Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
These are, of course, Jo Rowling's toys; like many others, I'm just playing with them a bit. Story and chapter titles are identical or similar to song titles by The Who.
Much to much too bear
- Much Too Much, The Who
After watching Harry and Ginny climb the stairs on Privet Drive, Molly Weasley walked the short distance back to Wisteria Walk. As she entered the living room, Bill was returning the last of the furnishings to their normal position, and Tonks was nowhere to be seen. Molly fell into one of the chairs as if exhausted. Bill sat nearby and gently queried, “Mum?”
“I’m just resting a moment, dear. I’ll be all right.”
A touch of evil appeared in Bill’s eyes. “This is a good example of what they say about being careful what you wish for.” As Molly glared, Bill pushed a little further. “Does this mean that some of the pressure is off me and Charlie about grandchildren?”
“If you and Charlie were as half as responsible as Harry, you’d have both settled down by now,” Molly snapped. “How you expect to meet any one suitable traveling around the world and crawling through old tombs is beyond me. I had so hoped that last year when you took the position here… I know you’ve turned down chances to go back to the Diagon Alley headquarters - why haven’t you taken one of them?”
“I have, Mum.” Bill sighed. “I loved what I did, that’s why I went back to it after Fleur and I decided things weren’t working… anyway, both Dad and Professor Dumbledore have asked me to take a larger role in the Order. I think Dumbledore must have been talking to Gringotts since they have suddenly become interested in my connections, and want me here as a go-between.”
“Bill! That’s wonderful! When did this come about?”
“Mostly in the last few days. I’d exchanged owls with both Dumbledore and Dad, but the clincher came two days ago when I was called to the main office and asked to do liaison work with Dumbledore and Hogwarts. Dumbledore lost no time in putting me to work. Among other things I’m spending a lot of my evenings and free time here, so that there’s always a presence near Harry. Tonks is sleeping now, but she’ll be taking over in a few hours.”
“I’m glad you’re here. It makes me feel better about Ginny with you here, too.” Molly frowned. “But I’m not looking forward to explaining all of this to your father.”
“Dad will be okay. He’s been so busy with work and the Order that he’s not had time to notice Ginny’s not ten years old any more,” Bill said. “I think Ginny was spot on with her predictions. Ron is going to be the problem. If Dad thinks Ginny is ten, Ron thinks she’s still six.”
Molly sighed. “I hope one day we can look back on this and laugh about it. I just left my almost fifteen-year-old daughter - my baby, my only girl - alone with a boy who’s only a year older and who is the number one target of You Know Who and the Death Eaters… and left them with instructions to sleep together in the same bed. I left them in a house full of magic-hating Muggles - and after tucking them in, I have to go home to your father and convince him how wonderful all of this is.”
The evil flickered again in Bill’s eyes. “What are you going to tell Ron when he eventually gets over himself and decides he and Hermione should try Harry’s new way of fighting You Know Who?”
Molly glared at Bill for a moment, then laughed. “That wouldn’t be quite the same situation…” Molly started to explain what the bond implied, and then changed her mind. Harry and Ginny seemed to be completely unaware of that particular detail and it had not come up in the meeting - though it would have be dealt with at some point soon. “I’d tell them the same thing I told Harry and Ginny. Is that why you’re still a bachelor? You’ve never kissed your dates?”
“Do you really want to know?” Bill asked, his grin growing wider.
“Not really… I still have some hope left. But speaking of Hermione, I’ll owl her from the Burrow tonight. If she can Floo over in the morning, perhaps she can help me with Ron.”
“It can’t hurt,” Bill agreed. “It might not be a bad idea if you asked Dumbledore about bringing them tomorrow. I know they weren’t supposed to come until the day after, but under the circumstances, everything’s changed anyway.”
“I was thinking about that too.” Molly nodded. “I think it would be good for them to see just how much better Harry looks, and if Ron sees how happy Ginny is, maybe that would make it easier on him too.” Molly stood. “I’ll be back as soon as I can. If anything happens….”
“I’ll call you and the rest of the Order,” Bill promised. Molly disappeared with a crack and Bill settled back to wait.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
McGonagall and Flamel had accompanied Dumbledore to his office. He conjured biscuits and a pot of tea as they settled into chairs around his desk. They sat for several moments before Flamel finally broke the silence and said, “It would seem the events of this evening were unexpected, to say the least.”
