is a part of the coven? What was in those files Harry found in the restricted section of the Archives? What will Ron do with the knowledge that his sister stabbed Draco and everyone kept it from him? Will George agree to see his parents? Will Harry be allowed to attempt graduation in one semester and will his friends take the opportunity to do so with him? And finally, with such strong opposition from the Dementors, where will the good guys find their allies? Some answers and as always, a lot more questions in the next installment of Harry Potter and the Coven of Warriors.

Chapter 7: Aftermath

NOTE: We’re back and we have some things to solve and quite a few more to discover. So, without further adieu, Read, Review and Enjoy!



POTTER VERSUS HE-WHO-MUST-NOT-
BE-NAMED
-18 DEATH EATERS CAPTURED

Diagon Alley was attacked yesterday, when
Dementors descended on the unsuspecting
citizens. It is reported that Harry Potter as
well as Minister of Magic Arthur Weasley
and several Aurors were already on the
scene, having gone to investigate a break in
at The Weasley Laugh Emporium, a store
owned by the Minister’s son, Fred Weasley.
It is not clear if the two incidents are
related.

In addition to the above mentioned attack,
He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named made an
appearance at the Leaky Cauldron,
demanding Potter’s whereabouts. Witnesses
say that Potter arrived not long after and
engaged the enemy in a duel in which several
believed Potter had gained victory.
Unfortunately, by the end of the battle, both
He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named and well
known Death Eater, Lucius Malfoy were not
counted among the captured or deceased.

“If Harry Potter hadn’t shown up, who
knows what may have happened. I was so
scared!” said Emma North, witness to
yesterday’s battle. “But when he and his
friends showed up, I felt almost empowered
in a way and stayed to help fight with him.”
She finished her statement proudly.

“His friends got mine and all the other child-
ren to safety before any fighting even began.
I’ve never been more grateful. And I stayed
to help because it was the right thing to do.”
Said Edgar Morley, when asked why he had
remained on site when he hadn’t had his wand
with him.

It is clear that Potter saved the day, and
inspired the bravery of ordinary citizens. We
at the Daily Prophet applaud his efforts and
those of his allies: Hermione Granger, Lee
Jordan, Luna Lovegood and Draco Malfoy.
The fact that Draco Malfoy, son of Lucius
Malfoy had been fighting with Potter against
his father, is another marvel talked about by
witnesses.

“It was so tense! At one point father and son
stood with wands pointing at each other.”
Said Coral Alcott, a maid at the Leaky
Cauldron. It is undeniable that these teens
went above and beyond, along with several
of our brave Aurors, saving many from death
and/or soullessness yesterday, and we hope
Potter will remain the champion he is por-
traying himself to be.

Meanwhile, it is unclear whether the eighteen
Death Eaters arrested in the aftermath will be
held in Azkaban, or some other location more
steadfast than the recently Dementor deserted
prison. Minister Weasley has yet to make any
comments on yesterday’s events.

Potter and the other teens have refused to
comment on this story. The Daily Prophet will
faithfully keep it’s readers updated on any new
information as it becomes available.

Ron threw the paper down in disgust. He should have been there, would have if he were staying at Harry’s with everyone else. More than anything, he was upset by the fact that Draco Malfoy had been there, and apparently had acted heroically, as unlikely as that seemed. It wasn’t fair! He had been fighting with Harry since the beginning, and now because Malfoy claimed to want to go against his nasty old father, he got to be the one to go while Ron played babysitter to Harry’s collateral damage, his sister.

And Ginny! She was a whole other issue weighing him down. How she could have stabbed someone and not told anyone? He just didn’t understand her, he hadn’t thought she’d gone so cold that long before Harry had used her to “save them all.” Of course, she hadn’t been alone with the secret- she’d had Harry and Hermione to clean up her mess. And that thought made him more confused about Harry than before… and made him angrier at Ginny. He wanted to blame Harry, to resent him because it was easier. What Harry had done to Ginny was something Ron could understand, grasp onto. Everything else done to her was far more intangible. But Harry had been there in those times too. He was the one who had saved Ginny from the influence of the Riddle diary and the Chamber of Secrets, after all. To find out that he had also helped cover up his sister’s crime was more than Ron’s tired brain could process.

He had been thinking of nothing else since speaking with Ginny, trying to decide the best way to help his sister. It had tossed him back and forth between love and hate, gratitude and resentment for Harry… and for Hermione… even for Luna. These three worked hard to protect him, and he had thrown it in their faces, but were they really blameless as well?

All he knew right now was that he couldn’t stay at the Burrow any longer. He needed to be a part of the action, if for no other reason than to keep from thinking. And he needed to talk to Harry. Only instead of going to fight, Ron wanted to talk to him as a friend. He really needed his best friend right now, because, truthfully, he had never felt so alone.

(BREAK)

Harry didn’t know how to feel. Voldemort had escaped, and it was his fault. He hadn’t verified that his foe was secure. He’d let himself be distracted by the fact that Fred needed help. Of course, if he hadn’t gone to help, the Dementors would have gotten in and claimed countless victims. But how many deaths was he responsible for, now that he had let Voldemort slip through his fingers? He’d had the chance to end it all and thought for a minute that he had.

And now there was the nervous feeling, prickling the back of his neck. Voldemort had known there was something different about Harry, and Harry was beginning to think his adversary had figured it out, which was the reason for his own uneasiness. And if Voldemort knew that he had the ability of wandless powers, his secret weapon was no longer secret, making Harry even angrier that he hadn’t prevailed the previous day.

“So he knows. He’s not going to be able to just randomly develop his own superpowers. You already know what he’s capable of, but he’s only just beginning to understand you.” Hermione told him, taking a seat next to him on his bed.

“Right, no superpowers. Unless he somehow gets the ring.” Harry replied miserably. “Or some other object. Or what if he decides to find his own psychics with wandless powers?”

“What if he finds a genie in a lamp and gets three wishes?” Hermione answered, running her fingers through his hair. “You can’t worry about all of the what ifs, Harry. You’ll drive yourself crazy, trust me, I know. The most he could know is that you were able to launch some tables at him without an incantation. He can’t possibly know that we’re researching and attempting to find our own soldiers. And besides, as far as I know, there is no other object like Mykele’s ring, not in any of the old legends. And you have that, so it’s as good as safe, right?”

“Yeah.” He admitted, but was still unable to shake his misery at failing. He leapt to his feet and began pacing. “But I had him! It could have been over and we wouldn’t have needed a coven at all! Hell, give me another chance, we still may not!”

“Harry, do you really think he’ll face you the same way now? He knows there’s something different, you said so yourself. It won’t be as easy next time.”

Harry didn’t remember thinking that anything about his duel the day before was easy. He had never fought so hard in his life. And he had certainly never cast as quickly before. He hadn’t even had time to think, just rely on instinct and opportunity. “You think he’ll have a new strategy?”

“Wouldn’t you go formulate one, if he had been the one to almost get you?” Hermione answered. “But nothing I say is going to change the way you feel is it? Even if I were to tell you that you are the only one who thinks you failed.”

“Give them time, Hermione. Right now everyone is relieved that yesterday wasn’t as bad as it could have been, I’m sure the Daily Prophet will be changing it’s tune along with everyone else once they realize he’s still out there. Probably after the next attack.”

“And since when do you care?” she chastised, finally rising to her feet. “If you let yourself get this defeated after one battle how do you expect to make it through a whole war? You proved yourself to us, Harry, to the ones who know you best. Isn’t that enough?”

He pulled her into an embrace, so she wouldn’t see his face. “You’re right. It’s enough that you all believe I can do this.” He knew had she seen his eyes, she would know he was lying. She might still, as well as she knew him. But he couldn’t admit that he still felt like a failure, that it wasn’t their approval he desired, but his own.

(BREAK)

Luna had been waiting. She knew that Hermione, one to question all, would want to know about her vision, and Luna had stayed up most of the night trying to decide what to tell her. Divulging one vision would undoubtedly lead to a discussion of past visions and there were some things her friends were just not ready to know… and a few she just wasn’t ready to tell.

When Hermione knocked just before lunchtime, Luna still hadn’t reached a solution. Still, she invited the other girl in, knowing this was just one of a few difficult conversations in store for her the next few days. “What’s up, Hermione?” she asked, trying to sound casual.

“I think you know.” She answered uncomfortably. “It’s difficult to ask, but I was wondering about your vision or whatever that was you had yesterday. Draco, well, he…”and she stopped there, unable to find words.

“He tortured you for years and now you’re having trouble believing that he could possibly have any part in your future. Well, he does. He’s important to all our futures, he’s the one that will unite us all.”

“What are you talking about?” Hermione asked, not bothering to hide her confusion or
disbelief.

And this is where it got difficult. Luna’s vision yesterday had tied in with the things she had been seeing for the past few months. Yesterday, she had seen Lucius kill his son, and the rest of them crumble as a result. They needed him to bring the rest of the best possible future to pass. The only thing was, she didn’t think her friends would be very accepting of the final picture Luna had been given access to- not in their current frames of mind. So how could she explain what Hermione wasn’t ready to hear? “I need you to trust me now, Hermione. To trust that what I see in the end is the best possible outcome and in order for that to happen for any of us, for us to come through this and find happiness after, we need Draco. He is the catalyst that will bring everyone back together.”

“And without providing any details, I just have to trust you? That what you see is really what’s best for me as well as for Harry, Ron, and the others? It’s like I’ve told Harry in the past, I don’t have your abilities. I have to live day by day and I really want to believe that you see a happy ending.”

“I do, Hermione, just not the one I’m sure you imagine. And you, and Harry, Ron, and the others aren’t ready to know. It isn’t time. I wish I didn’t know either.” She answered miserably.

“You don’t like knowing the future?” Hermione asked.

“Possible future.” She responded automatically. “It’s only the future as long as everyone stays on that path, and I’m trying very hard to keep it that way for us. But what I saw wasn’t what I expected either. Can you imagine how difficult it is to know what will make you happy, to know that ultimate joy is yours, but then you must wait for it to happen because you aren’t suppose to know? Because so many other things must happen first to bring that exact picture?”

“Have you seen other possibilities?”

“A few, when different people took a few steps off the proper path. None of them ended well. I’ve seen the way it should be, the way it must be if we are to really live someday. I’m trying to bring it about, and the best way you can help is to trust what I say. I wouldn’t lie to you, Hermione. And I wouldn’t compromise your happiness, or anyone else’s. You don’t have to trust, or even accept Draco. But we can’t let his father destroy him either.”

“Okay. I can promise to try and trust you.” Hermione answered.

“I know, trust is difficult for everyone these days.”

After a short while, Hermione left to go make lunch for the house. She had insisted Luna give her a turn, and since Luna had to prepare for her next visitor anyway, she had given up her control over mealtime.

(BREAK)

Lucius really would have killed him yesterday, but Draco refused feel sorry for himself. He had known his father for a long time, seventeen years in fact, and it was his own fault for always wanting to see something better than what was actually there. But at least his father’s power over him would end, now that Draco knew his secret.

He pulled out the ministry documents and read through them again, this time feeling satisfaction over surprise. Certain that the Dark Lord knew nothing about Lucius’s secret, Draco knew he had the information to bring his father down. Perhaps Lucius himself was ignorant of these details of his life; the way he lived and behaved, gave proof of this. Unless his father was simply a self-loather as Lord Voldemort seemed to be.

“Adopted.” Draco said aloud with satisfaction. Lucius had been adopted by the Malfoy family.

Born to muggle parents and given the name Leonard Smythe, he had shown signs of being a wizard. The Smythe’s unable to understand or deal with the strange things their child could do, had put the boy up for adoption. The Malfoys, unable to conceive, had seen the ice blond child with chilly blue eyes and knew that he was meant for them. The fact that he had come from a muggle background, and the adoption itself was to be kept a secret. The Malfoys had decided the child’s abilities made up for his lack of proper breeding. Changing his name to Lucius, they went to America for two years. When they came back to England, they claimed the child was their own, conceived and born overseas. Only the ministry, who had helped arrange the adoption, knew the truth. And now, Lucius’s son knew it too. The only question was, what would Draco do with this information?

(BREAK)

Harry knocked lightly on the door, certain Luna had known he was coming. Sure enough, she opened the door with a knowing smile and invited him in. “Hermione was here?”

“We had a few things to discuss. Girl stuff.” She said vaguely. “It wasn’t about you, if that makes a difference.”

“Did I fail, Luna? Did I mess up my only chance to beat him?” he blurted out. He hadn’t wanted to come ask her, had promised himself he would never abuse the power she had. But he couldn’t see the future, just like she couldn’t move things with her mind. And in order for him to get past this disappointment, he had to know he would have another chance.

“We never really get only one chance at things, Harry. Some people spend their whole lives using up second chances.” She answered sagely. It wasn’t the direct ‘yes’ he had been looking for.

“I feel like I failed everyone.” He said quietly, wanting to say what he really meant- he had failed himself. He took a seat on her desk, bringing his feet to rest on the chair and waited for Luna to decide what she wanted to say. He had tried to explain to Hermione, but she hadn’t understood. And he didn’t want her to worry about him. Luna, he felt, would provide him a more honest, unbiased opinion. After all, they weren’t in love with each other.

“And yet, you’ve failed no one but yourself and your own high standards.” She responded. “But you didn’t need me to tell you that. Harry, you’ve always been your own harshest critic. You did amazing things yesterday, and you didn’t need Dumbledore there to save you this time. Isn’t that progress enough?”

“I suppose it should be.”

“But it’s not.” She sighed, pulling the chair out from under his feet and sitting by him. “Harry, like Hermione, nothing I say is going to make you feel better. You’ve suffered a great disappointment. The only thing you can do now is put it behind you and prepare for the next time. If you dwell too much on what went wrong, you won’t remember what went right and fail yourself even more.”

“So what went right?” he asked, eager for her take on the situation.

“Everything else, Harry. Everything else went right. We all trusted each other out there. We trusted you alone with Voldemort, and you trusted us to take care of the rest. Fred accomplished more than he thought he could, working against those Dementors, and Draco found out that there are people willing to stand up with him, something he desperately needed to know. And the fact that you trusted Hermione to take care of herself, well she needed to know that you could do that, in order for her to believe herself capable. And you, Harry, you got to see how far you’ve come, which should have boosted your confidence sky high. But you’re choosing to look at everything that went wrong.”

“What about you, Luna? What went right for you?” He had noticed she had left herself out of that list.

“I felt like I really was part of the group.” She answered lowering her eyes. “Ron wasn’t there, and I was still a part of the group and you all accepted me and my help without question.”

“I’ve told you before. You are my friend, Ron or no Ron. The same goes for Hermione.” Harry assured her again, feeling this was an issue she had worried about a lot.

“Which is easy to say, when Ron isn’t here.” She smiled sadly, a knowing look on her face. “You know he isn’t thrilled that I’m here with you all.”

“And I’m sure you know that Draco’s presence bothers him more than yours. At least you earned your spot, in his mind.” Harry moved so they were sharing the desk chair, and threw an arm around her shoulders in reassurance.

“And has Draco earned his spot, yet?” Luna asked.

“Maybe. We’ll see.”

“He could have stayed and hid, you know. He almost did. But he came and got you, warned you about Voldemort. I trust him completely.”

“I trust him to act in his best interest. Why are you pushing this?” he asked removing his arm and standing, pacing. Of course he had thought about Draco’s part in the battle yesterday. And he had figured that the other’s hatred for his father is what had led him to get Harry and the Aurors. That and the knowledge that he couldn’t do it alone, and would be destroyed by those he’d turned on if found alone.

“Draco may just be the one to save us all from ourselves.” She answered mysteriously.

(BREAK)

Ron woke the next day to his parents yelling at each other. Fighting. He shook his head and tried to listen. His parents hardly ever really fought and he was instantly uneasy. Remembering the extendable ears in his nightstand, he pulled them out and trained them under his door and down the stairs.

“It’s a ridiculous idea, Arthur.” Molly was saying. “Let them all graduate early and then go run around the world searching for people that may or may not want to help them! They’ll all be killed!”

“Without this deal, Harry will stop his education altogether! He wants to drop out and start his search now, and after that battle two days ago, well, I’m not even sure he’ll keep to this compromise anymore. He wants to take action, Molly. We all do.”

“Well I may not have a say over Harry or Hermione, but Ron will not be joining them!”

“For how long, Molly?” Arthur asked in exasperation. “How long before he resents us for keeping him back?”

“He can hate me forever, as long as he’s alive. I’ll lock him away at that school if I have to. I may just do the same with Harry!” she yelled back, her fear and concern overshadowing her common sense.

“And that would stop them?! Harry knocked us over in order to get to Voldemort. He used his power against me and Kingsley and the other Aurors because we were trying to get him out of there and all he wanted to do was fight! Don’t you see Molly?! They won’t give up, and if we try to hold them back, we’ll lose them. Harry agreed to try the compromise, and I’ve no doubt Hermione will follow his lead. It’s Ron’s decision whether or not to go with them. And if we let him choose, he may just come back to us when this is all over.”

“If he survives!” Molly interrupted with a sob.

“He’s very capable boy, with very capable friends. And if we choose for him, he may never forgive us.”

“I’m already scared everyday for Bill and Charlie, out there fighting who knows what. And so much has happened, my baby girl is so broken, we may never get her back. George and Percy are gone. Harry chases danger like a drug. Don’t I, as a mother, get to have any children that I can keep safe?”

“Not in these times. And not when our children have such large destinies.” Arthur answered softly. Ron drew back the ears. He’d heard enough. Though loathe to bring any more pain to his family, it was time. Time for Ron to make his own choices, for him to decide what he wanted his life to be. He made his way downstairs, and right up to his parents, now seated together in the kitchen.

“I want to move into Harry’s house.” He said simply. “I want to live there with everyone else. I want to help. Do you have any idea how much it hurt to read that they were there without me, that they didn’t need me there to be successful?”

“Do you have any idea how much it hurts me to know that you would rather risk your life than spend it safely with your family?”

“Who’s safe, mum?” Ron asked. He went on, knowing he was hurting his mother. But she needed to get a firmer grasp on reality. “Percy wasn’t safe from evil influence. George wasn’t safe from his own brother. Ginny, Fred, Harry and I were never really safe at the Hogwarts, where terrible things have been happening for the last six years. We’ve already been touched by this war. I want to fight back. And I won’t be held back. And as for early graduation, even if the others don’t go for it, I want to.” This last was the only thing he had faltered on, doubting his ability to be that good at schoolwork. But if he didn’t make it, he’d just drop out and leave whenever the others did.

His parents were looking at each other, appearing to communicate with their eyes. “Okay, son. We’ll all move in with Harry. It’s safer there than here in the open anyway. I’ll write to him immediately.” Arthur said as Molly looked away.

Ron went back to his room, unsure of his victory, but not wanting to rock the boat. Harry’s was going to be the best place for him, but what about Ginny?

(BREAK)

“Okay.” Hermione answered as they lay together in bed, happy to be holding each other.

“Okay? That’s all you have to say?” Harry had just laid out Arthur’s proposal for school. He told her he had agreed and that he wanted her to try and graduate early with him.

“Did I need to say more?” she asked with a laugh. “Agreement wasn’t enough for you?”

“It is, if you really want to do this. I know how much you love school, and if you want a full year, then I want you to have it. I want you to have everything you want, Hermione.” He told her, leaning over to kiss her cheek.

“For right now, I do. And it was no easier for me to sit in school pretending everything outside was normal.” Seeing his look, she laughed again. “Okay, so it was a little easier, but regardless, it was the learning that I was addicted to, and not necessarily the school.”

“I just don’t want anyone to compromise themselves for me. There’s been too much of that.”

“Harry, learn to take yes for an answer. I will do this with you, and I will go with you to find the coven. In fact, Luna and I had a thought about that!” She remembered suddenly, sitting up in her excitement.

“Oh yeah?”

“You know how Dumbledore told you Mykele had been a descendant of the coven? Using him, it’ll be so much easier to trace forwards and backwards to the right people, both in the past and present. We should be able to learn the identity of the first person just as soon as Arthur can get us access to the Hall of Records.”

Harry told her he was pleased at the thought, but didn’t share that he had a feeling he already knew who the first was, wanting to avoid a fight. After all, it would be one more thing he and Luna shared, that Hermione and Ron couldn’t be a part of.

(BREAK)

It had taken a week to make the arrangements. Finally Saturday arrived, and Ron was to make his way to Harry’s. His parents would be moving in the following week, after closing up the Burrow and taking care of all of the business necessary when one uproots from their home.