“Very much so,” Dumbledore replied. “Harry and Ginny have a history - but nothing, including Harry rescuing her from the Chamber three years ago - hinted at something like this. Ginny was teased about fancying Harry in her earlier years, though it faded as she dated several other boys. The two did interact more in the last year - she was one of the ones who accompanied Harry to the Ministry.”
“But to bond, as they did, during what was presumably their first,” McGonagall seemed to struggle for a moment with the last word, “kiss?”
“I am not yet so old that I have forgotten all the glories of being young,” Flamel said, chuckling. “I feel safe in speculating they shared more than a single kiss. Harry may only have been aware of the few minutes that he claimed, but I suspect it was closer to an hour, perhaps more, if Ginny arrived at six. I believe the current term would be ‘making out.’ When you were their age, the common term was…”
“Irregardless of what you call it, whether they… embraced… once, or several times, it still does not explain what has happened,” McGonagall interrupted, frowning.
“I cannot recall of hearing of a case where a bond was created spontaneously, or forged by wild magic,” Flamel said. “Nor of one involving two so young, or for that matter, two who have shared so little physical intimacy. Further, there are elements involved that I do not yet understand.”
“What new risks does this bring?” McGonagall asked.
“Perhaps more importantly, what benefits?” Dumbledore replied. “Harry was in a much different frame of mind than he was a week prior. It was quite encouraging talking to him this evening and observe his reactions. I was most heartened by his comment about the briar patch. For Harry to come out and openly say what he did - that he defiantly claimed and wanted this simple token of companionship - gives me hope that the despair and frustration that have dogged him are at last losing their sway.”
“But were other things at work?” Flamel asked. “You expressed surprise at those letters, Brian. There seems little doubt that they were at least the trigger if not the catalyst.”
“Sirius Black had a silver tongue,” McGonagall said thoughtfully. “He could talk his way out of almost anything. Many times where I should have docked house points – from he and his three companions – and he would manage to talk their way out of trouble… or amuse me to the point I let it pass with no more than a warning. And afterwards I often had to rush off before my expression gave me away.” She paused for a moment, reflecting. “Sirius also used that ability to date many of the girls in three houses who were close to his age, though he rarely went with any one girl more than a few times… And he would occasionally play the matchmaker. He was… influential… in Harry’s parents forming their relationship. Sirius was adept at molding emotions with words.”
“And he did say, in his letter to Ginny, that what he had done was the only thing that felt right, and wasn’t sure himself as to why.” Dumbledore thought for a moment before adding, “Perhaps, as Nicholas suggests, there are other things at work.” Dumbledore and Flamel had glanced at Fawkes and Pymander both times “other things” had been mentioned.
Dumbledore continued, “If so, they at least seem to be working in our favor. As for risks, perhaps there are some, but the Weasleys are already prime targets and well warded, and ultimately, their safety and that of all of us who have opposed Voldemort rests in Harry’s hands. If Ginny Weasley has bought Harry healing, she has succeeded in a task that I have thus far failed, and had begun to fear I would never accomplish.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Early the next morning, Hermione Granger sat the breakfast table at her home, puzzling over a letter Errol had brought to her a short time before. Mrs. Weasley had written, saying something had happened yesterday to Harry and Ginny, and that she really would like Hermione to come to the Burrow that morning to talk about it before they told Ron. Unable to think of a plausible explanation for this strange request - particularly since the note insisted everyone was all right - she wrote a quick note to her parents, took a pinch of Floo powder from the supply that been brought by Tonks the day before when the Granger fireplace had been hooked to the Floo network, and carefully said, “The Burrow,” before stepping into the green flame.
Moments later, Hermione stumbled out of the fireplace at the Burrow. Molly Weasley was sitting at the kitchen table with a pot of tea, waiting. Hermione removed the ash and soot with a quick flick of her wand, smiled at Molly and commented, “It’s really nice to be able to use magic this summer.”
Molly smiled knowingly. “Sometimes the little things make more of a difference than the big things.”
Hermione cut to the chase. “I was rather puzzled by your letter, Mrs. Weasley. What could possibly have happened to Harry that you need my help in breaking to Ron? Your note said everyone was okay and not to worry, but….”
Molly Weasley, despite having had one prior round of practice, still had trouble choosing a starting point. “I’m afraid it’s complicated. Ginny and Harry are together now….”