He was in his room, packing the last of his things, when Ginny interrupted him. “I want to go with you.”

“Excuse me?” Ron turned to her, bewildered.

“I want you to take me to Harry’s with you.” She said again, low and serious.

“Why? I thought you’d be trying to figure out ways to not come with mum and dad next week.” Ron crossed his arms and looked his sister over suspiciously.

“I need to talk to a few people.” Was all she answered.

“Like who? Harry?”

“Yes. Plus Harry has the ring. I need to use the ring.”

“And what about Draco?”

“What about him?” she asked harshly. “You worried I’m going to stab your new pal again?”

Ron ignored her. “What about Hermione?”

“What about her?”

“You worked all year to try and take Harry from her, don’t you think you should talk to her? And as for Draco, maybe you should talk to him to, make sure he has no plans to turn you in.” It was what Ron had intended to talk to Draco about himself, as soon as he got there.

“Malfoy can go to hell. I’m not worried about him. And I’m not too worried about Hermione, Harry or anyone else. But Harry’s the one I need to talk to, and he has the ring, and I need to use the ring.”

“I don’t know, Ginny. I don’t know if you being there is good for anyone, especially you.”

“Quit trying to be my keeper. Whether I go with you today, or with them next week, I’ll still be there. There’s no way around that is there?”

Ron wasn’t sure. He felt it was unfair to Harry and the others to bring Ginny without warning. “Have you talked to mum about it?”

“Yes. She isn’t thrilled, but I told her it was what I wanted. Look Ron, either I go with you and your escort now, or I just wait and go out by myself. I don’t care either way.”

“Well then, I guess you don’t leave me much of a choice.”

(BREAK)

Harry was looking forward to having Ron around. It hadn’t felt right, without the youngest Weasley boy. And by the following week, Arthur and Molly would be there as well. The only problem he could foresee was Ginny, and though her arrival was still a week away, he could tell Hermione was already feeling uneasy.

Draco had also been uneasy with the news, though Harry supposed he would feel the same if he were forced to live with someone who had stabbed him in the back. But there was something else. Something tugging at the back of his mind. Something he had put off and almost forgotten about. And then it had struck him, the train, the random thought he had caught. New worries flooded his mind as Harry tried to wrap his mind around the idea. Draco had felt concern for Ginny, had wanted to console her. It didn’t mean he was crazy in love with her, but she could be the one person Draco finally felt comfortable around. And maybe vice versa. They were both so far gone into their own misery, maybe starting a friendship would be just the thing to save them both from drowning. And from what he was feeling, Ginny’s friendship would be welcomed by Draco. Ron wouldn’t be pleased.

Harry stopped trying to piece it all together, the pain in his head so overwhelming any other thought would have been impossible. He desperately rubbed his temples, trying to will the ache away. He had wanted to continue looking though the information he had gathered in the restricted section of the archives, but it would be impossible now. The pain was blinding him, little black dots dancing in front of his eyes. Squeezing them shut, he lay back on his bed and tried to focus the pain away.

And then the doorbell rang. He rose onto shaky legs with a heavy sigh, and forcing himself to show no discomfort, went to answer the door. It had to be Ron, and the thought gave him a bit of extra resolve. He truly was looking forward to seeing his best friend. Throwing open the door with a welcoming smile plastered on his face, he felt his jaw drop as he took in the sight before him.

“Hi.” Ginny said simply from the doorstep.




A/N: Uh oh, some stuff may be going down…. Next chapter, we see how Ginny handles herself at Potter Manor, Hagrid gets some news, Harry takes his exams, those who are no longer among the living make an appearance, Draco and Harry each learn something about Luna, and a visitor comes bearing news of some unexpected allies. Stay tuned!


A/N: some things to ponder long term: who broke into Fred’s store? Who sent the newspapers to the Grangers? What is going on with Harry’s headaches? How will they keep the captured Death Eaters from escaping Azkaban? What will be Voldemort’s next move, now that he’s seen how powerful Harry is becoming? What is Luna’s final vision for them all and will it come to pass?

Chapter 8: Past and Present

NOTE: Hi! Starting in this chapter, we begin to solve the mysteries of the characters pasts and find a few more clues to indicate their futures. We also begin some closure on losses and fights of the past and drag up all new issues. This turned out to be a sort of transition chapter as we get ready to really take a bite out of this story. So go ahead, read, review and Enjoy!

　

“Hi.” Harry answered back, unsure what to do. Ron was standing next to Ginny on the doorstep as the ministry workers who had brought them delivered the siblings’ luggage from the car. “We weren’t expecting you until next week.” He added, trying to excuse his surprise.

“Yeah, well…” was all she was able to say.

Ron met Harry’s questioning gaze, attempting to apologize with his eyes. “Ginny felt it would be best if she got here a little early.” he explained.

“I can speak for myself, Ron.” She said abruptly, striding past Harry and into the parlor. The boys followed her. “Honestly, I think we need to talk, Harry. And I want to use the ring when we’re done.”

(BREAK)

“What does she need to talk to him about?” Hermione asked severely. She was in Ron’s room, and her tone was already making him regret bringing his sister here. She was staring at his broom cabinet, where the secret entrance was to her room, and Harry’s. He and Ginny had disappeared into the master bedroom about ten minutes earlier. Hermione had not been pleased to leave them alone.

“I don’t know, Hermione. But she’s the only one he never spoke to after everything happened a few weeks ago. He hurt her just as bad as he hurt you, you know.” He answered, a bit defensive on Ginny’s behalf.

“And they can’t just leave it be?”

“Is this how you want life to be? Us all at each other’s throats all the time? Maybe if Harry and Ginny can talk it out and be friends again, it’ll make it easier for the rest of us.”

“Easy for you to say.” She grumbled looking miserable. “She did everything she could to break us up, long before he kissed her in the common room. I read all about it in her stupid diary, remember? She let herself be used and I have no sympathy for any pain she felt from Harry. She brought it on herself.”

“Maybe. But what do you want me to do, Hermione? She’s my sister.” He sat beside her, feeling as miserable as she looked.

Unexpectedly, she threw her arms around him. “I just want to go back to how it was in the beginning. Just the three of us.”

“And what about Luna? You as ready to dump her as you are my sister?” Ron asked harshly, pulling away.

“Luna is trying to unite us all, not tear everyone apart.” She said, just as harshly, crossing her arms. “And if you’re so worried about us all being friends again, and think Harry and Ginny speaking is such a good idea, then I agree that it’s just as good an idea for you to talk it out with Luna.”

Damn. She got him there, but he refused to be got. “The difference being Harry and Ginny never actually dated.”

“No, the difference being that Luna was trying to keep Ginny’s secret, to keep all of the secrets she knew she wasn’t supposed to know. Luna was trying to help, Ginny was not.” She held up a hand to hold off his angry retort. “And before you start on all that ‘she’s been through a lot’ bull, let me just say that I have been through a lot, as have you. And Harry’s been through more than all of us combined. None of us have gone around doing the things she does. Or acting the way she does. Fred was George’s twin, as you very well know, and he didn’t let what happened destroy him. Maybe it’s time you stop blaming us and the world and start thinking that maybe there’s something wrong with her.” She finished strong, storming into her own room. Probably to stick her ear to the bookcase and try and hear what was going on in Harry’s room.

He didn’t need her tirade, Ron already knew there was something wrong with his sister. Ginny, in reality, was so far removed from the image in his mind of the shy little girl she had been, that he didn’t come close to knowing her anymore. His sister was a stranger to him, to their entire family. That’s how it had started with Percy, wasn’t it? Feeling alone and unwanted, like he didn’t belong. Well, she belonged, to him and their brothers and their parents. She belonged to Harry and even Luna. She had once been Luna’s only friend. He wanted Ginny to see that, to know it. He wanted to fix everything for her, so she could just be herself and not this hard shell of a person she had turned herself into. He would fix it for her, if it was the last thing he did. But how was he going to help someone who didn’t want to help herself?

(BREAK)

“This is awkward.” Ginny said unnecessarily. She had pictured this moment in her mind a million times, finally facing Harry. But now that the time had come, now that she was here, in his house, staring at him as they stood uncomfortably in the middle of his room, she was at a loss for words. She had wanted to rail against him, tell him just how horribly he had made her feel. She wanted to punch him, to scream and yell that she hated him. But she couldn’t. She didn’t hate Harry. She didn’t hate any of them, not really. But by being forced to be without them, (admittedly, partly by her own actions) it had forced her to realize that she didn’t know who she was by herself. If she wasn’t the youngest Weasley, then she was the only Weasley girl. If she wasn’t one of Harry’s friends, then she was one of Hermione’s friends. Who was she when she was just Ginny? Apparently she was a monster.

“You aren’t a monster, Ginny.” Harry said softly.

She hadn’t remembered to put up her shield. Maybe she had forgotten on purpose, so he could read her mind, so it would be easier than having to put her feelings into words. “Aren’t I? That’s what most people think.”

“Are you the mind reader, or am I? No one thinks that.”

“Hermione does.” Ginny stated, and seeing the look on his face, she knew she had struck on the truth.

“Not exactly, Ginny. She understands, deep, deep, deep down that you have a lot of other things going on. It’s just hard for her to get past the hurt.”

“She got past it for you.”

To her surprise, he laughed. “No she didn’t, Ginny. She wants to believe she did, as much as I do. But we fight all the time, about everything. It’s going to take a lot of time and work before anyone is really past anything. And yeah, Ron’s talking to me, but you think I don’t know he’s still mad at me too? Hell, Ginny! I’m still mad at me! It was the stupidest thing I’ve ever done, and while my intentions may have been good, it didn’t even work out like I had wanted. I ruined everyone’s trust and faith in me for nothing.”

“I was stupid, Harry. That’s why it worked. I don’t know what I was thinking half of last year. I don’t know what I’m thinking now. I just know that it can’t go on like this. Everyone’s so unhappy, and all Ron and Fred want to do is help and all I can do is resent them for it. I feel so numb inside, so cold. And part of me doesn’t want to change it, because then I don’t feel everything anymore.”

“You need to feel it, Ginny. You need to feel it all to heal and move on. We’re all trying to do that. I saw how you went numb after you stabbed Draco, and I’m so sorry. I covered it up for you, but I didn’t help you.” Harry lowered his eyes. “I’m sorry that I knew you were weakened and took advantage for my own purposes. I’m sorry that I hurt you so badly. I’m sorry that I can’t feel for you the way you wanted me too. And more than anything, I’m sorry I may have ruined our friendship.”

She was taken aback, and for the first time in a long while, she felt hot tears in her eyes. But she wouldn’t spill them here, in front of him. Harry would always be her first love, her ideal guy. Could he be her friend? No, not with Hermione against her.

“Then maybe you two should talk too.” He answered her thoughts again.

“That would go well. We’ll kill each other, Harry. She has what I want and I tried to take it from her, in many different ways, most of which you were immune to anyway.” She watched as he turned from her. But she had resolve. She would be strong from now on, never weak. “I won’t deny what I want in life anymore, Harry. Never again. But I can accept the fact that I may not be able to have it. What I won’t accept is the girl who bested me. And she won’t accept me either, not anymore, and you know it.”

“Then what do you expect of me, Ginny?” he asked. She was surprised to hear anger in his voice, under the frustration she had expected. “You come here without warning, knowing how unhappy it’ll make you and other people. You basically tell me you have no intentions of getting along with my girlfriend. I’m not going to ask Hermione to leave just because you’re here. Just like I won’t ask you to leave because of her. So now what? What exactly did you picture happening here?”

“I don’t know!” She threw her hands up in exasperation. How could she explain actions that when alone seem to be good ideas. “All I know is I had to try! You are so much intertwined with my family, we’ll be seeing each other for the rest of our lives, however long those might be. I’m trying to fix things, I guess, so Ron will stop worrying and leave me alone. So everyone will stop worrying and just leave me alone.”

“You aren’t trying to fix anything.” He accused. “You’re just trying to get by, so that, yes everyone will leave you alone, but also because that way no one will force you to get help. You know as well as I and as well as Ron that something isn’t right, Ginny. Maybe you should talk to the healers, like Molly wanted after you came out of the Chamber of Secrets.”

“You think hearing it from you makes it easier to take? That I’m broken, that there’s something that needs to be fixed?”

“Of course not! It’s never easy to admit you need help. But you do, you have needed it for some time.” He countered.

She didn’t know what else to say, there was no where else to go except in the same circles. Seeing the healers would mean admitting defeat, that she was too weak to help herself. No one else ‘needed’ to talk to the healers after everything they’d been through. Why was she the only one who couldn’t come out of this by herself? Instead of replying, she simply held out her hand, knowing he would know what she wanted.

He sighed, went to his desk and opened the top drawer. Taking out the ring, he put it in her hand, holding on and making her look at him. “If you think anyone you’re going to call up is going to say anything different, you’re going to be disappointed.”

“I’m used to the feeling.” She answered, pulling her hand away and going to her room to be alone.

(BREAK)

Ron knocked hard on Malfoy’s door, feeling awkward for even being there. When the other boy answered, Ron almost lost his nerve. “Something you wanted, Weasley?”

“You and I need to have a talk.” Ron said with false confidence.

“Do we? What in the world would we have to talk about?”

“My sister.” Ron said simply. He saw the sarcastic smirk disappear for an instant, replaced by a nervous awareness.

“Yeah, what about her.”

“I know that you know she was the one who got you in that alley last year.”

Draco visibly relaxed before remembering who he was talking to. “By got, you mean stab, don’t you? Your baby sister stabbed me, in the back no less.” Ron saw Draco’s smile of satisfaction as Ron stiffened at the word. “What about it? Did you want all the details?”

“All I want to know is what you intend to do about it.” Ron answered through clenched teeth.

“As of right now? Nothing. But it’s always nice to have a little useful information in your back pocket isn’t it, Weasley. Especially when it’s explosive enough to influence other people.”

“Meaning what? Are you planning to blackmail us?” Ron was incredulous. Where was the new Draco that Harry had told him about?

“I sure am, Weasley. And here it is. Leave me the hell alone. Don’t blame all your little problems on me, don’t accuse me of every evil that befalls you. Assume that I could care less about your existence and take the same attitude towards me. Do all that and no one will ever know about Ginny’s little carving accident. Got it?” And he turned and slammed the door in Ron’s face.

He didn’t feel much better, he hadn’t expected he would. Trusting Harry was hard these days, so how was he ever supposed to trust Draco Malfoy?

(BREAK)

“Mail’s here.” Hermione announced coming into the parlor where Harry, Ron and Fred were playing pool. He took it from her, glad that she hadn’t said anything about his private talk with Ginny the day before. She hadn’t asked any questions last night when they had lain in bed, simply asked if he was okay. Ginny herself had sent the ring back with Fred, and not emerged from her room since. Fred mentioned at breakfast that she and George had fought.

He leafed through the mail, handing Fred his business letters. “Hey, I wonder what this is about.” Harry stopped at a letter addressed to Hagrid. “It’s from Madame Maxine.”

“Really? Maybe she’s finally answering his ‘little giant seeks big love’ personals ad.” Fred laughed.

Harry flipped it to the back, intending to deliver it to his friend. The next was addressed to him, from the ministry.

Dear Mr. Potter,
After much discussion with your headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and Arthur Weasley, Minister of Magic, it has been decided that you will be allowed to take your 6th year exams. Furthermore, if you place highly, you will be granted permission to attempt NEWT year in one semester.
However, should you be unable to satisfactorily complete all NEWT levels, including being granted a license for apperation, then you must continue on in order to receive a diploma. We wish you luck in your endeavor, Mr. Potter and hope to see you at the testing board very soon. You will find the place and date of your make-up exams enclosed.
Sincerely,
Griselda Marchbanks

So, they were giving him a chance. Part of him had known they would. Most would do anything to keep Harry Potter happy, a fact he wasn’t altogether comfortable with. But it certainly came in handy. He felt an incredible surge of gratitude towards Mr. Weasley, for caring so much about his future.

“So where’s our letters?” Ron asked once Harry shared the news.

“They need to check our grades first, Ron.” Hermione reminded him. “And they probably won’t tell us our grades until Harry takes his test.”

“Right.” Fred laughed. “If Harry doesn’t test well enough to do this, do you really think they’d set it up so just the two of you could graduate early? Please, if Harry doesn’t do it, they aren’t going to let you guys.”

“If I don’t get to do it, I’m not going back.” Harry announced. “I don’t have time for school right now.”

“Well said!” Fred agreed. “I’m glad I’m finally done with all that business.”

“Assuming you passed.” Ron muttered.

“Oh, I passed. I got that letter a few days after school ended. And in one week, I’ll be walking to get my diploma.” Fred returned.

“You’re going to graduation?” Harry asked incredulously.

“I promised mum. It’s one of the many things I agreed to in order to not get any grief over moving out.” Fred answered unhappily.

“I think it’s nice.” Hermione interjected. “Molly and Arthur could stand to feel some happiness.”

“What about me!? I’m the one who has to wear those stupid robes and sit through a torturous ceremony just to get some stupid piece of paper I could care less about. I already have my future planned out.”

“Once you rebuild the store, you mean?” Ron teased. Harry hoped they’d find out soon who had destroyed Fred’s store. And who sent the newspapers to the Grangers. And then he wondered, could they be the same person? And if so, what was their purpose?

(BREAK)

Luna sighed at the knock on her door. She’d known this was coming and had dreaded it. Though the longer it had taken him to seek her out, the more hopeful she was that he would lose his nerve altogether. Apparently, he had not. So she opened the door to Draco, and with a wave of her arm, invited him in.

“Yes, I completely believe your father murdered my brother.” She said without ceremony, hoping her bluntness would scare him off. He was keeping his mind carefully blank.

“I know. I was there.” He answered simply.

She was astounded. She had never known that there had been witnesses, that anyone else had been home. “What did you see?” she asked quietly.

“I don’t mean I saw him throw your brother off that balcony or anything. I just,” he paused to arrange his words. “I was there when the Auror arrived. My father was furious that someone had called, he ran around the house, directing everyone on how to act.” He paused again and sighed, taking a seat and staring at the floor before continuing in a tired, detached voice. “You see, a man named Julian Heath had gone missing. He was last seen at our house and that’s what your brother came to talk to him about. Lucius yelled and yelled at him, for disturbing his privacy. But you see, I knew that Julian was still in my house, being tortured for information. What he knew that my father wanted to know, I couldn’t tell you. Anyway, your brother must have heard something, because he insisted on searching the house. I don’t know why he didn’t call for back up, maybe he did and they were too slow to respond. My father sent me upstairs to the torture room to warn the others who were with Julian. I heard them come up almost right behind me. I ran into the room and gave the warning as I still heard them getting closer, and closer until they were in the next room.” He closed his eyes to remember. “And then there was a scream. It was so loud and terrified, I ran to find my father at the balcony staring down. He turned to me with cold eyes and said that the clumsy oaf had fallen. I was almost eleven, but even then I knew better than to believe him.”

“Why didn’t you tell anyone?” she asked in disbelief. “They investigated and took Lucius’s side! Kane died looking like a fool!” She was too furious to even feel the momentary pity she had for someone who grew up with a torture room in their house.

“I didn’t think about it! I was eleven! I saw the newspaper articles, but my father never spoke of it and wouldn’t let anyone question me or my mother. I forgot all about it until we were at the Leaky Cauldron and you were hating my father so much, I knew it wasn’t on my behalf. And then it hit me, like you had put it there in my mind.” He looked at her accusingly.

“I honestly didn’t consciously do anything of the kind.” She answered his gaze defensively.

“Anyway, I remembered the name I had seen in the paper, Kane Lovegood. I never made the connection, having not known of you till years later. I still wanted the Malfoy life back then. Truthfully, I wouldn’t have said anything, even had I known you.”

“I believe that.” She said harshly. Why hadn’t she seen this coming? She was supposed to be the seer, so why hadn’t she seen?

“I’m sorry. And I rarely say that to anyone and almost never mean it when I do. But I really am sorry, Luna. I’ll talk now. I’ll make it right with whoever you want me to tell it to.”

“Telling me was a good enough start.” She answered softly, as the wheels started turning.

(BREAK)

“Well, good luck!” Sirius said cheerfully. Harry had called up his godfather, wanting extra reassurance that he was doing the right thing. After all, who better to ask about school than the one person who had so rebelled against it.

“What if I don’t get good enough scores? I don’t want to waste another whole year.”

“Then make sure they’re good enough.” Sirius shrugged. “And you know the first step? Knowing that you are good enough, because you are, Harry.”

“I appreciate the pep talk but if you could sound less like a greeting card, I’d find it more helpful.” Harry joked, grabbing several quills and rolls of parchment and throwing them in his bag.

“Okay, then lets just say that it’s lucky you got your mother’s quick mind, along with your father’s quick reflexes. If it had been the other way around, you would have been doomed.” Sirius laughed.

Harry felt himself smile, in spite of his anxiety. It all relied on him now, he had been handed the reins to drive his own life, just like he had wanted. This compromise was in everyone’s best interest and it would work, as long as he could produce what everyone believed him capable of.

He climbed into the backseat of the ministry car sent for him with a pounding headache. Attributing it to his nervousness, he pushed aside the part of himself that registered pain and focused on remembering everything he had learned last year. Hermione had been giving him refresher lessons every night, but with the new found peace they had forged between themselves, studying never lasted very long, passion interrupted. Shaking his head, he pushed that aside too. Focus. It was time to focus.

(BREAK)

Hermione felt restless. Harry had left for the ministry to take his exams, and she was certain he would do fine. As much as he grumbled and hated to do the work, he usually caught on quickly and had a pretty good memory. She sent him with good wishes and positive energy, and masked the darkness inside.

Four days now she had been under the same roof as Ginny. She had tried and failed several ways to forget the girl’s presence, but not even the desire to translate and piece together the documents for Harry could let her mind rest. She had written and begged Arthur access to the Hall of Records, but he couldn’t get her in there until the following week; she had written letters to her parents, but had been too unsure to send them; she had spent time with Harry and Luna and Ron, read many books, played several useless billiard games and countless games of wizard chess. Nothing let her mind rest on the subject of Ginny.

Pacing her room, she felt ready to burst, there was so much left unsaid between her and Ginny. She felt invaded, like the truce she and Harry had finally managed was yet again under constant attack. For four days she had bitten her tongue about her discomfort, sure he could feel it anyway. She certainly felt his relief that she had decided to play nice. How much longer could she do it? She felt weak, forced to submit for the good of the whole, rather than satisfy herself. It was definitely easier when Harry was present, but now, with him finally away from the house, she was left with her own thoughts and needs.

Ron and Fred would never be able to stand up to her and Ginny, should they get into anything. They didn’t have the alpha personalities the girls did. Luna and Draco would, she was sure, keep to themselves and let nature take its course. Hagrid, the only semblance of an adult, had holed up in his room since getting the letter from Madame Maxine. And Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were still two days away from moving in. No, Harry was the only one who had stood in her way, and he would be gone for hours.

(BREAK)

“You really think it’s a good idea?” Ron asked.

“I really do. I want to talk to them, more now than I did when I was alive.” George answered.

“As long as you’re sure.” Fred replied. He and Ron had called up George just after Harry left, wanting to visit and to know what to do when their parents arrived in two days. The fact that George had agreed to make an appearance was a surprise.

“What about Ginny?” George asked. “Last time I talked to her she was all sorts of twisted. She isn’t thinking clearly, do mum and dad know?”

“They know less than the rest of us, but they know she’s not herself.” Ron grumbled.

When Ron had told him Ginny had been the one to stab Draco last year, well frankly, Fred didn’t believe it. Malfoy hadn’t been the one waving around a wand yelling out unforgivable curses in the alley that day. Malfoy had been and still was a little punk, but definitely not worth killing over. He didn’t deserve to die for taking his father’s side for so many years, and Fred considered them even when the other had lost his arm and hadn’t really thought of Draco as a threat since. Sure he had suspected at first that Malfoy had sent those newspapers to the Grangers, but old habits die hard. Nothing he had done in the past deserved a stab in the back and being left to bleed out.

Now he and his brothers put their heads together and tried to decide how best to help their floundering sister. She had been resistant to any kind of assistance, but there had to be something they could do. There had to be.

(BREAK)

Ginny felt like her skin was constantly crawling. These had been the longest, tensest four days of her life. She had purposely stayed in her room as much as possible, wanting nothing more than to be alone. But there were always people everywhere here, and all people she really didn’t want to see. She couldn’t wait for school to start. Harry, Ron and Hermione would be holed up somewhere taking lessons by themselves, Draco would be easy to avoid and Luna, well maybe she could come around with Luna.

And maybe, she could be a normal student, go unnoticed, bide her time until the next year, when she’d bide her time until graduation. And then, she go out into the world, away from all the horrors of home. Somewhere Voldemort hadn’t touched. Hell, Harry might even have gotten rid of Voldemort by then. She’d go somewhere without Weasleys and without witches and wizards, where she could try out normalcy. Whatever that was.

A sharp knock on her door startled her out of her thoughts. She got up with a sigh and made her way over expecting one of her brothers yet again attempting a heart to heart. Opening the door, she realized she was sorely mistaken. “Hermione?!” she said.

“Can I come in? I think we need to talk.” The other girl answered carefully.

“Um, sure.” She invited Hermione in as the doorbell rang. Neither girl noticed it.

(BREAK)

Ron ran downstairs feeling aggravated. No one else heard the stupid doorbell? He had been drifting off into a much needed nap when it had rudely awoken him. He stayed where he was, hoping someone else was close to the door. After three more rings, he cursed them all and threw off the covers.

“Hey, Ron! Who’s at the door?” Hagrid asked as Ron reached for the doorknob. He was coming out of the kitchen, and had obviously been much more conveniently placed to see for himself.

“I don’t know, I haven’t answered yet.” He grumbled, not bothering to hide his bad mood.

He opened the door and found himself face to waist. Looking up into Madame Maxine’s smiling face, he was once again awed by her stature. But she was looking past him to the other slightly smaller giant behind him.

“’Ello, ‘Agrid.” She said softly.

“I didn’ really think yer was coming, Olypme.” Hagrid replied.

　

　

A/N: Hmmm. Where to go from here? Well, Hermione and Ginny have it out at last, Hagrid gets news of some old friends, an order meeting is called, Harry learns some info about the enemy, Arthur and Molly are reunited with their son, Fred graduates, Draco decides how best to handle the info he learned about his father, Hermione receives word from her parents and everyone receives their test scores. A lot appears to be going down next chapter, so keep an eye out for the next posting!

Chapter 9: A Giant Quandary

NOTE: I just want to start out by saying that I’m bringing back some old characters, starting with this chapter. They may not be portrayed as they were in the original books, because I need them to serve my purposes here in this story. I will try to remain as faithful as I can to what was originally laid out by Ms. Rowling, but I’m warning those who are sticklers for details so you won’t be upset or disappointed later. Also, the way they are introduced may not completely coincide with what came before, so all I can say is stick with me and try to stay in this world that I’ve created with her brilliant characters, and forget a little of what came before. In other words, stretch the imagination with me. By the way, this is going to be a super long chapter. So with that, I leave you with the usual, Read, Review and for the love of Pete (whoever he may be) Enjoy!

　

“What’s going on? What are you doing here?” Ron asked before realizing how rude he was being. “I mean, come in, of course.” He gestured the giantess in.

“’Ello, Mr. Weasley, ‘Agrid. Shall we go in zee parlor?” Madame Maxime ducked her head to enter and brushed past him to Hagrid who led her into the room.

“Could we, er have a moment please, Ron?” Hagrid looked at him pointedly.

“Um, sure, I was in the middle of something anyway.” He left them standing awkwardly together in the middle of the room and started up the stairs. At the second landing, he paused, feeling like he should check in on Ginny. It was sudden and strong, and the feeling passed as quickly as it came. He shrugged and decided to leave her to her peace and went back to his nap, wondering what Madame Maxime’s presence could mean.

(BREAK)

“So.” Ginny said in the crushing silence that had developed since admitting Hermione to her room. Hermione herself was looking through the bookshelf.

“So, you’re here. Making yourself at home in Harry’s house.” Hermione said, finally allowing herself to look at the other girl.

“If you’re going to attempt to beat me up, go for it, I’ll give you a free one before I kick your ass.” Ginny said defensively.

Hermione laughed and drew her wand, knowing Ginny was unarmed. “Please, Ginny, you think I’d come at you in any way other than one I can best you in.” She pointed her wand at the other girl, enjoying the moment of worry contorting Ginny’s features.

“You wouldn’t.” Ginny said confidently.

“Wouldn’t I?” Hermione stepped closer, her wand still aimed, as the other took a step back. “There are a lot of things I wouldn’t have believed you capable of, but you proved me wrong, so did Harry. And so did Draco for that matter. Why should everyone else get to act out of character and get away with it while I remain reasonable, reliable Hermione?” She felt giddy, and allowed herself to laugh. If this was what it was like to lose your mind, she could understand why everyone else was doing it.

“What do you want, Hermione?” Ginny asked, crossing her arms and refusing to be intimidated.

“I want to know why.”

“Why, what?”

“Why you ruined everything?!” she screamed.

“I didn’t!” Ginny screamed back. “It was messed up already!”

“So you just thought you’d help us all along into self-destruction?”

“If I remember correctly, it was your boyfriend who decided to ruin everyone’s lives, he just used me to do it.”

“Fiancé.” Hermione corrected fiercely.

The word inserted itself into Ginny’s anger and she was momentarily taken aback. “What?”

“He’s my fiancé.” She pulled out her necklace and showed Ginny the ring that sparkled at the end of it, a triumphant smile plastered on her face. “We’re getting married, after we graduate. He asked me and we decided back when we were still at school. He’s officially chosen me, Ginny. Me. So back off, because I will fight for what’s mine.”

“I haven’t done anything, and he made it clear he’s with you, so what more do you want? My whole family is going to be living here, seeing as how we sort of adopted Harry. See, he’ll be grateful to us, to me, for the rest of his life. So maybe you should get used to the fact that if you do marry Harry, I’ll be there too. Can you handle that?”

Hermione clenched her teeth in frustration. “I would hope that you would one day want to get your own life and won’t want to live with a married couple, especially since it’s a couple that rejects you.”

“You think Harry will just completely write me off, don’t you? He may have rejected me romantically, but the fact that I’m standing here fighting with you now is proof enough he’ll never reject me from his life completely.”

“You may be right, and in that case you are lucky. He is so against disappointing people and can’t stand anyone to be hurt. Getting rid of you would only hurt Ron and Fred and your parents. He’d never do that.”

“Never again, you mean. He did it once already.”

“Trying to protect us all. I may not forgive him completely, but I understand his actions better than anyone else. He tells me things he doesn’t tell anyone else. He needs me as much as I need him and we love each other enough to forgive or forget everything that’s come before.” She finally lowered her wand. “Just stay clear of us.”

Ginny laughed. “I’d believe you more about your unshakable bond with Harry, if you weren’t here right now, warning me to leave him alone. You really don’t have that much faith in him do you? I mean you say the words so convincingly, but your actions aren’t really backing you up, are they? Someone who was truly confident in their relationship would walk around without a care, and wouldn’t feel the need to confront the former mistress.”

Hermione sputtered, taken aback. “Really, mistress? You really think anything that went on between you and Harry was mutual? Please, Ginny, you’re romanticizing your role in his life again.”

“Oh yeah? What would you call it?”

“Two big mistakes. Here, in the parlor, he thought he was comforting you, and somehow you got him to kiss you, but he stopped it, didn’t he. Told you he didn’t want you because he loved me, isn’t that right?” she watched Ginny turn away in anger and continued on in triumph. “And in the common room at school, he was using you to upset me and Ron enough so we wouldn’t go to Hogsmeade with him. He didn’t stop to think how it would make you feel, did he? You were a means to an end for the people he really cares about, me and your brother.” She finished strong.

Ginny turned and without warning, took a awing at her. Hermione had anticipated this, it was what she had been hoping for. She easily ducked the other girl and raised her wand again. “What’s the matter Ginny, can’t handle it when someone pops one of your fantasy bubbles with a little reality? Go get help so everyone can stop worrying about you and maybe you can get some of your dignity back.”

“Put down that wand, and I’ll teach you about dignity.” Ginny growled out. “You just think you are so wonderful don’t you. Walking on air because Harry tells you everything you want to hear. You know what he told me the other day, when we were in his room talking, alone? He said that he knew you hadn’t gotten past anything, that you were pretending. If he’s willing to let you pretend with him, what makes you think he has any trouble pretending with you?”

“He loves me.” Hermione answered fiercely.

“Keep telling yourself that. I’m sure he has to repeat it to himself all day to keep up the act.” Ginny crossed her arms and sneered at Hermione.

“There is no act.”

“Isn’t there? You really think you’re the girl meant for someone like him? He’s good-looking, brave, smart, heroic and oh yeah, the savior of our world. He’ll someday be a great name in our history, and plain jane Hermione Granger is the great love of his impressive life? Please. He needs you for your brain. Once Voldemort’s gone and you are no longer useful, how long do you think he’ll stay?” She paused, but Hermione had nothing to say. “He’s very loyal and chivalrous, I’ll give him six months after it’s all over to extricate himself from you, in the most honorable way possible, I’m sure.” She smiled in mock sympathy.

“And then what? You have him all figured out, so after he dumps me, then what? He goes for you? Who are you in the grand scheme of things? Ron’s baby sister? Let’s face it, if any names are making it into the history books with Harry, it’ll be mine and Ron’s. We’ve been there from the beginning, we’ve helped Harry with every victory and we are the ones already associated with him. You are the only Weasley no one talks about. Ron is Harry’s best friend, Arthur is the Minister of Magic, Fred is a successful store owner, Bill and Charlie are famous for their work and known for their adventurous attitudes, Molly is known everywhere by everyone for everything, and even Percy, who wound up a traitor is talked about at large. You’re the only one the public doesn’t know about, and what would they think? You’ve stabbed someone in the back and left them to die, you’ve attempted to steal your friend’s boyfriend, you had Tom Riddle the younger running around in your head making you do horrible things, you’re obsessive over a guy you’ll never have. Maybe it’s best no one knows much about you.”

Hermione had been expecting Ginny to swing again, but not how quickly she would react. Her fist made contact on the left side, just under her eye. Hermione staggered backwards, her face an explosion of pain, her left eye feeling like it was about to burst from the socket. She shook it off and lunged at Ginny, a move the other girl hadn’t anticipated. Hermione landed on top of her and pointed the wand in her face.

“Don’t push me, Ginny. I’m not the prim little weakling you think I am. Maybe if you had really been a part of Harry’s life, you would have seen the things I’ve had to endure to survive over the last six years. You think because you were in the chamber of secrets and went with us to the Department of Mysteries, that you’re a badass? You got though last year without drowning in the bathroom or dying at Hogsmeade so you can do anything right? Wrong! You aren’t stronger than me, the fact that everyone is running around worried you’re cracking up is proof of that.”

“Get off me.” Ginny pushed at her. Hermione stunned her and got up.

“I just wanted to let you know, I won’t make it easy for you to ruin my life, if that’s your aim.” She felt her face, which was already starting to puff up. “I’ll let you have this, and I’ll tell everyone I walked into a door or something. But I won’t hide your crazy for you. Go get help so your family can finally find some peace of mind, and stay away from me and Harry.”

“And if I don’t?” Ginny challenged.

“I’ve already used one spell against you, and let’s face it, when it comes to wandwork, I can cast circles around you. I can probably even make it look like an accident.” She answered darkly before releasing the other girl and leaving, slamming the door behind her.

(BREAK)

The tests had been easy, but he may have cheated. Everytime one of the testers asked him a question, the answer had popped right in his head, as if they had sent them to him. Harry knew that wasn’t the case, so he may have subconsciously linked up with them. He blamed his nerves. Of course, he had known many of the answers himself, so he wasn’t too worried. It wasn’t like they’d be able to prove he cheated, if he did.

He returned home, his head pounding furiously. He wanted nothing more than to go to sleep, but at the same time, he felt a strong desire to put on the ring and call someone up, maybe tell Sirius how it went. In his mind he knew he hadn’t the strength or concentration for that, but the closer he got to the door, the stronger the urge was. He pushed it down deep, determined to be stronger than his urges. There was no doubt the ring had powers, and remembering Dumbledore’s warning from months before, he knew he could easily be sucked in.

Entering the house, he heard voices in the parlor, one belonging to Hagrid and one, familiar yet unplaced. Curious he made his way in and was greeted by the massive sight of Madame Maxime.

“’Arry!.” She exclaimed upon seeing him. “I ‘ave ‘eard so many wonderful zings about you since we last met.”

“Hello, Madame Maxime, how are you?”

“I come wit some wonderful news! Zee giants are willing to negotiate with zee Order.”

“Negotiate how? Last I knew, Hagrid said they weren’t so willing to listen.” Harry looked at his friend, remembering his horrible tale of bringing gifts to the giants two years ago. It had been a violent and bloody tale, and it ended with the giants listening instead to some dark wizards, and Hagrid bringing home his wild brother. Madame Maxime had gone back to her school, abandoning Hagrid, then. Harry wondered how she had become involved now.

“I’m goin’ ter call a meetin’ o’ the Order. When do ya think it’d be best to do tha?” Hagrid asked.

“I can get word to Arthur immediately, and he and Molly will be here in two days. Will you be staying, Madame Maxime?” Harry asked, unsure where he could possibly house the giantess.

“Oh, Zank you for zee offer, but I ‘ave a place in the city. I ‘ave a place in many cities.” She answered.

“Are ya sure, Olympe? London’s o bit dangerous now.” Hagrid asked.

“Well, zen, perhaps you could walk me?” she asked coyly.

Harry bid her goodbye and left them to their own devices. Wondering how exactly the giants could help them, other than to not join Voldemort, he ascended the stairs, wearily heading to his room. His head was fevered and ached horribly and he sought Hermione’s cool soothing hands.

Entering her room through the secret passage, he was dismayed to find Luna already visiting. “Hey.” He said by way of greeting. Taking in the sight of Hermione, he stopped cold. Her face was puffy and bruised on the left side and it was obvious Luna had been applying some ointment for her.

“How did the testing go?” Hermione asked brightly, smiling up at him.

“Who cares, what happened to you?” he asked worriedly and sat beside her, his own pain and discomfort forgotten. He reached out to gingerly touch her cheek and she winced, making something ache deep down inside of him.

“I happened to myself.” She answered looking down in embarrassment. “I was rushing and not paying attention and opened the door right into my own face.”

He didn’t believe her. Luna who was now standing behind Hermione shook her head, indicating he should let it go for now. “And what’s this?” he asked picking up the tube Luna had been holding.

“Just a few healing herbs, she’ll be as good as new by tomorrow morning.” Luna said brightly, matching Hermione’s false tone. “One more application when you wake up and it’ll be like it never happened.”

“And that’s it, nothing else happened? It looks really bad, Mione.” He took her chin and moved her face so he could see the injury better.

“Well, it’s just for tonight, I’m sure I’ll look desirable again tomorrow.” She said sarcastically.

“Oh, the love of… this isn’t about how the bruise makes you look, it’s about how serious the injury looks. It looks like a fist, not a door, did this.”

Harry! Drop it! Luna shouted at him with her mind.

“Well, I don’t know what to tell you, it was the door. You can beat it up if you want.” Hermione responded.

“How about if I just take down all the doors in the house? That’ll insure it doesn’t happen again.” He teased back.

“Then let’s hope I never trip on the stairs.” She smiled at him before yawning.

“Oh, that’s the herbs working. Once they absorb into the skin completely, you’re going to feel very tired. It’s best you sleep, it’ll help the healing.” Luna explained.

“That’s just as well, I have to write an express to Arthur about the Order meeting for Hagrid. When did Madame Maxime get here anyway?” Harry asked.

The girls stared back at him blankly. “Madame Maxime? The giant headmistress of Beauxbatons Academy?” Luna asked.

“That’s the one, but I didn’t know she was here.” Hermione said. “I’ve been upstairs all day. And so has Luna.”

“Well, she’ll be gone by now anyway. She has some kind of news about the giants wanting to listen to us again.”

Luna had gotten that far away look in her eyes again. “For Azkaban.”

“What?” Harry and Hermione asked together.

“Dumbledore wants them to guard the prisoners at Azkaban, now that the Dementors are gone. Cho Chang will love having them walking around, huh?” Luna joked, now fully back in the present moment.

“Really? Are they going to do it?” Harry asked.