“You mean Ginny is with Harry right now, or that they’re,” Hermione, a little concerned where this topic might go, asked carefully, “um, dating?”
“Both, actually, and more…”
As Molly paused, Hermione, thinking this was what Mrs. Weasley had wanted, broke in, “That’s great… isn’t it?”
“I’m afraid it’s more complicated than that.” Molly sighed. “I suppose it’s no secret that I’ve hoped that Harry might return Ginny’s feelings. Any mother hopes that her daughter will find happiness - and Ginny has fancied Harry since she met him when Ron and Harry left for Hogwarts their first year. She may have given up on him or said she did, but her feelings never really changed. And you know I feel like Harry’s one of my own.”
Hermione nodded, and Molly continued. “Nothing having to do with Harry has ever been simple. I sent Ginny with over to Arabella’s last night with a picnic basket. If nothing else I was at least going to see Harry had some decent meals this summer. Harry was having a pretty good day for once. Things started off better with those horrible Muggles after Alastor warned them off, he’d had several bits of good news that morning, and Sirius Black had written him a letter before he… well, it said that pretty much said stop blaming yourself and get your life together. Sirius had also written Ginny, asking her to look after Harry….”
Hermione nodded again. “Professor Lupin gave me a letter from Sirius, too”.
“Sirius told them if they cared about each other, to open up and say something.” Molly took a sip of tea, and then continued. “Well… they both listened. They ate what I had packed and then went to Arabella’s living room to talk. Harry told Ginny he felt more than just friendship for her….”
“Harry… actually talked about… his feelings?” Hermione wasn’t quite able to keep the skepticism out of her voice.
Molly nodded. “Sirius’ letter… well, Sirius put Harry in a rather difficult spot. But Ginny’s wish came true. They talked a bit more, then they kissed… and somehow they bonded.”
“Anima Iugum Nobilis?” Hermione looked at Molly with total disbelief. “That’s… impossible. Even two powerful, mature wizards in their prime and at the peak of their powers would find that difficult without help and a great deal of preparation….”
“Neither Professor Dumbledore or Professor Flamel could explain it, but they and Professor McGonagall confirmed it… Professor McGonagall said their auras had merged.”
“Flamel? Who is Professor Flamel,” Hermione asked, puzzled. “You couldn’t possibly mean the Nicholas Flamel, the legendary alchemist who made the Philosophers Stone?”
“Yes, that Professor Flamel. None of them, including Professor Flamel, could explain it. In any case, they were… well, sitting together on Arabella’s sofa, Tonks arrived, Ginny got up to come back here, but before she could Floo home, Harry collapsed. Tonks called for help and tried to hold Ginny back, but she blasted Tonks across the room - without a wand, mind you - to get to Harry, and when she touched him, You Know Who could no longer attack Harry. Professor Flamel told them that they must keep holding hands or otherwise keep physically in contact, at least for now. So, after more discussion, it was decided that Harry and Ginny should spend the night at that house with his horrid Muggle relatives, so I escorted them back there, let Dursley know that I’d hex him into next week if he as much as said a word or looked cross-eyed at them, and left Ginny and Harry to spend the night there.”
Hermione’s jaw starting dropping when Molly told of Ginny doing wandless magic, and dropped further still with this last revelation. Molly, seeing her expression, patted her hand, and said, “Oh, come dear, it wasn’t that bad. Professor Flamel said that their bonding had hurt You Know Who as badly as he had hurt Harry. What’s a kiss or two compared to that?” Hermione’s jaw had reached a point just short of dislocation. Molly smiled and said, “I’m sorry you didn’t get to see the look on Albus’ face when Harry asked him why he couldn’t have held Ginny’s hand last year instead of taking Occlumency lessons with Professor Snape.”
Hermione struggled for a moment before giving into laughter. “At least I understand why you wanted to me to come. Ron will be barking.”
“I’ll be what?” Ron entered the kitchen in his pajamas, yawning. “Mum, what’s for breakfast?” Hermione’s presence registered on his still waking conscious. “When did you get here, Hermione? I didn’t think you were coming until tomorrow.”
Molly and Hermione exchanged guilty looks, and Molly began, “Ron… there’s something I need to tell you. It’s about Harry….”
The lingering sleepiness disappeared from Ron’s demeanor at once. “Did something happen to Harry?”
“No, no, he’s fine, Ron, nothing like that all….” Molly tried to continue, but Ron was having none of that.