“I don’t know, it’s all too up in the air, too many factors still in play to see a clear outcome.” She shrugged as Hermione let out a mighty yawn. Harry looked at her and saw she was struggling to keep her eyes open.

“We’ll leave it at that until the meeting then.” Harry kissed the top of her head and he and Luna departed for his room.

“So?” Harry asked as soon as the bookcase was closed.

“So what?” she asked evenly.

“So what really happened to her?”

“I don’t know, she’s blocking it all out. But I can guess.” Luna crossed her arms.

“And is Ginny injured as well?” Harry asked, already knowing what her guess was.

“I don’t know that either. She’s in her room and blocking me out as well.”

Harry sighed and slumped down onto the bed, his head in his hands. “What am I supposed to do?” he asked helplessly.

Luna came over and placed her hand on the back of his neck. It was cool and as she gently massaged her fingers along his hair line he felt his headache dull. “Maybe they worked it out between themselves. I’m more worried about these headaches you’ve been having.”

“Headache.” He corrected, feeling himself relax into her touch. “It never really goes away anymore. It can’t be like this, Luna. They can’t be at each other’s throats all the time, especially not over me.”

“It’s not just over you, you know. Hermione’s also hurt because Ginny was her friend and she had trusted her. I’m mad at Ginny for the same reason. She was my friend, and I never did anything to her. I had no part in your scheme, other than keeping it quiet. I lost Ron because I kept her secret. And still, she treats me like the enemy. It isn’t fair.”

Harry took her hand from his neck and held it in his. “Do you still see us all together at the end?” he asked.

“Yes. But the way there, Harry, it’s so difficult for everyone.”

“But it’s still there, so we’re still on the right path, right? Ginny will come around eventually, she has to. It’s now that’s hurting us all. How do we get past it?”

“By coming to terms with the past, I think.” She looked off into the distance, her hand tightly clutching his. “I think we all have things from our youth that we’re still dealing with, the horrible things that happened to us that made us who we all are today.”

“And how do we do that?” Harry asked softly.

“By forgiving, forgetting, or getting even.” She said bitterly.

“And which are you choosing?” He asked.

“Getting even, and I may need your help to do it.” She said quietly.

“Anything you need, Luna.” He offered.

“Not now, it’s not the right time for anyone. But soon.” She said rising.

“Whatever, whenever. I’m there for you, Luna.” He promised rising and pulling her into a tight hug.

“I know.” She whispered.

(BREAK)

“So we’ll do it after the Order meeting.” Ron said.

“Assuming it goes well.” George answered. “I don’t want to see them if they’re all grumpy.”

Harry had told Ron of Madame Maxime’s visit before turning in for the night. Now he and Fred were planning George’s reunion with their parents. “You know what the best part of this meeting is?” Fred grinned. “I’ll have to miss graduation, isn’t that a shame.”

“I’m shedding tears for you.” George laughed. “Ghost tears! Quick get a bottle and you can sell them on Knockturn Alley along with the ghost sweat!” He broke into hysterical laughter until he realized his brothers hadn’t joined in. “Too soon?”

“Too gruesome.” Ron answered, his mind instantly drawn back to that day in Knockturn Alley, when Percy had murdered George.

“Not funny at all.” Fred said sourly.

“I’m just nervous, alright. Seeing mum and dad is kind of a big deal you know. You okay?” George asked suddenly, looking at Fred who was wearing the ring.

Fred was holding his head and swaying. “Yeah, just a headache.”

“Maybe I should go.” George said uncertainly.

“It’s fine, it’ll pass. I get them all the time.” Fred answered.

“Still, you gotta save up your strength for the parents. I’ll see you guys again then, okay?”

They said their goodbyes and then George was gone. “You really get them all the time?” Ron asked Fred.

“Yeah, so?” Fred asked, removing the ring and rubbing his temples.

“It’s just…” Ron hesitated, making sure the pieces he was putting together made sense. “It’s just that I’ve noticed in the past few days that Harry rubs his head like that a lot. He said it was nothing, but…”

“But what, Ron? Spit it out.” Fred let his frustration show.

“Well, you and Harry are the ones who seem to wear the ring the most. In fact, I’ve only worn it twice and Ginny just started. No one else but you two and now you’re both having these headaches.”

“So what, you want to be the one to call George for mum and dad, fine, I don’t care. See no problem with the ring, it doesn’t have any sort of magical hold over me. And I’m sure Harry is fine too. Now if you don’t mind, it’s late and I’d like to go to sleep.”

Ron left and went back to his own room. He thought about it and decided Fred was right. The headaches seemed to be the only side effect of using the ring, and if they could bear it, then who was he to judge?

That left his mind free to ponder the other thing Harry had told him before disappearing into Hermione’s room. Apparently, Hermione was sporting a bruised up face that she blamed on the door, but Harry had the sneaking suspicion that she and Ginny had gotten into something while he was gone. And when Harry carefully mentioned that Luna had the same idea, well, it made Ron remember the moment he had paused in the hallway, feeling the sudden desire to check on his sister. He had done so immediately after leaving Harry and found her unharmed and unwilling to talk. Of course, she denied having anything to do with Hermione’s injury.

That left him with Luna. Her room was also on that floor, and the feeling, the need to check on Ginny had been so strong and swift within him a few hours ago. Had she known what was happening and tried to send him to stop it? If that was the case, why hadn’t she intervened herself? He began to worry that it was time he and Luna talked.

(BREAK)

“Good morning.” Harry greeted her quietly as soon as she opened her eyes. Hermione blinked and smiled up at him, stretching luxuriously and enjoying the way he watched her with desire.

“Hey you.” She rolled on her side, facing him and leaned forward for a kiss. When she pulled back, she saw him inspecting her face. “How’s it looking, doc?”

“Just about gone.” He reached over to the nightstand and grabbed the ointment. As he gently applied it to her skin, she melted into his touch and brought his face to hers. He kissed her gently, but passionately. She knew he was worried about hurting her, saw her as delicate whenever she was inured, but she wanted to feel the desire she had seen in his eyes. She wanted to banish the words Ginny had implanted in her head before they had time to fester and turn to doubt. She pressed herself hard against him and deepened the kiss, crushing her lips to his and tangling her fingers in his hair. His response was immediate and they let themselves go, rolling in ecstasy until neither could move.

Eventually, he regretfully rose to begin his day. Arthur and Molly were arriving a day early in anticipation of the meeting that night. Witches and wizards would be arriving all day and Harry, as master of the house, had to see to them all. She agreed to follow him down shortly, and lay in bed, basking in the feeling of love he left her with. She felt satisfied in every way, Ginny didn’t know what she was talking about.

(BREAK)

Draco sat in his room listening to the noise from below. People had been arriving for hours, beginning with the loud Weasley reunion. He had hidden himself at the top of the stairs and watched as Mrs. Weasley squeezed all of her children and Harry and Hermione to her. He ached for his own mother then, the only person who had ever shown him any kindness. Harry may have been an orphan, but he had family now, while Draco was still left with no one. He wondered what Narcissa was doing, whether she thought of him. By necessity, he couldn’t contact her, and he understood this. He may love his mother, but he knew he’d be foolish to trust her.

He had returned to his room to sit alone until the meeting started. He was looking forward to Snape’s arrival. Though he had been a spy, the Potions professor was the closest link he had to his old life, the life he knew. When the knock on his door came, he was so absorbed in his thoughts, he actually thought it would be Snape. The person he found was a much more pleasant surprise.

“Ginny! What are you doing here?” he asked, hoping the shock he felt wasn’t visible.

“Don’t worry, I’m unarmed.” She said sarcastically, looking up and down the hall. “Can I come in, I really don’t want my brothers to see me here.”

“Well, how can I turn down a request like that?” he gestured her in, closing the door behind her. “And word around the house is, you don’t need a weapon to inflict pain.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” She said stiffly.

“Yeah? You and Granger are the only ones. Seems she’s sporting a shiner and no one believes the door did it to her.”

“I don’t care what everyone thinks.”

“Clearly. And you snuck down here in secret, not wanting to be seen because…?” He sat at his desk and waited, his heart beating in anticipation while he maintained a cool exterior.

“I guess I want to apologize.” She stood nervously before him.

“Oh yeah? For what?”

“You’re really going to make me say it?” she balled her fists. Anger and maybe embarrassment flushed her cheeks.

“Why not? I had to live it. And I’m going to go a step further and ask why you’re coming to me now to apologize, or at all for that matter, since the last time I found you at my door you made it very clear that you felt I had deeply wronged you.” He thought back to the night at Hogwarts when she had come to his room to tell him that while she appreciated what he had done for her at Hogsmeade, she still hated him.

“You’re an ass.”

“That’s beside the point.” He countered.

She stomped her foot in frustration and began pacing. “Look, you were horrible to us, and you were there that day, when George… and then I got your letter, asking me to come meet you, to listen to you. I thought of you as a sort of symbol of everything that was going wrong. You were there, your back to me, and I don’t know. It happened and I’m sorry. And I came to tell you because I need someone on my side.”

“What do you mean?”

“Ron and Fred and Harry, they all think I should go get help. Hermione will never forgive me, and we’re probably better off for it. Luna and Harry have forged this strange bond and she’s no longer just my friend. She can’t be there just for me.” Ginny said, blinking her eyes to hold back tears.

“And you expect me to?” He didn’t know exactly what was going on, but he wasn’t sure he liked where it was going.

“I don’t know!” she threw her hands in the air and slumped down on the edge of the bed. “I just want someone who is willing to go against Harry and the others. Someone who will take the time to see it from my side. I’m just… a little twisted up right now, it doesn’t mean I need therapy.”

“And what? I’m twisted enough for you to consider worth your time? What makes you think I’d go against Potter? He took me in, let me stay. He put everything that happened in the past behind us and is offering me the chance to start over. I put my trust in him and because of it, I may even be getting my arm back. I think the treatments are working.” He looked down at his arm, which was still tingling painfully from that morning’s session with Healer Drake. They had measured it and he had gained an inch of length back. “With all of that, you thought I’d put it all aside and be your special friend after a half hearted ‘I’m sorry I stabbed you.’”

“Well, if that’s the way you feel.” she rose and went to the door. Draco jumped up and grabbed her arm, she instinctively pulled against him.

“See.” he released her arm. “You don’t trust me. But I do accept your apology, we all go a little crazy sometimes. And just because I won’t tell you I think Potter and Granger are horrible people anymore, doesn’t mean I don’t agree that you can get past this by yourself. I’m not the kind to sit and talk out my problems either. I can still be there for you, and not hate them, you know.”

“Wow. You really are a defanged snake now, aren’t you?”

“And you’re really an ice queen now, aren’t you? So unwilling to let anyone be kind to you. You can come bend my ear anytime, that’s my offer, take it or leave it. But know that if you want someone to unload all over, I’m sitting in the same position, needing the same thing.”

“Oh yeah.” She looked him up and down. “What exactly do you have to unload Malfoy?”

“A bombshell. Are you really interested in making this twisted little friendship work?”

She hesitated before shrugging her shoulders. “Sure, why not. We all need someone we can count on right?”

“If you say so. Take a look at this, new friend. I could use an outside opinion on my next move.” He handed her the file on Lucius, opened to the relevant page.

“This is about your father.” She said looking up suspiciously. “Does Harry know you have this.”

“He does, though it shouldn’t matter to you. But you are the only one besides myself to read the contents. Go on.”

He watched her dawning expression as she read. “Oh wow. Lucius is a mudblood, as you would’ve put it.”

“What should I do with this information, so damning to a man hated by so many.”

“Well, you have to tell Harry and the Order. If Voldemort doesn’t know-“

“Which I really don’t think he does.” Draco interrupted.

“So this could be the key to your dad’s downfall. Oh, you have to tell Harry, and my dad. This is too good.”

“I was thinking the same, I just really like having the information to myself. It makes me smile. So I’ll tell them at the meeting. I just…”

“You just what?”

“There’s someone else I think I should tell first.”

(BREAK)

Draco and Ginny came down the stairs together. Luna looked around, and breathed a sigh of relief that no one had noticed. Watching Draco approach her, she knew that the road to her final vision for them all had begun and it was too early for anyone else to know.

“I have something I’ve been keeping secret.” He said just loud enough for her to hear.

“Don’t we all. I’m really thankful you all have started blocking me out, less responsibility.”

“Yeah, well, this secret I’m going to make public. I just didn’t think it would be fair to blindside you.”

“I glad you’ve become concerned with what’s fair, but is this the time?” she asked, gesturing at the guests surrounding them.

In response he grabbed her arm and pulled her up the stairs to the first landing. “Here, just read this.” He handed her a file.

She read it, and got happier the more she read. Two muggle parents, not a real Malfoy at all. Lucius was a liar, a hypocrite and better, he may not even know it, if the Malfoy’s never told him. And why would they have? She gave him back the files and threw her arms around him. “You have just made me very happy.”

“Yeah, well. I’m going to tell the others at the meeting tonight. See how many of them I can make happy.”

“What?” she asked horrified. “No! Please, just keep it quiet a little longer.”

“Why?” he asked, his face a mask of confusion.

“I just need to think on this for awhile. You flung it on me, I need to figure out how this will best help my case for Kane. Please, Draco. I’ll never ask you for anything ever again.”

“Don’t make promises you can’t keep.” He warned. “Don’t worry, I won’t hold you to it. But Ginny knows too, I just told her.”

“Well convince her to keep it quiet too.”

“Okay. Whatever you say. You really don’t think Potter should know? Or Mr. Weasley? Dumbledore?”

“Sure, but all in good time.”

“Okay, but you know how Potter hates being kept out of the loop.” He sneered.

“He’ll forgive me. Thank you. And I really mean it. Thank you, Draco.”

“No problem. I kind of like this friendship thing you guys got going here. Keeps me from feeling so alone.”

“Welcome to the fold.” She hugged him again before sending him to talk to Ginny. Soon, Kane would have justice, and she could let that part of her past go. Closure was within her reach. She only had to figure out the best way to bring it about.

(BREAK)

“Okay everyone, settle down.” Arthur said as everyone gathered in the war room. It felt more cramped than usual, with two giants within. “As you know, Hagrid and Olympe have some information for us regarding the giants, so I turn the floor over to them now.”

“Zank you, Minister Weasley.” Madame Maxine said. She nodded to Dumbledore before beginning her narrative. “I was contacted last year by Dumbly-dorr who wished me to try again wit zee giants. I kept in constant contact wit ‘im and ‘Agrid, about my progress. I abided by zee proper rituals wit my translator and zee Gurg agreed to listen. We made it sound good and zey ‘ave agreed to be zee new guardians of your Azkaban, wit one condition.”

“And what is that condition?” Kingsley asked.

“Zey want to own zeir land. The mountains where zey ‘ave made their ‘ome, zey want to own it and have no fear zat they will be forced off.”

“Through zoning that could be arranged.” Arthur replied.

“And what of Macnair? Last Hagrid told me, they had agreed to join with him and Voldemort.” Harry said, bringing a few murmurs.

“Yes, how can we be sure we can trust them, they’ve never trusted us.” Tonks’s asked from her place at Lupin’s side.

“Macnair could not ‘old up ‘is promises. ‘Ee was killed when a new Gurg became leader. And apparently zis Gurg is a very good leader, ‘ee ‘as been challenged only once in zee last two years and won zat battle. ‘Ee seems to ‘ave more intelligence zan zee others, a good zing I would zink.” Madame Maxime replied.

“So we can push through some zoning, create a cloaking spell like we do for our muggle villages, and we can meet his demand. What is his name?” Arthur asked.

“Basillion.”

“Okay, then all in favor of reaching out to the giants to be the new guardians of Azkaban?” Dumbledore asked. He nodded in approval as every hand went up. “Okay, then Madame Maxime will return with the news. Hagrid, perhaps you could join her? I know there’s someone near there you’d like to visit.”

“O’ course!” Hagrid heartily agreed. Harry knew it had been difficult for Hagrid to find a place for Grawp, but he had at last. (After a lot of work training him for the world.) There had been a Wizard village that was experiencing a rash of Death Eater attacks and Dumbledore had made arrangements for Grawp to be the village’s protector. Having so many of his own issues to deal with last year, he hadn’t talked to his friend about it, and now, he felt guilty. But at least Hagrid would be visiting, and he’d get another chance with Madame Maxine to boot. Happy with those thoughts, Harry turned his attention back to the meeting.

“Moving on, Severus Snape has attended a Death Eater meeting recently. Anything to report?” Dumbledore asked.

Snape stood gravely before them. “Unfortunately I do. An attack at Lairmore is being planned. The Dark Lord is preparing the Dementors and the other Death Eaters were to take to the skies, casting from above. I of course was told not to be there, as he believes I am his spy and therefore cannot risk capture or death. Now, as you know, Lairmore is our biggest wizarding village, outside of London. Most of our ministry workers live there-“

“I live there!” someone shouted from the back. Snape bristled at the interruption

“When is this attack to take place?” Lupin asked.

“Sunday night.” Snape answered shortly.

“Okay, time to prepare for war!” Fred shouted.

(BREAK)

They had spent the meeting making plans for Sunday night, only two days away. It had taken hours and everyone was relieved to finally leave. Dumbledore stayed and he and Arthur requested Harry, Hermione, Ron, Fred and surprisingly Draco come into the parlor with them. “Dad, before you start, we already planned it. I’m going on Sunday.” Ron said as they settled on the couches.

“Relax Ron. I’ve given up that argument. We have some things to discuss with each of you.” Arthur responded.

“First, I want to say we may know who sent those newspapers to your parents Hermione.” Dumbledore began. “It came to our attention that without the Dementors, our prison is not very organized or supervised. Cho Chang had been keeping regular correspondence with two people. Marietta Edgecombe and Pansy Parkinson.”

“Really? I didn’t think the old girl had it in her.” Draco said before realizing everyone was looking at him. “Pansy I mean. She never struck me as very bright or capable.”

“Well, we have indication that while she came up with the idea for Cho, it was Marietta she had sent do her bidding. We also have reason to suspect Cho had sent someone to destroy your store, Fred.”

“Why?”

“That we don’t know.”

“He was in her way last year. So was Hermione. She’s trying to get even by trying to ruin our lives one by one.” Harry surmised miserably.

“That makes sense. She tried to make it so I would be kept from both school and Harry and she attacked Fred’s livelihood. We were the two who were in her way the most.” Hermione said thoughtfully.

“I have a feeling it goes deeper than that.” Dumbledore said gravely. “I believe the attack on Fred’s store served not only as a way to ruin him, but also the opportunity to get Harry out in the open.”

“And who is she receiving orders from, then?” Ron asked. ” I mean you said she was only talking to Marietta and Pansy, right? So is she acting out her own plot, or is she taking orders from someone else?”

“If it’s really her at all.” Harry grumbled. It didn’t make sense, not completely anyway. There was a piece of the puzzle still missing.

“We’re sure it was her, even if her motives aren’t as clear.” Dumbledore replied.

“But we’ll be sure to ask her. We only received this information just before the meeting. Tomorrow, we’re heading to Azkaban.”

“I want to go with you.” Harry said.

“I’m not sure-” Arthur started, but Dumbledore cut him off.

“That may be a very good idea. I think Draco should go as well. The two of you together, now on the same side may get her talking.” Harry looked at Draco who was staring right back. They were on the same side now, they both knew it, but it was weird to hear said outloud.

“And with that settled for now, I have happier news. Griselda Marchbanks gave me these to deliver before I left the office today.” Arthur held up four envelopes.

“Our grades?” Hermione asked excitedly.

“I only tested yesterday.” Harry said, shocked.

“Well, a lot was riding on the outcome.” Arthur answered, handing Harry his letter first. He tore it open eagerly and read through the contents. He couldn’t believe it. “I did it. I passed with high marks and they’re letting me try for early graduation!” Hermione leapt up and hugged him before turning to Arthur and demanding her own letter. He handed it over and gave Ron his as well.

“Yes!” Ron exclaimed, reading his. “I did it!”

“Just barely.” Fred teased looking over his brother’s letter.

“Who cares? Early graduation, here I come!” Ron hugged Hermione and Harry in triumph. Hermione of course, had been accepted as well.

“Okay, one more announcement, this one is for you, Draco.” Arthur smiled at him and Harry felt Draco’s discomfort at being treated kindly. “Dumbledore and I talked it over and decided you should be afforded the same opportunity as the others, especially since it would be safer for you to remain out of student view.”

Arthur held up Draco’s acceptance letter and Harry felt a momentary twinge of discomfort. Like theirs, his envelope bore the seal of his house crest, shining brightly in green and silver. A reminder he was still very different than they were.

“I… you mean I get to graduate early too?” Draco asked in disbelief, taking the letter but making no move to open it.

“If that is what you want.” Dumbledore smiled.

(BREAK)

After Dumbledore took his leave and Draco retired to his room, Harry, Hermione and the Weasley children called their parents into the parlor. Ron held the ring tightly in his hand.

“What is this all about?” Molly asked looking around at them all suspiciously.

“We have something to show you. Someone, actually.” Fred answered nudging Ron. He slipped on the ring and concentrated as the other teens reached out to touch him, adding their energy so the connection would be stronger.

“What are you all doing?” Arthur asked.

“Calling up him.” Fred pointed behind them. Arthur and Molly turned to find George hovering above them.

“Hi, mum! Hi, dad!” George greeted them.

　

　

　

A/N: Whew, that was a lot to get out. So once again, we learned a few things, our characters learned a few things and there is still so much to uncover. Next chapter, the Weasley reunion continues, a visit to Cho Chang, war in Lairmore, Harry finds out some things about Luna, and Voldemort, Hagrid is made an offer before he leaves to talk to the giants, and Luna makes a request of Harry. Stay tuned for more! Thanks for reading, please review with your thoughts, good or bad I can take it.

Chapter 10: Villager Revolt

NOTE: Okay, another chapter with some action! A lot happening here so pay attention, and if you’re trying to piece together some of the mysteries in this story, I recommend going back to reread carefully, sometimes the most inconsequential scenes have the biggest clues. This is going to be another SUPER long one, so here it goes. READ, REVIEW, and ENJOY!





“George…” Molly whispered taking a step toward where her son hovered. Ginny felt her heart break all over again and suddenly had no desire to witness this. But to run away now would prove she was weak, if everyone else could take this reunion, she could as well.

“How is this possible?” Arthur asked reaching out. George backed away from his father and Fred stepped forward to stand between his parents. Without thinking, they both unconsciously grabbed one of Fred’s arms, as if he were the way to reach George.

“Harry found the ring.” George smiled down at them. “With it I can come visit until the real end. We can really say good bye.”

“We just said hello again!” Molly cried.

“Don’t worry, mum. I don’t think it’ll be my turn for awhile.” George answered quietly. “I’ve really missed you.”

Ginny felt tears in her eyes, it was so unfair! Her brother had been harmless, someone who brought laughter and joy. It shouldn’t have been him. She felt like if it had to happen to someone, it would’ve been best for all, if it had been her. And with that sudden thought, she realized she had actually been thinking it for quite some time.

“We’ve missed you! So much Georgie!” Molly began to sob, pulling Fred to her tightly. For once he didn’t struggle, simply let her hold him and cry.

Arthur had tears in his eyes as he stared at his lost son. “I don’t know how this is possible, but I’m… I’m just so…. So happy to see you.” Arthur choked out.

(BREAK)

They sat together in the parlor in silence. George was gone, back in his plane of existence, and everyone was left with tears freely falling down their face. Harry looked around at all of them, and though he knew their shields were down, he put his own up, containing his mind to keep it from wandering. They deserved to be able to let their thoughts be free right now.

Eventually Molly went to her room, asking Ginny to go with her. Wanting to comfort her mother, she went and Harry felt hope that she wasn’t as far gone as Ron had feared. After awhile, Arthur broke the silence. “How was that possible? What ring was he talking about?”

“The Ring of Mykele.” Fred answered absently.

“What?!” Arthur appeared startled. “I thought that was just a legend.”

“It’s right here.” Harry held it out for Arthur to take and inspect. Ron had given it back right after George had departed, saying that wearing it had made him feel uncomfortable. Harry had felt the same at first but assured him it would get easier the more he did it. Until the headaches come. Harry had added silently in his mind.

Arthur inspected it thoroughly. “It sure is ugly.”

“Well we had to go through a lot to get it.” Ron answered. Harry laughed on the inside, thinking that Ron had no idea. The image Harry had been shown in that cave had shook him to his core, thinking they had all been killed. It was so real, so terrifying, only Luna had been able to get him out of it. After, he remembered being impressed with his mother’s casting ability, especially if she’d only been a 7th year student when she’d set it up.

“From what I can remember from the old stories my grandfather used to tell me, it was a really special object, but it was also cursed, bringing misery to all who wore it.” Arthur looked around at them all. “I don’t suppose that’s the case, or you wouldn’t have something so dangerous, right?” he asked, his gaze finally landing on Harry.

“I don’t know about any curse, but I feel no misery being able to talk to George, Sirius, my parents and Neville.” Harry answered steadily. He wasn’t going to say anything that would make Arthur want to take the ring from him.

“What about the other things this thing can do?” Arthur asked still inspecting the ring.

“We haven’t really tried them.” Hermione admitted. Harry had forgotten the ring could even do anything else. He supposed it would be cool to see in the dark, but they had been right before, he had a cloak to make himself invisible and he could already read minds. Why drain his energy on those things when the real power he wanted was so much sweeter?

Everyone scattered soon after to go to bed, leaving Harry alone with Arthur. He stood and held the ring out for Harry to take back. “Thank you. Thank you, Harry, for finding a way to bring him back to us, even for a short while.” And then he pulled Harry into a tight hug.

Harry fought back tears, happy to at last give something back to Mr. Weasley. “I’m glad you’re happy. I was worried you’d be more sad this way.”

“And in a way I am, as I’m sure you are even after all the time you’ve spent visiting.” Arthur turned serious. “How often do you use the ring, Harry?”

“Why?” Harry asked, feeling a bit defensive.

“I just worry, that’s all. Things as powerful as that object, they feed on energy. They can become as addictive as a drug.”

Harry remembered coming home from testing, exhausted but still wanting to use the ring. He had fought it off, hadn’t used the ring at all since. He certainly didn’t feel addicted. “I promise that you have nothing to worry about. I haven’t used it since yesterday morning. And I can fight the desire to wear it if I know I shouldn’t. Besides, I don’t use it that often.” He certainly wasn’t going to mention the headache, after all, it had faded considerably since not using the ring.

“Hmm.” Arthur said, looking at him intently. “Maybe, but let me ask, how often does Fred use it?”

(BREAK)

“I really want to go with you.” Hermione said from her seat on the bed, watching as Harry dressed for the day.

“And Arthur already said you couldn’t.” Harry answered, pulling a shirt on and sitting next to her to put on his shoes.

She laughed. “And since when has anything like someone else’s permission stopped you?”

“Well, I happen to agree with him. All those locked up criminals and very little security, at least until things are fixed with the giants; I don’t even really want to go. But we need answers, so I’m going to go get them.”

“So it’s unsafe for me, but Harry Potter and new traitor Draco Malfoy will be completely safe in a prison full of Death Eaters with a reason for revenge?” Hermione laughed again. “I’d really worry less, if I could go with you.”

“And I’d worry less if you stayed here.” He responded, leaning over to kiss the tip of her nose. “Besides, Arthur said no, Dumbledore said no, and while I may not be one for obeying, you are another story. Just think how upset they’d be, how disappointed.”

She punched him in the arm. “You’re a jerk.”

“You’re the one who loves me.” He teased fending off another attack by grabbing her arm midswing. Laughing, they wrestled playfully together on the bed until he finally pinned her. “I have to go.” He said, leaning down to kiss her deeply before getting up and moving to the door.

“Be careful.” She called out.

“I love you.” He responded, going downstairs to meet the others.

(BREAK)

Draco felt like tearing his hair out. He, Potter, Mr. Weasley, and Dumbledore were all waiting in a holding room. The guards would be bringing Cho Chang to them, everyone feeling it was best not to parade him and Potter through the prison. He was grateful for that, personally knowing many of the people imprisoned there and what they were capable of. The Order’s directive was capture if possible, kill if necessary. Voldemort and his follower’s directive was kill if possible, capture if necessary. They had no reason to capture Draco, and so death could come to him at any time. It was Potter they wanted alive.

Finally the door opened and his heart leapt into his throat. He was supposed to protect Cho last year, and had turned on her instead. If she really was orchestrating some grand scheme against the others from behind bars, then he hated to think what she had planned for him. Feeling cowardly for his thoughts, he straightened up and put on a smug face. After all, he would be the one getting to leave after they were done here.

They sat her at the small table and shackled her to the chair, which was bolted down to the floor. She certainly didn’t look like the cute girl she had once been at Hogwarts. Her hair hung in long tangles around her face, which was streaked with dirt. Her eyes were hidden under dark shadows, large purplish marks indicating her lack of sleep. He had been worried about his own rapid weight loss, but she looked down right emaciated.

“I have nothing to say to any of you.” She said in a detached voice.

“But we have plenty for you to hear.” Dumbledore calmly replied.

(BREAK)

“Oh, hey.” Ron said uncertainly. He had been trying to kill time until Harry and his dad returned and had gone to shoot pool in the parlor. Instead, he found Luna, curled up with those files they had gotten from the ministry.

“Hi.” She said with a smile, brushing a long strand of golden hair behind her ear. He instantly felt the need to go and throw himself at her feet and beg for forgiveness. To tell her he had been wrong and still loved her. But that was Harry’s M.O. and he didn’t want to seem insincere.

“I didn’t mean to bother you…” he turned to leave but she stopped him.

“It’s fine, Ron. I was kind of hoping we’d get the chance to talk.”

That was all the invitation he had needed. They hadn’t spoken since their fight in Trelawney’s tower at the end of school. He had taken it forgranted that they had broken up, but what if that wasn’t the case? What if it was just a really big fight?

“But it was the case. I can’t be with someone who doesn’t trust me, Ron.” Luna sighed.

Ron instantly threw up his shield, angry with himself for forgetting. “I really wish you and Harry would at least pretend you can’t do that.”

“Pretend to be something we aren’t? I don’t know about Harry, but I can’t do that. My power didn’t just develop gradually like his, I’ve been able to do this my whole life. I’ve always read minds, I’ve always seen the future and I was always encouraged to use these gifts. I can’t turn them off and I don’t want to. They are a part of who I am, which is something you can’t understand and that is why we can’t be together.”

“I could learn, Luna.” Ron said simply. “I was so upset, I needed someone to blame.”

“And the fact that you chose to blame me says a lot.” She replied.

“Well, what do you expect. If you had a sister or brother and I knew something important about him or her, I would have told you.”

Luna looked down at this, and he saw her eyes water. What he had said to make her cry, he didn’t know, but he was instantly sorry for it. “Ron, I want to be your friend again. More than anything. We all need each other. But we can’t be anything more. It’s not meant to be.”

“Yeah? Did you see that in one of your visions?” he asked harshly.

“Ron, I was never the one meant for you. I’ve been seeing a lot of things in the last few months, as more and more events come to pass. As soon as Harry made the decision to find the other descendants, I saw…I just saw a different future for you. It wasn’t with me. And mine, it wasn’t with you.”

“And this is supposed to make me feel better?”

“That wasn’t my intention. I just wanted you to know that we can both be happy, as long as we stick to the right paths. We just aren’t going to find that happiness with each other.”

(BREAK)

Harry turned away, unable to look. Cho’s appearance, her attitude, her mind; he couldn’t take it all in at once. He couldn’t believe he had once aspired to be with her, that she had once been a pretty, bright student with her whole life ahead of her. He knew her parents had fled after her capture and were being hunted for their part in planning the explosions that took Neville’s life. He could understand her need for revenge, but he wouldn’t let himself forget that she had chosen this for herself. She could have denied her parents, she could have told someone and gotten out. She didn’t. He wouldn’t let his pity sway him, despite her appearance, and because of it, he knew she was dangerous.

Arthur pulled out her letters, which had been confiscated from her cell. “Seems you have a couple of loyal pen pals.”

“Is it against the law to have friends?” Cho asked angrily.

“Only if you ask them to commit crimes against others.” Arthur responded. “Now these two girls, Marietta and Pansy, they were friends of yours back at school?”

“Yes.” Cho said simply.

“I don’t think so.” Draco said suddenly. “Pansy never talked to you a day in her life. Not while we were at school anyway.”

“No one asked you. Traitor.” Cho spat at him, forcing Draco to take a step back. “You just had to open your mouth and be the hero at the trial.” She looked at his arm and laughed. “How does it feel, Hero. Was it worth it?”

“Enough.” Dumbledore said quietly but powerfully.

For a moment Cho looked intimidated. Then she laughed again. “This isn’t Hogwarts, Headmaster. I’m not a bad little student in your office to serve detention. I killed someone, injured a few others, planned to kill a few more. Neville was a waste of space anyway.” She added looking directly at Harry.

He felt his anger flair and he tried to get a hold of it quickly, he wasn’t quick enough. Her chair shook against the bolts holding it down. He took satisfaction in the moment of terror in her eyes. Dumbledore turned to him and simply shook his head. Harry nodded and took a few deep breaths.

“Miss Chang…” Arthur started but she interrupted, still looking directly at Harry.

“What was that, Harry? Did I make you mad? I heard about the Leaky Cauldron, you know. What with my ‘pen pals’ and all. You gonna throw that table at me? Or weren’t you mad enough?” she laughed. “You think Neville was the only one I wanted dead? He annoyed me, but Looney Luna, she was so irritating, always with her nose in my business. I rigged that bathroom to kill her you know. She wasn’t supposed to be saved, I wanted her dead and if I get out of here I’ll make it happen. I hoped you both would die that day, but it was her I wanted. And I had big plans for the others too.”

“Shut up.” Harry said, wishing Hermione had come, to help keep him grounded. He felt like a teapot, bubbling and about to scream.

“MISS CHANG!” Arthur said loudly to get her attention.

She couldn’t be swayed. “Shall I tell you what I planned for Ron, that stupid oaf, walking around like he was so important.” She paused to look at Arthur. “He’s an idiot by the way, your son. Death would have been a kindness.” Her chair shook again as Harry fought with himself.

“Don’t do it.” Draco whispered to him, putting a hand on his shoulder.

“That’s quite enough!” Arthur rose.

“You’re the ones who wanted to come see me, you don’t get to control what I say. And look at you two!” She brought her attention back to Harry. “Best friends now, huh? How’s Hermione feel about that, Harry? Wow that reminds me, you don’t even want to know what I had planned for her after drowning Lovegood in the bathroom. That bitch got in my way, she will certainly suffer for it. And I mean suffer!”

And then there was a loud crack as the legs of the chair split against the pressure of Harry’s anger. Cho and the chair flew backwards. Dumbledore was on his feet in an instant, his wand out and casting. A large bubble surrounded the girl before she slammed against the wall, protecting her head from cracking against it. Harry stood panting, his entire body shaking. Cho was unconscious, he wished she were dead. Shaking his head of such violent thoughts, he was disconcerted. They had only been words, she had come at him with the only weapon she possessed and had gotten the better of him, forced him to lose his control. He felt defeated and sat heavily as the guards came to bring Cho to the prison hospital.

“Can I see those?” Draco asked suddenly, indicating the letters Arthur still held, now crumpled in his fist. He handed them over and sat next to Harry as Draco walked to the corner to read by the sunlight streaming through the dirty window.

“Well-” Dumbledore began.

“I’m sorry, okay. I’m sorry.” Harry said running his hands through his hair and resting his head in his hands. He was frustrated, after all that, they still had nothing.

“I know you are.” The old wizard replied.

“Such a cruel girl.” Arthur lamented, shaking his head.

“We will keep this incident quiet.” Dumbledore said. “And Miss Chang’s mail privileges are certainly revoked.”

“But we haven’t learned anything!” Harry protested.

“Harry, I doubt she would have been cooperative. This was a mistake.” Arthur said shaking his head.

“Maybe not.” Draco said from the window. “These letters from Pansy? They aren’t from her at all. It’s not her writing, and there are far too many big words.”

“Are you sure?” Harry asked as Draco handed the letters back to Arthur.

“I’m positive. She used to write me dippy little notes all the time, these are not in her writing. And Potter, remember how I told you she wasn’t bright enough to come up with sending those newspapers, well, I was being kind. She’s no mastermind, that’s for sure.”

“Why would they use Miss Parkinson’s name?” Arthur asked.

“That’s something we’ll have to ask the author of those letters.” Dumbledore answered. “Arthur, surely there is someone in the ministry who can track this letter, give us clues as to who wrote it?”

“I know just the man. Hopefully we’ll get some answers soon.” Arthur said, motioning them all to the door.

“And hopefully the giants are trustworthy, I don’t want her getting out of here.” Harry said as they started down the long hallway.

“Time to put that behind you, Harry. We have to prepare for a fight tomorrow.” Dumbledore said.

(BREAK)

“Who knew she was hiding all that crazy?” Ron said. Harry simply shook his head and said nothing. He and Draco had relayed the visit to the others when they got home. Now they sat in the parlor with Ron, Hermione, Fred and Luna, going through the ministry documents until the Order meeting started.

“I never want to see her again, that’s for sure.” Harry replied.

“Completely opposite what you thought about her in fourth year, huh?” Ron teased as Hermione gave him a little shove.

“Like you said, who knew she was hiding all that crazy.” Fred laughed. “Don’t worry Hermione, we can all handle your crazy.”

“Keep going and I’ll show you crazy.” she warned him, crossing her arms. Harry smiled and leaned over to kiss her cheek.

They all settled in to read. Harry left the documents already translated by Hermione and Luna to the other guys. He had the other files in front of him, the ones about Voldemort. He was putting off his own information, not really wanting to read about what they knew of his life and the judgements they made about him. He had a feeling reading those files would only make him angrier.

Half an hour later, he struck gold. “I don’t believe it!”

They others looked up at him, startled. “What is it?” Luna asked.

“It just makes so much sense now, why he actually liked Bellatrix LeStrange.” Harry reread the pages, just to be sure he wasn’t just seeing what he wanted to see.

“We’re all at the edge of our seat, Harry. You going to share?” Fred asked.

“He had a sister.” Harry said. “She was a mental case, schizophrenic according to the documents.”

“And?” Draco asked.

Harry scanned the pages again, wanting to get the whole story together for them. “Apparently he broke her out of the asylum their parents had sent her to, right after he left Hogwarts. As far as record of her goes, that was the last anyone saw of her.”

“How does that explain his attachment to Bellatrix? We know they weren’t related, she was part of the Black family.” Hermione asked, moving closer to read the document over his shoulder and see the information for herself.

“And mine as well.” Draco glumly reminded them.

“It says here he had tried to get custody of his sister before he broke her out. That they had been extremely close siblings. Apparently, she was one of the few people he actually cared about, and she was bat shit crazy. At least according to these.” He held up another file, records from the healers at the asylum. Hermione grabbed it up and began reading.

“So what was her name? Was she older or younger?” Fred asked.

“Margaret. Her name was Margaret Riddle. And she was born first.” Hermione answered still looking through the healer’s notes. “Says here that she was in the asylum, because she suffered a complete mental break. They didn’t hold much hope as she refused to take any herbs or remedies. And the ones they forced her to take, they just weren’t effective.”

“So what happened to her?” Fred and Draco asked at the same time.

“No one knows after he broke her out.” Harry kept looking, but she wasn’t mentioned again. “But if something bad happened, and then he met someone like Bellatrix, well, maybe she was like his sister and so he developed a blind spot for her.”

“She certainly wasn’t all there, was she.” Ron replied, shuddering at the memories thoughts of Bellatrix conjured.

“But what about Margaret?” Luna asked, coming to sit next to Hermione to look through the file.

“She died.” A voice said from behind them. They turned to find Dumbledore in the doorway. “Please, excuse the interruption, I rang at the door, but no one came to answer. I can see you were all too busy.”

“Sir, you know for a fact that Margaret Riddle is dead?” Hermione asked.

“I do. I was at her funeral, saw her laid to rest. It was the last time I tried to reach out to Tom until Harry showed up. He was as unreachable then as he is now. Losing Margaret was the last straw.” Dumbledore sighed and came to sit with them.

“So what happened?” Harry asked.

“There were few people in Tom’s life that he really cared for.” Dumbledore began. “He hated his father, as you know, and when they were younger, Margaret is the one who took care of Tom. Once, when he was still a young man showing promise, he confided in me that without his sister, he wouldn’t have survived.” He paused to sigh again, looking around at the promising young faces surrounding him now. “She had her mental break two years before Tom came to Hogwarts. He considered the decision to send her away unforgivable.”

“So what happened after he broke her out?” Hermione asked, completely enthralled with the story.