“Then what’s wrong?” He looked back and forth between his mother and Hermione, demanding answers.
“Ron, last night,” Molly took a deep breath, “Ginny and Harry… are together… they decided last night.”
“Harry and Ginny? What do you mean, they decided? Where’s Ginny this morning?”
Hermione wondered, not for the first time, how Ron could possibly be so slow on the uptake. “They decided to get together, Ron, the two of them. You know, as in dating, boyfriend and girlfriend, holding hands, going together to Hogsmeade, that kind of thing?” Frustrated by his lack of response, she added, “These shouldn’t be entirely new concepts, you know.”
After a few seconds, Ron had gotten past enough of the shock to demand, “You mean he… he really did fancy her after all… That git! How could he not tell me something like that?” Ron was becoming angry. “Especially after what I said on the train… I told Ginny…”
“Ron, there’s more.” Hermione broke in before Ron could wind himself up further.
Molly continued, “Something happened between them, Ron. Something unexpected. They’ve become magically bonded to each other. Even Professor Dumbledore couldn’t explain it. They didn’t even realize it had happened. When Ginny started to leave last night, Voldemort attacked Harry through his scar and he collapsed. Tonks was there, and tried to hold her away, but Ginny broke free and ran straight to Harry. When she took his hand, You Know Who was cut off - he couldn’t get to Harry. That’s where Ginny is, Ron. She’s with Harry. She’s been with him since last evening.”
“Anima Iugum Nobilis, Ron. Though I still can’t even imagine how,” Hermione added.
“Harry… used magic… on Ginny?” Ron stuttered, and then turned and ran back up the stairs. Molly and Hermione exchanged puzzled glances - Hermione had expected a reaction, but not this. Her question was answered moments later – it was even worse then she had expected. Ron almost flew down the stairs, his wand in his hand, and murder in his eyes. He quickly strode toward the fireplace.
Hermione and Molly both leaped from their chairs, but Hermione found her voice first and cried out, “Ronald Weasley! You stop this instant! If you go into that fireplace, we’re done for good. I’ll never speak to you again as long as I live!”
“But Harry… did this… he used magic on Ginny…”
“Harry wouldn’t do that, Ron,” Hermione said.
Ron looked helplessly at her, then at his mother, then back to Hermione. “But… it’s Ginny… she’s too young…she doesn’t….”
“You mean she’s about the same age I was the first time you asked me to Hogsmeade? Was I too young?”
“But… this is different… AND HE USED A SPELL ON HER!”
“Harry did not cause or intend this,” Molly said firmly. “This is far beyond what either of them could have intentionally done.”
“Ron, you stupid git, this is what Ginny has wanted for a long time. She’s happy, really happy – maybe for the first time since the Chamber. It’s incredible that they could have bonded at all, but it certainly wouldn’t have happened if either one of them had even a shred of doubt or a single reservation. That’s what the bonding means. That’s how the spell works. This is what Ginny wanted more than anything else in the world. They both had to want this incredibly for it to happen. You have no idea how many nights Ginny’s cried herself to sleep into her pillow. And Harry’s supposed to be your best friend. For the first time in I don’t know how long, something good,” Hermione paused for a moment, weighing her audience, then plunged ahead, “no, something wonderful happens to him, to both of them, and you’re grabbing your wand to go mess it – and him - up?”
Hermione looked briefly at Mrs. Weasley, who had stood at the same time, but remained silent through Hermione’s outburst, an expression Hermione couldn’t read on her face. Hermione suddenly decided she didn’t care. “Is this how you treat your friends, Ron? Am I next? Is this how you’ll treat me, Ron? After all we’ve been through together, you, Harry and me, you immediately assume the worst and can’t wait to go hex him into next week because he feels something for your sister? You know all too well how Ginny feels about him. I had thought… I hoped…I believed… that you felt… something… for me. I’m glad I found out what kind of wizard you are now, Ronald Weasley, instead of after it’s too late. Go ahead, you’ve got your wand, hex me because I’m sure I’ll do something or feel something you don’t like sooner or later, so go ahead and get it over with now. I won’t defend myself. Go ahead and show me just what kind of friend you really are.”
Ron had started to cringe when Hermione had spoken Ginny crying herself to sleep. The rest of his resolve completely drained away as she continued. His wand dropped to the floor, and he took two steps back from Hermione.