“She was unwell. She had been refusing treatment, medicine, food. She was too weak, and he had gotten to her too late. She had given up on living and he had been unable to convince her otherwise. She died of natural causes and was laid to rest in a small graveyard in the country.”

“Not-” Harry began but was interrupted.

“No, Harry. She isn’t in the graveyard he brought you and Cedric to. He hadn’t wanted their father anywhere near her, even after death. And that is the tragic tale of Margaret Riddle.”

“So Bellatrix…” Ron prodded.

“Was a stronger version of the sister he had lost.” Dumbledore nodded. “She had remained loyal and strong even after Lord Voldemort was vanquished for so many years. And then she was also taken from him, yes, I believe he sees the act as a line drawn in the sand. Which is why we need you all to take care tomorrow and follow directions without question. Harry took someone very important from Voldemort.”

“He did it to me first!” Harry protested. Ron reached over to pat him reassuringly on the back as Hermione took his hand.

“Yes, but unlike you, Harry, Tom has no moral center. It will always be an eye for an eye with him. I’m glad you have those files, even if you weren’t supposed to take them.” Dumbledore nodded encouragingly. “It is always best to know your enemy, so that you never underestimate him.”

(BREAK)

Harry sat by himself in the backyard under the large willow tree, letting the soft summer breeze clear his head. Tomorrow they would once again be going into battle, and while he felt he better understood some of his enemies motives, he couldn’t understand why so many had followed him. Was the lure of power really so overwhelming?

The Order meeting had simply been a last minute planning session, deciding the best place to put everyone. The decision was an unpopular one. He, Fred and Charlie were stationed with Tonks, Kingsley, Mad-eye, and several other Aurors, leading the attack in the sky.

Hermione, Ron, Luna, Draco, Ginny and Bill were to be in the village, part of the surprise ground attack squad with Arthur, Dumbledore, Hagrid, Madame Maxime, the rest of the Aurors and the Villagers who had refused to leave their homes. Being separated from his friends, not being able to have each and every one of them where he could see them, it wasn’t a plan he had been happy with. Fear, doubt, worry, they clouded Harry’s thoughts, keeping him awake long after everyone else had turned in. He ran his hands through the soft grass and closed his eyes as he faced the damp breeze, trying to clear his crowded head.

He felt Luna’s presence before she made herself known. “Do you want to be alone?” she asked, standing before him as he opened his eyes.

“Yes and no. I just can’t sleep. Too much to think about.”

“It’s going to be fine, Harry.” She said, taking a seat next to him on the ground.

“Really, did you see something?” He asked anxiously.

“No.” she let her head hang. “Truthfully it’s all a blank when I try to see anything, too much is up in the air, too many decisions not made. I hate when it gets murky like this, it makes the end so uncertain, it fades away. It’ll become clear again once the dust settles, just like after Hogsmeade.”

“I hope the picture is the same.” Harry answered.

“So do I. Everyone has a plan, we’re all going to be together even if you and Fred are in the air. We’ll all be able to watch out for each other out there tomorrow.”

“I don’t want to talk about it. I don’t want to think about it. When I do, all I can see is what could go wrong, and how much I stand to lose if someone gets hurt.”

“Okay, then in other news, Hermione told me that as soon as she can get into the Hall of records, she’ll be able to trace at least Mykele’s lineage. So we’ll have somewhere to start.” She smiled at him and he felt grateful that she was trying to cheer him up.

“That’s a whole other thing I can barely think of. Who knows how long it will take to find these people, and what if they don’t want to help? Finding eleven random people in an overpopulated world. It all seems hopeless.”

She stayed quiet for a long time before responding. “What if I could make it a bit easier for you, what if I knew who one of the other people was?”

He felt a tug at his mind. Something that had come and gone in a flash a few weeks earlier. He had a feeling he knew what she was going to say. “It’s you.” He turned and faced her, feeling more relieved than he had thought.

“I come from Gwendolyn Crowley. My grandmother was very proud of her lineage, said we came from heroes and warriors. She was disappointed that daddy chose to run the magazine, said it was unbefitting our legacy. She herself had fought against tyranny in England when she was younger, helping the small group of our kind who tried to keep a rein on the royal family throughout the ages.”

“They weren’t always successful, eh?” Harry snorted, thinking of the stories he had read in muggle history books while in a muggle school.

“Well, we had our own problems every now and then too, so said Granny. She used to tell Kane and me all about it, telling us we had to aspire to greatness. She was so proud when he joined the Aurors, thought it was only a matter of time before he was promoted to the Royal Watch division.”

Harry took her hand. “I’m sorry.” He said simply.

She smiled again. “It gets easier to think about him, especially now.”

“Why now?”

“Let’s just say I have something in the works and leave it at that for now. There are other things to focus on. We got off track anyway. I just thought you should know, and wondered what you wanted to tell the others? You know, Hermione and Ron especially.”

Harry paused. He knew that having one less person to find was very good. He knew that the person being Luna meant he always had someone he could trust and that was very good. He and Luna sharing one more thing they couldn’t share with those closest to them, to those already upset at being left out, that was very bad. Keeping it a secret could be worse. “Well, they don’t need to know right now, especially with Lairmore looming over us.”

“And after?” she asked, squeezing his hand.

He shook his head and squeezed back. “After, we’ll just see what happens I guess.”

(BREAK)

I hate waiting! Fred thought to him from their hiding place among the trees.

You’re telling me, Harry thought back. They had been waiting for over an hour for the enemy to make their move. Allies and villagers were bunkered down in the little houses sprawling out in front of him. Harry’s eyes were trained on a house at the end of the street, the one where Hermione and Luna waited with Ron, Draco, Molly, Ginny and Bill. Every now and then Luna would send him a telepathic report, but it did little to calm his nerves.

How much longer, do you think? Fred asked, nervously moving his broom from one hand to the other.

How should I know? Harry replied. Then he felt the coldness. Looking around, he knew the others waiting with him felt it too. The Dementors were close. All they needed was for the Death Eaters to show, Harry just hoped they’d come before the Dementors found them.

And then, as if on cue, green flames shot into the air, and the Dark Mark rose into the sky, illuminating the dark shapes flying around it. There appeared to be hundreds of them. The air began to crackle as many more Death Eaters apparated into the streets.

Harry met Tonks’s eye and nodded as she gave the signal. With a cry, they rose in the air, casting immediately as the others streamed from the houses where they had been hiding.

(BREAK)

Luna was nervous. She had been trying all day, but nothing was coming to her. Leaving her mind open, should anything need to come, she focused on the others around her, as they waited impatiently in a stranger’s home. This particular homeowner had been a single mother, willing to offer up her house to the Order, but choosing to flee with her children. Luna couldn’t blame her, fear for those you loved was a powerful motivator. She only hoped Harry would be able to keep his head together out there, and intended to keep the others safe so he wouldn’t worry or become distracted.

Last night, she had wanted to tell him so much more, to let him know about Draco’s knowledge of her brother, of Lucius’s secret. She hadn’t been able to. He was already so burdened, and while she desperately wanted to unload to have him make her feel better, she had held back, trying to comfort him instead. There was just so much more that he carried around on his shoulders than the rest of them, not only did he have his own hopes and fears and sorrows, he was burdened with those of his loved ones as well as the rest of the Wizarding community. His need to succeed, the pressure that failure wasn’t an option, it was going to break him someday.

Get ready! Harry’s words in her mind broke through her thoughts of him. She saw that the others had heard and moved to the windows to watch for the signal.

“May we all be watched over.” Molly prayed.

And then the signal broke and they were all moving at once. Arthur had given them specific orders, stick together and stay with him or Hagrid. Ginny, Draco and Molly went left with Arthur’s group. Luna followed Hermione and Ron to the right, with Hagrid, being forced to cast almost as soon as she was out the door.

(BREAK)

“Look out!” Fred called out and Harry dove down, missing the fireball that had launched at him. For a bit there, flying with Fred, he felt like they were out on the quidditch pitch again, but bludgers were the least of his worries. Skimming the tops of the houses he caught sight of Hagrid and Madame Maxime, towering over everyone else. At first Harry had worried that their height would make them easier targets, but they did have giant blood coursing through their veins, and the vicious ferocity seemed to have come out. Seeing Hermione, Luna and Ron with them and unharmed, he raced back up to the sky.

Dodging spells, he zoomed through a group of Death Eaters who began to give chase. That’s right, come and get me morons. He thought as he flew toward the trees. It was obvious his pursuers knew who he was, because unlike the other Order members in the sky, they sent spells to capture, not kill, hurtling toward him. He ducked and dipped low, leading them through the forest. Ready? He thought to Fred.

We’re all set up for you. Was the reply. He raced upward suddenly, breaking though the tree canopy. There were still five death eaters following him, and they never knew what hit them. Tonks, Fred and Mad-eye, waiting in position, had stunned Harry’s hunters in midair, magically lowering them to the ground where another group of Aurors placed them in custody.

That was easy! Fred’s giddy thought reached him.

Too easy. This is usually the time to step up our awareness. Harry warned as they flew back to the battle over the village.

“Ready to try it again?” Tonks yelled to Harry.

“Sure! Just let me get a few on the hook!” and he swooped in to draw some more attention.

(BREAK)

It was genius really. Harry had come up with it when they’d first taken cover in the trees, and while he saw that the plan made the adults uneasy, Fred was amused by the brilliant simplicity. The Death Eaters didn’t want Harry dead, and that made him the only one without a bullseye on his head. Sending out the one person they didn’t want to kill but very much wanted to capture, was the best way to keep everyone else from being hurt. Harry had offered himself up as bait, and agreed to lure the Death Eaters away into the woods where they could set up an ambush. It had worked twice already.

As Harry gathered a new bunch, Fred hid himself in the trees and allowed himself the time to scan for his family. Ron was with the giants, helping Hermione and Luna keep them shielded as they tore through the enemy line. They were so convincing as terrible giants that Fred himself felt scared of Hagrid, for the first time ever. He felt Ron was well protected.

Arthur, Bill and some villagers were dueling with a large group of Death Eaters, but appeared to be gaining the upper hand. Molly, he knew was running among the houses, helping tend the wounded and dying, on both sides. Charlie was up in the skies, reigning terror on the enemy from above.

Fred couldn’t see Ginny though, and began to panic. He hadn’t wanted her to come, had in fact told his parents she shouldn’t go. Molly had of course agreed, but Arthur had not, saying that if he was going to let the others do whatever they wanted, it was unfair to place restrictions on Ginny. Fred’s last hope had been that Ginny simply wouldn’t want to go, but surprisingly that wasn’t the case. He had decided to hope that it meant she was on the way back to being herself.

You ready? Harry was once again calling for his attention. Determined to spot his sister the next time, he raced to get in place for the next group Harry had lured into the trees.

(BREAK)

Draco had never felt more terrified in his life. He felt like a walking target, as he and Ginny followed her brother and parents through the streets. He kept his senses trained and made sure he cast before his adversary. Potter was in the skies, and appeared to be doing well as the number of flying Death Eaters dwindled. But here on the ground was another story. He felt like every time they made progress in dwindling the Death Eater numbers, more of them apparated in. And the Dementors weren’t helping their cause either. Meanwhile, the Order, villagers and Aurors had all the numbers they would have, and their losses were being felt more.

“Look out!” Ginny screamed. On instinct he dropped the ground and turned as a masked figure prepared to cast again.

“Expelliarmus!” Ginny yelled first.

Draco watched as the other’s wand flew away. Angry to be disarmed, the Death Eater lunged at Ginny, but Draco was quicker. “Expulso!” he pointed to ground in front of the man and was amazed as the pavement exploded beneath his feet. The man gave a mighty scream as pieces flew up into his face, knocking him unconscious.

Ginny hurried over and helped Draco to his feet. “You okay?” he asked, hoping she hadn’t been injured by a stray piece of flying debris.

“Yeah, thanks. That was quick thinking.”

“The only kind we’re afforded out here.” He said quickly looking around. “We lost your father.” If they got separated, they were supposed to head into the nearest house and think their location to Harry or Luna who would relay the message.

“Let’s go find them!” she said excitedly. Watching her, he felt as if the battle were finally waking her up from a long sleep, and she was acting more like the girl he had known her to be, back when he was spying on them all.

“That’s not the plan.” He said hesitantly.

“So what? Since when do rules and plans make a difference?”

She may not be uneasy walking around without extra help, but Draco was far more practical, being more of a target. “Look, a lot of people out here want me dead. One of them, my own father. I really don’t want to be wandering around aimlessly.” He said resolutely, grabbing her arm and pulling her along with him.

“Please, I’m the minister’s daughter, you think they wouldn’t be after me and mine to use as leverage? If I’m willing to keep going you should be too.” She said as she let him pull her toward the nearest house.

“Yeah, as leverage, meaning you get to keep breathing, and the possibility to keep breathing long after if they save you. I’ll be dead where I stand.” He answered harshly, wishing he could just leave her behind. This time last year, he would have. Damn the conscious he had grown.

“If you’re so worried about it, I have the solution.” She pulled to a stop and reached into her pocket, producing Mykele’s ring. “This will make you invisible.”

“Why do you have that!?” Draco asked angrily, taking the ring from her before anyone could catch sight of it.

“I figured it might come in handy.” She shrugged.

“Do you know how much they want this? Are you an idiot?” Draco yelled in a vicious whisper.

“No, I was thinking ahead. Now you don’t have to worry about being seen.” Ginny argued defensively. “I thought Harry might need it, if things got difficult, but if you’re such a wimp then you can use it.”

“Potter doesn’t know you have this, does he?”

“What does it matter? It belongs to all of us.”

Draco shoved the ring deep inside his pocket, hoping he could hand it off soon. “Listen you little idiot. This isn’t a game, this is survival. Whatever little girly problems you’re having with Potter and Granger doesn’t mean a goddamned thing to me right now, you understand. Bringing this ring here was so stupid, it’s one more thing that makes you a target. These types of objects create energy, you know, you think they don’t have their own special people on their side? People with extra powers like Potter and Lovegood? They have people who can feel this energy.” He was so angry and scared he let it all unload on her, and though she looked hurt, he didn’t feel bad about it. She had to understand the danger they were really in.

Screams interrupted her reply and they both ran toward the sound. The Dementors were running rampant down the street as those who had tried to stop them ran in fear. They were stronger, and gaining more strength with every soul they took. “Come on!” Ginny yelled, running off before he could stop her. This girl seemed to have a death wish, just his luck, he’d get lost in battle with someone like that. He wanted to turn and run, to find more people to bring back and fight, but Ginny was already facing down the Dementors.

With a growl of frustration, he hurled himself after her before he could change his mind yelling out, “Expecto Patronum!” as he went, unleashing his large silvery snake on the dark army coming down on them.

(BREAK)

Hagrid and Madame Maxine had been knocking down the enemy since it had all started. Hermione, Ron and Luna mainly tried to just stay out of their way, keeping protection charms around them, and disarming anyone who tried to catch them unaware. After sweeping down an entire street, they made their way down another, and ran into trouble.

“Minister Fudge?!” Hermione couldn’t help letting out her shock. The former minister simply stood before them, the wand in his hand dangling uselessly at his side. He wasn’t wearing Death Eater robes.

“What’re you doin’ here Cornelius?” Hagrid asked angrily. Fudge didn’t answer. And then about ten more people began to join Fudge in the middle of the street, villagers, people who had been fighting on their side.

“What’s wrong with them?” Ron asked. Hermione was afraid she knew. And sure enough, before she could reply, it was as if a switch had been flipped in the man before them.

Fudge attacked quickly, scattering their small group as fire shot out of his wand in their direction. The villagers began casting spells at them just as quickly. “Run! They’re under the Imperious curse! They won’t stop!” Hermione screamed. She and Luna dashed between two houses and ran for the cover of the trees. Looking back she realized the others weren’t following, no one was following them. She grabbed Luna’s arms and brought them to a stop. “We lost Ron and Hagrid!” she said gasping for breath.

“Why aren’t they chasing us?” Luna asked.

Hermione tried to look down the streets, but it didn’t appear they had been seen. “Look!” she pointed to a figure standing on the roof of a house off into the distance.

“That’s him. That’s the one putting them under the curse!” Luna said.

“Are you sure?”

“Of course I’m sure, whoever that guy is, he’s controlling them.”

“Then let’s go.” She and Luna cut through backyards, making their way quickly to the caster’s perch and stunning the few who managed to get in their way.

“It’s Dolohov! He’s a nasty one.” Hermione whispered to Luna. “You ready?”

Luna nodded and both girls split up around the house, hoping to take him down from either side. GO! Luna shouted in her head.

Hermione heard the other girl scream outloud, “Expelliarmus!”

Within an instant Hermione threw her own curse, “Incarcerous!”

She and Luna climbed onto the roof with their prize. “Release them , NOW!” Hermione demanded of Dolohov, who was looking up at them defiantly.

“He’s upset that he was bested by teenage girls.” Luna said, looking down at him in disgust as she looked through his mind.

“I’ll bet he is. He’s about to be a lot more upset if he doesn’t release those people.” Hermione threatened.

“What are you going to do? Take me to your headmaster.” Dolohov sneered.

“We don’t have time for that.” Hermione answered pointing her wand in his face. “Sectumsempra!” she shouted the only curse she could remember that caused harm and wasn’t an Unforgivable. Harry had told her that he had seen Snape using it against James in the past when digging around in Snape’s memories.

“Hermione!” Luna gasped as a large gash appeared on Dolohov’s cheek. Hermione had missed on purpose, only wanting to wound the man. She didn’t want to kill anybody.

“Release them.” She demanded coldly.

“I will not.” Dolohov said defiantly.

“Sectumsempra!” she shouted again. The man howled in pain as blood began pooling down his arm. She had gotten his shoulder this time.

“Let them go.” Luna demanded. “We really don’t have time for you.” She pointed her wand at the man, threatening to add her own curse in with Hermione’s.

“I’ll say.” Dolohov answered, looking past the girls from his immobile position on the roof.

They turned to see a swarm of Dementors coming right for them. Looking at each other, the girls called their Patronus creatures, and hoped they’d make it somehow.

(BREAK)

They had almost cleared the skies of Death Eaters when the Dementors started coming at them. Harry began to feel they were fighting a losing battle as his stag raced through a group chasing Tonks. He turned and threw a Hurling Hex at the Death Eater trying to sneak up on him. The enemy’s broom began to buck and jerk, forcing his pursuer to land or risk being thrown off.

“Everyone! Ground!” Kingsley yelled out to the Order flyers, and Harry knew it was their best move. They would never be able to overcome the Dementors in the sky. Looking for a place to land, Harry saw how hard it had been for those fighting down below. Many houses were on fire, and the streets were torn up, completely destroyed in some areas. He saw a group of villagers fleeing a small band of Dementors and sent his stag in to assist before flying on.

And then he saw them, Hermione and Luna on top of one of the houses, their Patronus spells trying desperately to fend off the dark creatures streaming towards them. There was a man in Death eater robes with them, but he appeared to be their captive, and no longer a threat. Getting closer, he could see it was Dolohov.

“Hey!” he shouted loudly. The girls looked up at him in relief as he flew past and through the large mass bearing down on them. Harry shot upwards, seeing that some of the creatures had followed. He made another pass, getting a few more to give chase. But there were some that wouldn’t give up their attack on the girls. Harry had to get them out of there.

Hermione! Throw up a hand! He instructed, knowing Luna would be able to hold them off on her own for a moment. She did as he asked and he raced forward, the Dementors hot on his trail. He moved lower and took aim, throwing out his own hand and slowing just enough to ensure he had her in a good grip before flying off. He could hear her shriek as they shot through the air, her fingernails were digging into his skin. He wasn’t going to let go. Seeing Hagrid and Madame Maxime’s large forms looming in the distance, he called out to them.

Let go! He commanded, sweeping in low. She did, and flew down directly into Hagrid’s arms. Making sure she had made it safely, he went back for Luna.

“Looks like they left you behind.” Dolohov was shouting to Luna over the noise of the battle raging around them.

Shut up. He heard her think to the vile man.

Luna! Harry called to her, wanting her to know he hadn’t deserted her. She instantly threw up her hand, waiting for rescue as if she had known all along that he was coming back.

As he slowed to grab her, she put her wand between her teeth so she could grasp him with both hands. “Wait you can’t leave me!” Dolohov cried as they ascended.

“Watch me.” Harry shouted back.

“No, no, NO NOOOO, YOU WORK FOR US!!!!” they heard the man cry as the Dementors that remained surrounded him.

He was controlling Fudge and the villagers! Luna told him as they flew through the air.

Not anymore. Harry thought back to her. He went back to where he had left Hermione and the others, only to find the area deserted. He couldn’t stop, there was a gang of Dementors tailing him, and he couldn’t leave Luna down there by herself. He also couldn’t keep flying around with her dangling from his broom.

Can you climb up here? He asked. He helped as best he could while still maintaining a solid flight path. Swinging a leg and using Harry as a sort of hand ladder, she got herself up and behind him. Wrapping her arms around his waist, she held on for dear life as he shot through the sky, Dementors in hot pursuit. He couldn’t fly forever though, and one thought kept interrupting any plan he tried to make. In the few seconds he had left her to go get Luna, what had happened to Hermione?





A/N: Alright then. It isn’t looking so good for them is it… see how the fight ends and learn a few more revealing things in the next chapter of Harry Potter and the Coven of Warriors! Please take the time to review and leave your thoughts, good or bad. Feedback rocks!

Chapter 11: Ready to Rumble

NOTE: Welcome back, more action coming at you, along with a ton more questions. Pay attention, clues are everywhere. Read, Review and Enjoy!




Draco’s lungs were on fire, his legs felt like jelly, but he wouldn’t stop running. He couldn’t. His grip on Ginny’s wrist was iron tight as he pulled her along behind him. There were too many Dementors, they couldn’t hold them back and had been forced to retreat. Where is everyone?! He thought wildly trying to push it outwards to Lovegood or Potter. They needed help.

“In there!” Ginny shouted, now the one pulling him toward a small house to the right. “Where’s the ring?” she yelled as soon as he slammed the door shut behind them.

“What?” he was confused and out of breath, not to mention feeling extremely depressed thanks to their constant proximity to those creatures.

“The ring! It makes you invisible, if they can’t find us, they can’t give us the kiss!” she shouted, trying to search his pockets.

“Hey!” he moved away from her and retrieved the ring himself. Using it would leave an energy mark for anyone with the ability to sense it. But it could save them right now from the Dementors bearing down on their hiding place. With a cry of frustration he put the ring on and grabbed her hand, hoping it would work. “Nothing’s happening.” He said after a minute.

“Concentrate!” she demanded. “It has a voice or whatever, that’s what Luna told Harry.”

The air grew colder, their teeth began to chatter. He closed his eyes and begged the ring to work, not knowing what else to do.

(BREAK)

Hermione landed in Hagrid’s arms and felt relief. He deposited her to the ground gently and they watched as Harry zoomed off to get Luna. “’Ere, zey come again!” Madame Maxime cried as a group of Death Eater’s apperated in the trees and came toward them.

She ran with the giants, wondering just how many more people they could possibly send here. “Ron! Fred!” she cried out in relief seeing her friends down the street with Mr. Weasley, Dumbledore and a large group of Aurors.

They came to a stop in front of the group just as Charlie, Tonks and Kingsley landed from the sky. They looked worried. “The Dementors are chasing Harry, he can’t land!” Charlie told them breathlessly.

“We have to do something!” Tonks shouted.

“We’ll have to hope Harry can hold them off.” Dumbledore said with worry in his voice. Hermione was about to protest before realizing that Death Eaters were bearing down on them from all sides. They had positioned themselves around the remaining rebels, trapping them, it appeared they were waiting, a few of them were avidly watching Harry’s progress through the skies. The last thing anyone on either side wanted was for Harry to be caught and given the kiss. Both sides were ready to intervene, if necessary.

“Maybe he could, if he were alone, but Luna’s on the broom with him.” Tonks said, raising her wand and letting her own eyes search the sky. Hermione raised her wand, trying to push aside her terror. She knew that with Luna up there with him, he’d take less risks, go more slowly, and be distracted. Harry’s risky, speedy, single-minded focus was what made him a good flyer.

And then some silent signal went off within the enemy’s ranks and her mind went blank as she grit her teeth and began to fight her way out.

(BREAK)

Do you see them? Harry asked desperately. He had tasked Luna with finding their friends, as he had to try and focus all his attention on flying them away from the rather large group of Dementors now giving chase. It wasn’t helping that he also had to dodge spells being thrown at him from the ground, in addition to the constant fear that Luna would lose her grip and plummet to her death.

Over there! She pointed to the right and he followed her direction without hesitation. I see them, everyone except Draco and Ginny!

He took a moment to look. There was a large fight going on below them. He caught glimpses of them all, his eyes finally landing on Hermione. They seemed to be doing alright, and it appeared the Death Eaters had finally stopped apperating in.

And then he noticed the Dementors. They had stopped their ground attack when he had flown by, and joined their brethren in their chase for Harry. Worry overtook him as he fixed his grip and shot straight forward through the trees.

He had no time to safely get Luna off his broom as he had intially intended. She clung to him as they increased their speed, pressing her face into his back for protection against the sharp wind. Hold on really good, now! He warned and she wrapped her arms even tighter around him, so that he could barely breathe. Fixing his grip again he shot straight up in the air rising as high as he could, while shouting for help to his friends below. He zoomed to the right suddenly, but not as sharply as he would have, had he not been concerned that Luna would fall. It was a mistake. A group of Dementors swooped ahead of him, and he didn’t have enough time to slow his progress. If he dove again, he would have to take an immediate ninety degree drop, and he wasn’t sure Luna would be able to hold on, considering their speed. His only other option was to fly right through them, and risk capture for both of them.

Go straight for them! And stop worrying about me! Luna’s shout resounded in his head. Without questioning, he took her direction and flew right at the creatures blocking their path. He felt Luna’s grip loosen as she raised a hand to throw out a spell. Her large silver butterfly zoomed through the air seconds ahead of them, scattering their foes in a burst of bright, happy light.

Keep going, and I’ll keep casting. We can do this, Harry. Luna instructed and he turned to face their pursuers. He tightened his left hand on the broom and wrapped his right arm behind him, clutching Luna to him as tightly as he could. Taking his cue, she wrapped her left arm more tightly around his waist and raised her wand, pointing her butterfly forward and sending it at the Dementors that rushed them. Whatever happened now, they were in it together.

(BREAK)

“Have you seen Ginny?!” Ron yelled to Bill as they each dueled a Death Eater. Bill responded in the negative, subduing his adversary. After helping Ron, he ran off to help anyone else who may need him. Ron was getting worried. He’d asked everyone he came across, but no one had seen his sister. Was she hurt, inside one of the houses, and being tended by their mother and other volunteers? Or worse, was she- He shook his head and refused to let himself think that way. He couldn’t become distracted, he’d be no good to Ginny or anyone else if he were killed.

He engaged in another duel, this time able to gain the upper hand on his own. It was easier, now that the Dementors had abandoned their so called masters for the chase through the skies for Harry. Those hideous creatures had always had a thing for his friend, Dumbledore had surmised that it was because of the miserable memories of his childhood that he carried around. Well, they were trying desperately to get Harry now, and Ron caught glimpses of Luna’s Patronus lighting against the dark swarm surrounding her and Harry. He couldn’t stand it anymore, they were alone up there and he wouldn’t let his conscious be held back anymore. They needed help. Running from the fray behind him, he found a deserted area directly below where Harry was swooping in and out of the horde of Dementors as Luna tried to fend them off.

Ron climbed to the roof of the nearest house and took a deep breath, remembering every good thing that had ever happened to him, every joyful moment he had ever had. He put every positive intention into his soul and reached deep down within before screaming “Expecto Patronum!” and releasing his Patronus into the sky. It raced upward, blasting through a group to the right of Harry.

“Expecto Patronum!” Someone cried behind him. Turning, he saw a villager had followed him onto the roof and was now doing her part to help Harry. Looking around, he realized several others had followed him and were now climbing onto the roof. Many appeared to be wounded, as if they had decided if they could no longer duel, they could at least cast into the sky. Cries of “Expecto Patronum!” Went up all around him and Ron felt his heart grow soft and strong at the same time. They could do this.

(BREAK)

Draco held very still, willing Ginny do the same. Three Dementors had made it into the house. Where the others had gone he didn’t know, and at the moment, he didn’t care. He didn’t feel very different, other than a slight tingle, as if his skin were lightly rippling along his body. He guessed the ring had worked, since the Dementors were now searching for what was apparently standing right out in the open, him and Ginny.

He held her hand tightly and slowly turned to look at her. We need to get out of here. He thought at her, wishing for the first time ever that he were Potter. Silent communication had so many advantages.

So let’s go. He almost dropped her hand in his surprise. He truly hadn’t expected to hear a response. And then he remembered what Potter had told him. The ring gave the wearer the power to tap into other’s minds. He also knew of the legend that he could have wandless powers while using the ring, though Potter hadn’t divulged that much, Draco had done his own research. Useful little thing, this ring was. It could definitely be worth the risk of owning it. His only regret was telling his father about the ring in the first place.

He edged them to the door while the Dementors searched the back of the house. Once in the street, he started running again. He no longer felt tired, he felt empowered. Once they were several streets away he skidded to a stop and dropped Ginny’s hand. “Help me take it off.” He demanded.

While he’d been able to get the ring on one-handed, taking it off was another story. And he very badly wanted it off. The way he was feeling while wearing it was making him uncomfortable, and the thoughts he was fighting back were threatening to pull him back into the life he was struggling to leave behind.

“Are you sure?” Ginny asked.

“Yes! Now get it off!” he ordered, thrusting his hand in her face. Why was she so incapable of understanding danger?

She pulled it off for him and he breathed a sigh of relief. His skin stopped wiggling and his felt the familiar drain of life creep into his bones. He was exhausted. Ginny stared at the ring and smiled at him. “Good thing I brought it. Guess I’m not such an idiot after all.”

Draco snatched it from her and crammed it back into his pocket. “That still remains to be seen. And you’re really making me rethink our whole agreement to try and be friends.”

“You’re breaking my heart.” She rolled her eyes, and apparently caught sight of something interesting above them. Looking up he saw two figures on a broom, zipping through the air as they were chased by a swarm of Dementors.

“Is that Potter?” suddenly Draco knew where the rest of the Dementors originally chasing them had gone. “Who’s that with him, Granger?”

“I think it’s Luna.” Ginny watched their progress through the air. “Yup, sure is, look, that’s her Patronus.”

Draco watched as the giant butterfly swooped around above them, running off several of the horrible creatures attacking it’s master. “What are they doing up there by themselves?”

“I don’t know, but they could probably use some help. Come on!” Ginny shouted, running off after the figures in the air.

Draco swore to himself that this was the last time he would stick to Ginny Weasley while fighting. Anymore battles they brought him to, he was hanging around people with a clearer head and smarter instincts. She was running ahead of him now, not even looking to make sure her path was clear. He stunned a ragged looking Death Eater that was hiding in the shadows before he could get them.

The weight of the hideous ring in his pocket kept banging against his leg as they ran and he longed to put it back on. He was so tired now, his poor health affecting his willpower and endurance. The ring would give him the temporary ability to take care of himself and Ginny in the present situation. He could virtually be Harry Potter on the ground, whipping things around with his mind and who knew what else. The only problem was his lack of self-control. He didn’t want the responsibility or the stigma. They were all just beginning to really trust him.

Breathing hard, he looked ahead, and saw a welcoming sight. Ron and several villagers had positioned themselves on the roof and were casting their Patronus spells upwards to help Potter.

“Ron!” Ginny yelled.

“Where the hell have you been?!” Weasley yelled back to his sister.

“Surviving!” she answered as she began to climb. “You need a hand?” she turned and taunted Draco. He guessed she was still upset that he had gone off on her.

“That’s okay. I’ll just stay down here. Be sure to take a long walk while you’re up there, though.” He responded, not caring what Ron thought of his invitation to his sister to basically jump off the roof. Instead he gathered everything he had left inside of him and threw it into his spell, sending his serpent gliding through the air. He wasn’t sure how long he was casting before his legs gave out and he crumpled to the ground. Closing his eyes, he gave in and passed out from exhaustion.

(BREAK)

Hermione gave a silent cheer after bringing down two more Death Eaters. Looking around, she realized there were few people actually still fighting and from what she saw, the good guys had gained the upper hand, through sheer force of will this time. Where was Ron?

She spotted his Patronus first, when she allowed herself the luxury of checking on Harry. He and Luna were still up there, fleeing and fighting for their lives. Ron and several others were on a roof in the distance, flinging their own spells in the air to help out. Fred, Charlie, Tonks and Kingsley had regained their brooms and zoomed into the air as soon as the ground situation seemed to take care of itself.

Hermione stunned another attacker and ran off to try and help everyone in the air. She was stopped when she noticed the other spells being cast upwards, and they weren’t meant to help. She heard Tonks’s yell when she was forced to dodge a stream of green light. “Moony!” she called out in relief when she saw Lupin down the street. He was grappling with two Death Eaters and she ran to help. Together they ended it quickly.

“Hermione!” Lupin gasped for air. He was limping, blood soaking the leg of his pants.

“Episkey!” she pointed her wand at his injury, hoping to help it heal. “Are you alright?” Hermione asked, wondering if he could help her after all.

“I have to be.” He responded as the flyers let out another cry of frustration.

“Then come on!” she ran off toward the small group of Death Eaters trying to hurt their friends from their position hidden between two houses. She slowed her speed so that Lupin could keep up.

Inching around the corner, she counted seven of them. Lupin took a look and pulled her back around the side. “We have a problem.” He told her, his eyes wide with concern.

“What?” she whispered back.

“Harland is out there. He’s a very bad man. Very dangerous.” He took a shaky breath as he prepared to face someone he was clearly afraid of.

“Who is he?” Hermione asked now both frightened and curious.

“Harland Myers is a werewolf.” Lupin answered as he looked up. Following his gaze, they watched as Tonks, Harry and the others struggled above them. “He went looking for the curse, he enjoys changing, and last time he and I met, he vowed to kill me.”

“Why?” Hermione asked, leaning over to take another glance at the Death Eaters. “Which one is he?” but looking at the man in the center of the group, very tall and very wide, she felt she knew. There was something wild in the man’s attitude, in his actions. His long dark hair whipped around his face as he cast a whirlwind spell, sending it after Kingsley, who had to fly at top speed to outrun it before the funnel sucked him in.

“He’s the biggest brute out there of course.” Lupin responded. “And he wants to kill me in particular because of the way I choose to live.” He responded quickly. “Years ago the ministry wanted to regulate my kind. Dumbledore told me not to be a part of it, but asked me to come and try and convince some of those werewolves that weren’t as civilized as I was. Harland, who enjoys the terror and eventual bloodshed of the hunt was on that list. He rejected us, attacked us, and shortly after joined Voldemort.”

Hermione suddenly remembered the Daily Prophet last year, when they had reported the Azkaban breakout. They had been so focused on Lucius and Bellatrix’s escape they hadn’t paid attention to the others that had run out with them. But now she remembered the name, as she recalled the article in her mind. Harland Myers had been among those listed as a dangerous escapee. “We can’t just stand here, we have to help Harry. And Tonks.”

“I know.” He closed his eyes, brought the tip of his wand to his forehead and took a deep breath. Hermione prepared herself and when he opened his eyes and nodded, she whipped around the corner, casting quickly and retreating back to cover as Lupin took his turn.

“Get them!” they heard a booming voice command.

Lupin pulled her back behind him and screamed “Protego Horribilis!” as they rounded the corner. The spells hurled at them bounced off the invisible shield and back at the Death Eaters that cast them. The three threw themselves on the ground and Hermione took care of them, fully binding them in place.

“Remus Lupin, is that you?” Harland rounded the corner. “I’d have thought you’d have been killed by now.”

“Hermione, run.” Lupin commanded.

“No.” she responded steadily. She wasn’t going to leave him alone.

“You heard your professor, little girl. Why don’t you run along, it’s time for the big dogs to play.” Harland laughed. “Unless you want to die, of course. I wouldn’t blame you.”

“Go!” Lupin ordered.

“I think she needs incentive.” Harland said cruelly. In an instant he had looked up, taken aim and cast. Hermione watched in horror and a large firebolt launched directly toward Harry. He apparently saw it and tried to swerve, but something went wrong. She screamed as Harry and Luna toppled over. Harry still had hold of the broom but Luna was dangling from his legs. As soon as they began their descent into the thick trees, Hermione was off, running in their direction. She hoped Lupin was able to hold his own, and even more hopeful that someone would come along and help him. But she couldn’t, wouldn’t be any help to him with the knowledge that Harry could be out in the woods with a broken neck.

(BREAK)

I’m starting to feel dizzy. Could we try for less circular motions? Luna thought to him.

We’ll fly whatever way keeps us alive. Try not to look down so much. Harry responded, flying past Tonks so she could help get some more of those creatures off his tail.

You’re the boss. She answered, directing her butterfly to the left.

Harry felt like they had been flying for hours. Once again using both hands to direct the broom, he had at least become more confident in Luna’s ability to hang on and fly with him. She had learned to lean with him and mimic his movements so that other than her arm wrapped tightly around him and her legs intertwined with his, he felt he was alone on the broom.

“Look out!” Luna screamed out loud, right in his ear. Ignoring the ringing, he turned to see what had caused her concern and saw several Dementors bearing down on Charlie. He flew closer and she cast her Patronus right toward them. At the same moment, his instincts kicked him in the gut. Looking down he saw a stream of fire heading straight for them.

Luna! Hold on! He screamed with his mind, diving hard to the right. Sweat soaked his hands, causing one to slip and he lost his hold. He heard Luna scream as they both slid sideways. He used everything he had to regain control, and only succeeded in holding onto the broom. He dangled from it uselessly and worse, Luna had slid down his body and was only holding on by his legs. We have to land. Reach up if you can.

Luna slowly raised her arm and he carefully reached down to grasp her wrist. She wrapped her other arm tightly around his leg and certain they both had a secure grip, he flew downward, toward the woods, hoping the thick trees would provide enough cover. Looking back, he saw Fred and Charlie covering their retreat from the Dementors.

Branches whipped across his skin and his glasses were torn from his face. Let go. He instructed as soon as they had reached a low enough point. Luna landed lightly and gracefully on her feet and seeing she was fine, he let go, landing hard and far less gracefully as knelt in the dirt trying to gain his bearings. His legs wouldn’t hold him up, after so long in the air straddling a broom.

“You did it! You saved us!” Luna cried, wrapping her arms around his neck and burying her head in his shoulder. He held her to him tightly, reveling in their shared sense of relief.

“Come on, we have to move. Find the others.” He said at last, pulling away. She helped him to his feet and they began walking back toward the village. Luna discovered she had lost her wand when they had slipped off the broom, and so Harry handed her his, knowing he could at least do a bit of damage without it.

When he tripped over the first tree root, he hit his head on a rock and felt blood trickling down his forehead. “Oh, hold still already!” she said after he tripped for the fifth time. She cast a spell and his blurry vision cleared instantly. It was the same spell he had used last Halloween, and he silently thanked Seamus for teaching it to them, suddenly feeling less helpless being able to see clearly.

They walked on in silence, their senses open and on high alert. He felt they were less than a mile from Lairmore when Luna grabbed his arm. “Harry…wait.” She said, suddenly breathless.

“What’s wrong?” he asked. Horrified, he watched her eyes roll up into her head and she collapsed forward. He moved to catch her and lay her gently on the ground. “Luna?” he gave her a little shake. Her head lolled uselessly from side to side.

“Harry!” he heard someone, screaming his name. Someone very familiar.

“Hermione?” he shouted. Then remembering where they were he thought We’re over here. Hurry!

Minutes later, Hermione crashed through the bushes and threw herself in Harry’s arms, crying. “I saw you guys go down, I was so worried!”

“Something’s wrong with Luna.” He said, pulling away and kneeling next to their friend. Hermione knelt next to him and took a look.

“She’s having a vision, I think.” Hermione said at last.

“A vision? You’ve seen her do this before?”

“Once, at the Leaky Cauldron… She saw Lucius killing Draco and ran in to stop it. Said he was important and couldn’t be killed.” Hermione explained.

Harry was astounded. How could they not have told him? He cast his anger aside when Luna’s eyes flew open as she gasped for air. “Luna? Are you okay? What is it?”

“Ginny! Don’t do it!” Luna yelled before fully awakening.

“What are you talking about?” Hermione asked.

“She brought the ring here. Draco has it now, he took it from her. We have to find them. Before….before someone else takes it.” Luna said as they helped her up.