Hermione moved forward, maintaining the same distance. “Are you loosing your nerve? Go ahead, if you have to attack somebody it had better be me, I already told you I that won’t defend myself. You best not count on that happening when you turn on Harry. Harry would never raise his wand against you, even if you attacked him… but Ginny blasted Tonks – a fully trained Auror - across the room without a wand when she tried to hold her away from Harry. If you attack Harry, Ginny will tear you to pieces.”
Ron took another step back, then stumbled back against a chair, then collapsed into it, and sat, holding his head in his hands. “Hermione… I… er… uh… I just don’t want to see Ginny hurt. I… maybe I didn’t….”
“I know you didn’t listen – or think. Did you really believe Harry would have used magic on Ginny? Or fool enough to think he would have had to? You never bother to think until I come behind you and pick up the pieces. It’s not happening this time Ronald. You’re not getting off so easily this time.” Hermione advanced on him again. “Tell me, am I right? That you don’t care about me, you don’t care about Harry at all. The only thing you care about is being able to copy my Potions homework when you think I’m not looking….”
“NO!” Ron shouted.
“Then I want to hear it, Ron. Do you care about any of us? Is Harry’s happiness important? Is Ginny’s? Does how they feel about this matter at all to you, or should they let you run… or ruin… their lives?”
“I… I care about both of them. I care a lot,” Ron replied, and then his voice dropped to a whisper. “I… I want them both to be okay… not like Harry was… or Ginny after… the Chamber.”
Ron’s head had been down since he backed away. Hermione moved directly in front of him, and reached out and lifted his chin so that he was facing her. Hermione spoke softly, but with an edge in her voice that let Ron know she was deadly serious.
“And what about me, Ron? How do you feel about me? Do you care so little about me that you’d really go through with what you started to do just now? Does our friendship mean so little to you?” Ron started to speak, but Hermione savagely cut him off. “The truth, Ron. If I don’t hear the truth this once, I’ll do exactly what I said I would earlier. I’ll never speak to you ever again!”
Ron looked at her, and then at his mother, who had been watching this confrontation with a range of expressions including both shock and amusement, and then back to Hermione, almost pleading.
“Now, Ron. I won’t wait but a moment.”
“I… I….” Ron again looked at his mother, who, unfortunately, was showing no sign of Apparating away. Ron’s face was already approaching the color of his hair.
Hermione’s shoulders suddenly sagged, and she turned away. “Well, at least I found out now. Perhaps not before doing something foolish, but at least before doing something permanent.” She took a step toward the fireplace.
“Hermione! Wait! I… care about you! I do!”
She spun on him and hissed, “You care about Quidditch! You even care about passing grades - at least enough to copy my parchment.”
Hermione turned, and took another step toward the fireplace.
“Hermione!!! I care… bloody hell, Hermione, I… I… I l… like you a lot! You’re the best friend… I’ve… ever… had. I’d never do anything to hurt you… or Harry.” His voice dropped to a whisper. “I was wrong. I’m sorry.”
Hermione turned around again, but this time moved gently toward Ron and took his hand, and spoke softly, “It was hard enough coping with Harry last year. I couldn’t stand the thought that the first bit of happiness Harry’s had in a long time would be the wedge that would tear the three of us apart forever. You’re both very important to me.” Then, more softly, “I like you a lot, too, Ron.” They spent the next several moments looking into each other’s eyes.
Molly, at this point forgotten, cleared her throat, “I’m glad we finally got that settled.” Looking at Hermione, she continued, “Ron at least gets it honestly, dear. He’s a lot like his father.” The color in Ron’s face, which had faded as he looked at Hermione, flared into new life, and Hermione looked more than a little guilty. “I need to return to Little Whinging. The two of you can come, if the lot of you can manage to be civilized or at least act like it around Harry and the others.”
Both nodded their agreement. Ron retrieved his wand and ran upstairs to change. Molly swished her wand and the tea things she and Hermione had used floated to the sink. Molly quietly said to Hermione, “Well, I finally know now what it takes to distract Ron from breakfast.”
Hermione, still slightly embarrassed, asked, “I wasn’t too hard on him, was I? He’ll never say anything to Harry or Ginny now if I’m near… and I’m not going to let him get either of them by themselves until he’s over it.”
“Getting them by themselves is rather difficult at the moment.” Molly laughed. “I’d often wondered why you were sorted into Gryffindor instead of Ravenclaw. Not any longer.”
Ron came back down, wearing jeans, an orange Cannons t-shirt and trainers. Molly directed, “You go first, Hermione. It’s Arabella Figg’s.”
Hermione took a pinch of powder and disappeared into the green flame. Ron lost no time following as quickly as he could. A few moments later, he stumbled out of the fireplace on Wisteria Walk beside Hermione and Molly emerged from the fireplace after him.
Bill and Tonks were already seated; greetings were exchanged, and Molly asked, “Are Harry and Ginny here yet? Professor Dumbledore should be here soon.”
I’ve not seen them yet,” Bill replied. “Tonks saw Vernon and Petunia Dursley leave in their car about an hour ago. Otherwise, everything has been quiet.”
“Perhaps we should check and make sure they’re aware of the time,” Molly suggested.
Hermione volunteered, “I don’t mind. I’ll go. If Harry’s aunt and uncle are gone, that might look the least out of the ordinary.”
Tonks nodded. “Right, though I’ll follow along behind in an invisibility cloak just in case.”
Hermione stood, and Ron rose with her, as if planning to join her. Hermione shook her head. “Ron, you’d better wait here. I won’t be long, and the less attention we draw, the better.” Molly and Bill nodded in agreement, and Ron sank back down, not wanting to stay behind but a look from Hermione made it clear he had best not argue. Tonks slipped under an invisibility cloak, and the two left through the front door.
Hermione walked the short distance to Harry’s house, and rang the bell. There was no car in the drive, but she could here a TV in the background. A short time later, a boy Hermione recognized as Harry’s cousin opened the door, and looked at her as if trying to place her. Hermione said, “Hi. I’m looking for Harry. Is he here?”
Dudley then realized this girl had been among those at the railway station. He took a step back and mumbled, “He hasn’t come downstairs yet. His room’s upstairs, to the right.”
Hermione stepped in, closing the door behind her. Dudley watched as she climbed the stairs, his fear of magic conflicting with the urge to learn more about this pretty girl.
Hermione reached the top of the stairs, turned right, then reached the door to Harry’s room. There could be no doubt – there were marks where several locks had been installed, and a cat flap that would allow something small to be slid through the door. Hermione knocked, and then tried the door, but it was locked from the inside. A moment later, she heard the door unlock, and turned the knob and entered the room.
It was a small room, and crowded. Hermione suspected the bed had been enlarged the night before. Harry lay near the center, on his back, sleeping. His glasses were on the table beside the bed. Ginny laid beside him, on her side, his left arm around her, one leg draped over Harry’s. Her wand was in her hand. Ginny smiled at Hermione, and softly said, “Hi. Harry’s still…” nodding at his sleeping form.
Hermione, a bit surprised that Ginny showed not even a trace of embarrassment, whispered, “I came over to make sure you were aware of the time. Professor Dumbledore should be along soon. Your Mum, Bill, Tonks and Ron are there now, waiting.”
Ginny asked nervously, “Ron… knows?”
Hermione nodded. “He knows the two of you are an item. He was a little upset at first, but we worked through most of it… but,” Hermione’s eyes tracked over Ginny’s slender form intertwined with Harry’s, “there are details I don’t think he’s quite ready for yet. Harry looks better.”
“He had a rough night. I wanted to let him rest as long as possible.”
Hermione’s face darkened. “Voldemort?”
“No, silly, me.”
Hermione laughed at that, and Harry stirred. His free hand reached out for his glasses, and putting them on, he looked at Hermione and blushed. “Hi. Er….”
Hermione feigned disapproval. “Harry… couldn’t you have just taken her to Hogsmeade, or shopping in Diagon Alley… or something?”
Ginny said, “Oh, he’ll do both,” and pulling Harry close, kissed him. “Good morning, sleepyhead.”
Harry looked at the clock, “We don’t have long before we’re due at Mrs. Figg’s.” Harry looked significantly at Ginny, then the door. “Do you?”
Ginny laughed as she shook her head. “Harry, its just Hermione.” Turning to the other girl, she continued, “Harry’s so modest. It’s a good thing the loo is close enough to the door that a hand can reach through… otherwise, I think Harry would have rather have taken on Voldemort.” She turned to Harry, looking speculatively, and asked, “How about a quick shower?”
“Um… there’s no time… um, maybe later… we won’t… Ron’s going to kill me.”