“You’re the boss.” Harry smiled as he used her words, covering his sudden angry fear. Making sure everyone was in one piece, they ran off toward the village hoping to avert disaster.

(BREAK)

Everyone on the roof watched as Harry and Luna descended into the forest. “We have to find them!” Ron shouted to Ginny. She couldn’t agree more… who knew if they were able to land safely? They could be laying out there somewhere with a million broken bones.

Climbing down from the roof, she found Draco, unconscious next to the house. She leaned down and felt for a pulse. It was there, steady but weak. Without thinking, she reached into his pocket and took the ring. “Ron, wait!” she shouted to her brother as he jumped down and began running toward the woods. He turned back and knelt with her next to Draco.

“What happened?” Ron asked.

“Probably just a little too much for him to take. Past his bedtime or something.” Ginny responded, forgetting that Ron wasn’t Draco, didn’t enjoy the cruel banter.

“Ginny, look at him. He was obviously unwell before he came here and he’s probably been running around all night keeping you out of trouble.” Ron said, hitting the nail on the head.

“Since when do you care about him?”

“Since he’s been giving me reasons to. Come on grab his legs. We better get him over to mum and the healers. Then we can go find Harry and Luna.” They carried Draco down the street and into one of the designated healing houses. Molly took a look and shook her head before directing them to a bed.

Gently depositing his far too light body on the bed, Ginny felt sorry for him. Draco was trying so hard to prove himself, going against his own character, struggling everyday to be someone he wasn’t. She had hoped giving him the ring would awaken the old Draco, force him to show his true colors. Unfortunately it seemed he was determined to change. She had so wanted to hate him again but she couldn’t and so she’d have to settle for making everyone else hate him. If he only had her to turn to, she would finally have the ally she’d been hoping for, even if it was Draco Malfoy.

After Ron filled their mother in, they took off towards the woods. She began to feel anxious again, and hoped they would find Harry and Luna alive. She took her concern as a good sign, one that indicated she was still capable of caring whether people lived or died. She certainly didn’t want anyone else she knew to die.

No sooner had they reached the tree line than Harry, Luna and surprisingly, Hermione came through. Ginny’s relief was overshadowed by shock when Harry lurched forward and grabbed her by the shoulders. “Where’s the ring, Ginny?”

“Hey!” Ron stepped between them, shoving his friend away. “What are you talking about?”

“She brought the ring here!” Harry shouted, allowing his panic to show.

“What?” Ron now turned on her, stepping away to side with the others gaining up against her. “Why would you do that? Do you know how dangerous it is?”

“Forget that, where is it now?” Hermione asked harshly.

Ginny grit her teeth against their assault. “I was under the impression that it belonged to all of us, remember that Harry?”

“Where is it Ginny?” Ron asked.

“I gave it to Malfoy. We needed to use it to escape some Dementors. He put it on, I helped him get it off and he took it from me.”

“Where’s Draco?” Harry asked.

“Unconscious at one of the healing houses.” Ron responded. “Come on!” He, Harry and Hermione took off. Ginny began to follow, but Luna stopped her.

“Are you sure Draco still has the ring?” She asked, looking at Ginny intently.

Strengthening the barricades around her mind, she answered evenly. “Well, I can’t be sure, but I know he put it in his pocket. We were separated for awhile and I found him passed out. I didn’t think to look for the ring, seeing as how we were busy carrying him to the healers.”

Luna said nothing. Simply shook her head and followed after the others. Ginny felt like the other girl had looked right through her.

(BREAK)

Molly waved smelling salts beneath Draco’s nose. He awoke with a sneeze and appeared surprised to find them all surrounding him. “What happened?” he asked shakily.

“You tell us.” Harry said. He wanted the ring back, but Draco appeared so disoriented, and so haggard that pity made him find patience.

“I don’t know. I was trying to help with the Dementors, they were on the roof but I didn’t want to try and climb up there… and then… I don’t know.”

“Sheer exhaustion, I suspect.” The healer said. “You are extremely malnurished and underweight. I’m surprised you lasted as long as you did. Here, eat some of this it should help.” She gave him a large piece of chocolate. Then handed smaller pieces out to the rest of them. “You should all take some as well, it help counteract the effects of being around the Dementors for so long.” Giving them a smile, she walked away to help someone else.

“Where’s the ring?” Harry asked quietly.

“In my pocket.” Draco responded. Harry watched as Draco tried to reach with the arm that wasn’t there before remembering his affliction. He felt his pity grow tenfold. Then Draco’s face grew white. He brought his hand out of his pocket empty. “It isn’t there!”

He tried to sit up, but Harry and Ron held him in place. “Stop, you need to relax.” Harry said.

“But it could be anywhere! Anyone could have it!” Draco looked miserable. “I told her she was stupid for bringing it here. Guess I was stupid to think I could keep it safe for you.” Harry and the others looked at Ginny, who was hanging in the back of the room.

“It’ll be alright.” Luna said, placing her hand over his. “I know we’re going to find it.”

“How do you know?” Harry asked eagerly.

She turned and stared at him before carefully responding, “I just know.”

“Oh my god!” Hermione shouted suddenly. “Moony!”

“What? What’s wrong?” Harry asked.

“I left him there with Harland when I saw you guys go down, come on!” she ran from the house the others hot on her heels.

“Who’s Harland?” Ron shouted.

“Bad werewolf!” Hermione responded. They followed her through a backyard and around the corner, stopping short at the sight before them.

“Remus?” Harry asked quietly as he approached his friend. Lupin lay on the ground with jagged claw marks across his face, long bloody gashes that turned Harry’s stomach. Kneeling down he saw the slight rise and fall of Lupin’s chest telling him that his friend was still alive… barely. They needed to get him some help, and soon.





A/N: Whew…that was a long battle scene to get out. A lot going down next chapter, so look for it soon! Stop and leave a review, I answer them all, and enjoy reading your thoughts. See you all next time!

Chapter 12: True Deceptions

NOTE: Okay, sorry for the delay in getting this one out, but life has interrupted my writing spree. I’m back to putting words on paper now, so I’m going to push out as much as I can. The last two chapters felt intense to write, hopefully some of that came through to you guys as you read. We’ll be slowing things down a bit now, but don’t expect to get bored, what we lack in action, we’ll have in intrigue. This chapter is about exploring truths and motives, so read on, review when you’re done and enjoy it thoroughly!

　

　
St. Mungo’s was a flurry of activity. Harry watched everyone, feeling more hopeful than the last time he had been there. After all, they’d brought live bodies this time. Tonks sat next to him, stiff as a board and staring straight ahead. She held Harry’s hand tightly, and he was beginning to lose circulation, but said nothing. Lupin would be fine, Harry was sure they had gotten him there in time. Hermione had filled them all in on Harland Myers, and recent reports from Lairmore indicate he was not among the captured. Nor was Lucius, to Draco’s disappointment. In fact, it appeared the elder Malfoy hadn’t been there at all.

What was the point of it all? Harry wondered to himself. Why had they attacked and destroyed a village, injured all those families? Simply to spread terror? And why not show up yourself, prove how terrifying you really are? But like Lucius, Voldemort hadn’t shown himself. Had they known the Order would be there? Was Snape somehow compromised? Had it been a test to see if they had a mole?

“Well, Hagrid and Madame Maxime are off.” Arthur said as he finally entered the waiting room. Everyone had thought it best that they go to the giants immediately, and strike the Azkaban deal as quickly as possible, before their new captives had a chance to escape.

“And everyone else?” Harry asked eagerly.

“I just heard from Molly, they are all safely at your house.” Arthur assured him. “What’s the news around here?”

“Nothing yet.” Tonks said quietly.

“And Draco.”

“Same as Lupin.” Harry answered. “No one’s come to talk to us about anything.”

“Well, they have all the villagers to attend to as well, we’ve made them pretty busy tonight. But let’s see if being the minister can finally help me out.” Arthur winked at them before heading off to talk to the healers.

“He’ll be okay.” Harry told Tonks.

“I know. He always is.” She said sadly. Harry felt taken aback. He pictured Hermione and Ron in their places, Ron reassuring Hermione that Harry would be fine, and Hermione hanging her head replying, “He always is.” In that horrible tone, devoid of emotion, trying not to feel.

Lupin had been hurt one week before marrying Tonks, in Hogsmeade. He’d been hurt bad then, and this time was worse. How many times had Harry ended up in the infirmary? So many times, Madame Pomfrey’s face would forever be emblazoned in his memory. And how many times had he awoken to worried faces all around him, to Hermione at his side holding his hand? So many, he couldn’t clearly remember them all. George and Neville were already gone, and Lupin was the only remaining survivor of his friends. How many more risks could they all take before fate caught up with them?

(BREAK)

Molly brought them all back to Grimmauld place while Harry, Tonks and Arthur followed Lupin and Draco to St. Mungo’s. Luna’s body was exhausted, but her mind was a whirlwind. She knew what she had seen, and Ginny was denying it. Luna had wanted to get there before Ginny had the chance, but they were too late. She knew Ginny had taken the ring from Draco, she knew Ginny was claiming she didn’t have it and she knew that Ginny wanted the others to blame Draco. What she didn’t know was why. What was Ginny’s goal?

“Will you wait with me? Just until they come home.” Hermione asked as they started up the stairs. Luna wanted nothing more than to go to sleep, but she knew Hermione was worried. She was too, Draco hadn’t looked good and Lupin had looked worse. So she followed Hermione up to her room and they sat together in silence for a long while, each wrapped up in their own thoughts.

“Why would she risk bringing the ring out of the house?” Hermione asked finally. Luna was surprised to learn that her friend had been meditating along similar lines.

“I don’t know.” Luna replied honestly.

“And that crack about it belonging to all of us, what was that? What did you see?”

“I saw her with the ring.” Luna again replied honestly. She left out the method of obtaining it, still unsure what Ginny’s aim was and whether it fit into the ultimate final path. She hadn’t received a vision that anything had changed, not yet.

“And?”

“And nothing. There was nothing after that, she just had the ring and I came back and we were in the woods.”

“So where is it now? Is Draco lying?” Hermione asked.

“He doesn’t have it. I know that for a fact.” Luna defended him.

“Then where is it?” Hermione asked again.

“Are you thirsty?” Luna asked suddenly. “I need something to drink if we’re going to speculate all night, you want something while I’m down there?”

“Some water, I guess.” Hermione responded uncertainly. “Thanks.”

Luna closed the door and sighed into the hallway. She didn’t want to lie to Hermione, she made it a point never to lie to any of her friends. But soon they would all be asking her the same question, and she had to figure out what to tell them. It was time to go see Ginny.

(BREAK)

“Draco’s awake, and asking for you.” Arthur returned to the waiting room and approached Harry.

“Me?”

“Says he has something to talk to you about.” Arthur shrugged. “Remus has been stabilized. He lost a lot of blood, and it was difficult to find the right match for someone with his condition. But they seem to think he’ll be okay. He’s been given a sedative and is asleep, but they say you guys can go in there.”

“You go, have some alone time. I’ll be there after I see Draco.” Harry told Tonks. She nodded and followed Arthur as he led the way. Harry made his way to Draco’s room.

He opened the door carefully and saw Draco looking small and weak in the hospital bed. “Never thought you’d get the chance to see me like this, huh, Potter?” Draco sneered.

“Is something different?” Harry asked coming in the room.

Draco laughed. “So this is what it feels like to be a good guy. I’m not sure I like it.”

“I’m not sure I like it either, to be honest. But it’s better than the alternative.”

“Easy for you to say, you never lived the alternative.” Draco answered with a hint of bitterness. “I don’t have that ring.” He said suddenly.

“I believe you.” Harry answered in surprise. “Why do you think I don’t?”

“Used to it, I guess. I didn’t know she had it until long after we all got split up, so I didn’t tell her to bring it either.”

“I know. I don’t think anyone could tell Ginny what to do at this point.” Harry shook his head. “Did she say why she had it?”

“She said she thought you’d need it and then offered to let me use it instead.” Draco yawned widely.

“What’s she thinking?” Harry asked, more to himself than Draco. “Look you need to rest up, so don’t worry, we aren’t out there planning your execution or anything, I know you had nothing to do with that ring disappearing.”

Harry closed the door behind him and closed his eyes, leaning against the wall. He hoped Ginny was lying about not having the ring, since he knew Draco wasn’t. Otherwise, they had a big problem on their hands.

(BREAK)

Ron was sufficiently stuffed. The kitchen had been the first place he had gone when they got home, knowing that his mother would immediately be making comfort food, enough to feed the army of people that would be sure to stop by. He climbed the stairs to his room, feeling ready to sleep for the rest of the summer.

Hearing someone coming down from the top floor he waited on the landing and watched as Luna appeared and marched straight over to Ginny’s door and knocked loudly. He guessed that she wanted to ask about the ring and felt a sudden protectiveness for his sister. Sure it was just about the stupidest thing she’d ever done, but she had to have a good reason, and after what they had all just gone through, she deserved a bit of peace before the inquisition occurred. However, his own desire to not confront Luna kept him from acting. Ginny was a big girl and Luna was too kind to cause trouble. After the last conversation he’d had with his ex and the crushing blow to his self-esteem it had caused, he was willing to let Ginny lose a bit of sleep in order for him to avoid Luna.

He waited until she went in before continuing on his way. He knew that even with his shields up, she probably had known he was there. She and Harry made him feel vulnerable, small even. He was just another player in the game, a pawn that could be sacrificed while protecting them- the knights, the bishops, hell, they could be the king and queen of this war. He threw his wizard’s chessboard across the room, scattering the pieces. He didn’t want to be alone, he was free to pursue his thoughts with no one else to focus on, and they were depressing him. He strode to his broom cabinet and opened it to go through to Hermione’s room.

“Hey.” She said with a bit of surprise. “What’s up?”

“Just didn’t want to be alone.” He said wandering along her bookshelves.

“Well, just to warn you, Luna will probably be back up here in a few minutes.”

“So she isn’t expecting her conversation with Ginny to take long, huh?”

She looked surprised. “Luna went to talk to Ginny?”

“I just saw her go in her room.” He told her. “Why, where did she say she was going?”

“It doesn’t matter. You okay?” Hermione sat up on her knees at the edge of the bed and motioned that he come sit next to her.

“Physically, I’m all good. Otherwise, I guess I’m as okay as you are.” He sat and stared at the floor. “Do you ever think about what life is going to be like after this is all over? Both ways, I mean, whether we win or lose.”

“Of course I have. It’s only natural.”

“But do you think, even if we win, that it will be better?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, right now, life is- terrifying, yes- but it’s also exciting. We never know what going to happen, every situation could mean life or death. Everything is intensified: our feelings, our emotions, our determination, fights, decisions, needs, wants. What happens when it’s all over and we have to live the rest of our lives quietly, just like everyone else? I mean Harry will probably never have a quiet life, but the rest of us?”

She shook her head, “I think we could all do with a little quiet in our lives.”

“And when the boredom sets in?”

“The desire for things to be exciting all the time will hopefully pass with age and maturity. And do you really think this will all end over night? Who knows how long until we actually get Voldemort, and after that, how long until we subdue all of his followers? We’re likely looking at years of this life, and you and Harry can become big bad Aurors and chase down danger until your heart is content. It’s not like it’s all going to drastically change in a moment. And besides, Luna apparently has this whole vision of how things turn out and it ends well and we’re all happy.”

“So she says. How does she know what it takes to make everyone else happy?”

“At this point, Ron, I’d say she’s the only person besides Dumbledore who I consider to know more than I do.”

“I liked it better when you didn’t like her.” Ron grumbled.

“It’s hard not to like her, isn’t it, Ron. You really screwed that one up.”

“Thanks. Glad I came in here.” He shoved her playfully and she slugged him back.

“Ron, I think that as long as we all get along, we’ll be okay.”

“And you and Ginny?”

“We have reached an agreement to leave each other alone.”

“Before or after she knocked you out?” he laughed and she slugged him again.

“I did it to myself.” She insisted, crossing her arms.

“You’re the only one who believes that.”

“So be it, I’m not saying any different.”

A comfortable silence settled and Ron felt himself relaxing. Even if Luna came back, he felt he would be alright, with Hermione there as a referee. That thought made him remember the apparent task that had driven Luna from the room in the first place. “I wonder why Ginny brought the ring there…you don’t think she intended to hand it off to someone?”

“I don’t think well of Ginny right now, but I doubt she would switch sides.”

“Draco did.” Ron pointed out. “So did Percy.” He added quietly.

“But Ginny’s different. I don’t think she’d join Voldemort, it would mean giving up too much of her own independence. She’s not one to follow orders or fall in line, right? So forget that and let it go, because I’m getting mad that you’re forcing me to defend her.”

“I just don’t know what to think about her anymore. That was the worst thing I could think of, and then I realized that was the only thing I could think of. Why else would she bring it?”

“Well, let’s hope Luna can find out.”

(BREAK)

“What do you want?” Ginny asked, upset Luna had finally picked that moment to start wanting to talk to her again.

“You know what I want, Ginny. I want you to give me the ring so I can give it back to Harry.”

Ginny felt her anger build. The fact that she did have the ring did nothing to lessen her anger that her so called friends would automatically accuse her. “Even if I did have it, why would I give it to you? So you can rush it off to Harry and be the hero while I’m once again the villain?”

“If you give it to me, I’ll tell them that I went back to Lairmore and found it.” Luna offered as she shifted her weight uncomfortably. Ginny knew Luna wasn’t a liar. She could withhold truth until the end of time, but she had never known her to actually lie.

“I don’t have it.”

“And you know that I know that you do.”

“You can leave now.” Ginny said harshly, motioning Luna to the door. “You know when you came in here, I really thought you came to finally try and talk to me like a friend, instead you come and hurl accusations at me.”

“I know what I saw, I know Draco’s story and that it’s the truth, and I know how suspiciously you’re acting, even for how you’ve been lately. Why did you bring it out there in the first place?”

To be honest, Ginny hadn’t had a clear plan when she had brought the ring with her to Lairmore. She had found Harry’s door open earlier that day and had had the sudden desire to put the ring on, to call up George, maybe Neville. Without thinking, she had gone in and taken the ring, but when she had gotten back to her room she had been filled with dread. Wearing the obnoxious piece of jewelry had begun to give her a headache, just a dull thud. But she saw Harry and Fred walking around in obvious pain and didn’t want that for herself. Her head ached enough just from the weight of her own thoughts, she didn’t need anything extra. But Harry had already gone back in his room and she couldn’t bring herself to give it back, to admit she had gone in his room and taken something so important. And then they were all leaving for Lairmore and she didn’t have time to do anything other than put it in her pocket.

“Ginny?” Luna prodded, ending Ginny’s memory. “Why did you take it?” she asked gently.

She shook her head, “I don’t know. Okay? I had the ring, I was going to talk to George, I put it in my pocket and forgot until Draco and I were in trouble and needed to use it.”

“I half believe you. Why are you lying to me?” Luna tried to step closer, but Ginny moved away. “I don’t have to tell the others anything we talk about, Ginny. You and I, we go way back, before the others even knew I existed.”

“Yeah, we do, but you sure forgot about me pretty quickly once they started to like you, huh?”

“No, Ginny, you forgot about us. You lost yourself in this new person you decided to become. To be honest, I don’t want to be around you anymore, I don’t like this new you, this unfamiliar girl. She’s mean, sneaky, vindictive. She lies and steals and betrays her friends. She’s always angry and sad, and she’s selfish. Would you want to be around someone like that?”

“You all want answers from me, why are you like this Ginny? Why can’t you get past everything like the rest of us Ginny? What’s wrong with you Ginny? Well you know what…I don’t have any answers! I can’t tell you what happened alright! I feel what I feel and I did what I did and I can’t change it.”

“I only have one question for you Ginny.” Luna’s voice was strong despite Ginny’s outcry. “Why did you take the ring from Draco and lie about it?”

“I didn’t.” Ginny stuck her chin out and crossed her arms. She didn’t know why she was sticking to her story, they obviously weren’t buying it. But she wanted her plan to work, it had been formed once the opportunity had presented itself, but she felt it was the best way. She wanted to drive a wedge between the new friendship blossoming between Draco and the others, to have someone who was her friend and hers alone. She had lost Luna, and Draco was now her only other option.

“You did. I saw you doing it.” Luna admitted.

Ginny knew they had arrived long after she had taken the ring back, so the only other way that could be true was if- “So you had some stupid vision and I’m supposed to take that as fact?