Hermione, shaking her head, said, “Ron’s fine, but Harry… don’t go provoking him too much, it’s still just barely scabbed over. I did have to… help him deal with the news this morning.”
Harry nodded and sat up, sliding his arm from under Ginny and then switching her hand to his left, sat on the side of the bed. “Ginny, could you hold onto me for a minute while I pull on my socks and shoes?”
Ginny moved her right hand to his hip. “Sure”.
Harry slipped on his socks and shoes, then took Ginny’s hand and tugged. She allowed him to pull her to the edge of the bed, then sat up, and slipped her feet into her trainers.
They stood, and Hermione asked, “Ready?”
Harry nodded, and they walked down the stairs. Harry led the way back to kitchen, and again, to his surprise, several pastries had been left on the table. What was even more surprising was they were still there, as his cousin sat at the table, working on a bowl of cereal. Dudley looked up, surprised to see the second girl. “When did she get here?” he asked nervously.
Harry smirked. “Last night.”
“You mean… she… So that’s why Mum and Dad were in such a hurry….” Dudley said, almost to himself. “Um… aren’t you going to introduce me?”
Harry wasn’t sure how to handle this on top of everything else that had happened in the last 48 hours. Was he having an almost civil conversation with Dudley? “These are friends from school. This is Hermione, and this is Ginny, my, um… girlfriend.” And nodding to Dudley, “And my cousin, Dudley.”
Harry had motioned to Hermione and Ginny to help themselves to the rolls, and he got three glasses and a container of orange juice from the refrigerator.
“Uh… Harry?” Dudley was still nervous. “Uh, yesterday, I covered for you. When Mum and I got home, she yelled at me for leaving my TV on, and when I went up stairs, I found my old one, the one that got broken was playing in your room….”
Harry had forgotten about that, “Oh, sorry. I got permission to use… you know, yesterday….”
“I knew that had to be you. You fixed… everything….”
Harry nodded, “Yeah, I was just messing around.”
“Could you… I mean, is it hard to do?” Dudley asked.
Harry laughed. “Not really. What’d you break, Dudley?”
“The vase… the really old one on the fireplace….”
“Let me get this straight… you’re asking me, to use magic… to fix that antique vase? Like, before Aunt Petunia…uh… notices?” Harry asked, enjoying this.
Dudley nodded, not even flinching at the m-word. “Like before I’m grounded for the rest of my life. She knows something broke, just not what. And you weren’t here then.”
“Okay, where is it?”
Dudley reached behind him, and handed Harry a small box containing shards of thin glass.
Harry asked, “Are you sure it’s all there?” and when Dudley nodded, Harry took out his wand and muttered, tapping the glass. He handed the box, containing an unbroken vase, back to Dudley.
Dudley looked at the restored vase, and muttered, “You know, maybe m…magic isn’t such a bad thing after all… especially if all the girls look like your friends.”
Harry grinned. “Of course they do. Why do you think I always count the days until I go back to school?” He swallowed the rest of his juice, and asked the girls, “Ready?” When they nodded, he said to Dudley, “I’ll be at Mrs. Figg’s. Not sure about anything from there, may be here for a bit longer, but at the very least I’ll be back for my stuff.” Dudley nodded, eyeing the remaining pastries. Harry said, “Yeah, help yourself, I’ll see you later.” He and the two girls left the kitchen and the house on Privet Drive, and began the walk back to Mrs. Figgs.
They heard Tonks say behind them. “Well, it’s high time. You lot had best get a move on.”
The three young people increased their pace, Harry and Ginny holding hands. They entered Mrs. Figg’s house and found Molly, Ron and Bill Weasley, Remus Lupin, and Minerva McGonagall waiting, and to Harry’s surprise, Severus Snape had arrived. As they entered the room, Dumbledore, Flamel, and a witch Harry did not recognize Apparated into the room. Dumbledore nodded at Harry and said, “Excellent. I see we are all here. Please, everyone find a place to sit, and make yourselves comfortable.”
Ron was already sitting on the sofa where Harry and Ginny had been the night before, he nodded as Harry approached, but did not speak. Harry sat on the other end with Ginny beside him and Hermione squeezed in between Ron and Ginny. Dumbledore again moved some chairs into circle, this one a bit larger than the one the night before, and then sat, again taking a position near Harry. “Let us begin,” he said.
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