Intimida tion Won’t Work

Harry was in a panic. He suddenly needed to know where Ginny was and what she was doing. He had been revising with Ron and Hermione in the library when he felt Ginny’s temper flare. Then he felt confusion coming from her.

“I have to go find Ginny,”he said as he got up and started putting his books into his bag.

“Okay, Harry, I don’t really want to ask why. Just let me know that it’s because you want to talk about china patterns,” said Ron with a grin on his face.

Harry felt Ginny’s urgency fade to a more normal level.

“Ronald, don’t be such a boor,” Hermione said. “If Harry thinks he needs to find his fiancée, then let him go. I think it’s sweet — very romantic, actually.”

Ron rolled his eyes, and then turned to Hermione. Why is it that whenever I do anything romantic you never say anything? Harry gets a bug up his bum and you’re ready to write a poem.”

Hermione ’s eyes flashed. “Ronald Bilius Weasley…” she shrieked.

Uh oh, Harry thought. This was going to be an award winning row if he ever saw one coming. He needed to get away before he was dragged into it.

“Harry, tell me… ” Ron started.

“Oh no you don’t, Ron. I’m going to go find Ginny. You’re on your own, mate.”

Harry grabbed his things and turned to leave.

“You are a bloody coward, you know that. You won’t even help out your best mate when–”

Ron stopped in mid sentence when he saw Harry stop and slowly turn around. The air around him rippled with magic rolling like heat off him.

Harry stared at his best mate as though he had never known Ron. He was furious with him, and there was nothing he could do to control his anger. He was about to tear into Ron when Hermione spoke.

“Harry, you know Ron was joking. We both know…” she said before Harry cut her off with a mental Silen cio.

“You both know what, Hermione? You know that Ronald here has just stepped over the line? You know that I’m tired of it? What do you know, Hermione?”

Hermione just opened and closed her mouth, but Harry’s charm had kept her words from being heard.

“Harry, what did you do?” a horrified Ron said. “Mate, I was just–”was all Ron could say before Harry cast the same charm on him.

“That is enough! Do you hear me, Harry James Potter? Stop this instant!” Ginny had run full tilt all the way to the library to stop him from doing something he’d truly regret. “You do not have the right to do this. You are not allowed to do this to your family.”

Harry turned from Ron and Hermione. She heard him screaming in her head. Did you hear what he said? He called me a “bloody coward.” Ginny, you know I’m not — you know I… I…

His mind started to close to her.

“What is it, Harry?” she soothed. “You have to let me in so I can know what you’re thinking. Don’t you dare shut me out — I will not be very happy with you. You may find yourself at the business end of my wand. I don’t think you’ll look very good in bat bogies.”

Harry returned to her thoughts. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to do that to you. I was just so angry at Ron, and I couldn’t do anything to stop myself.

Up until this time, Ginny had spoken to Harry verbally while he “spoke” nonverbally to her. She decided she needed to consciously go to his level.

Harry , luv, can you hear me yet?

Yes.< /i>

Good. Now, I don’t care what my git of a brother said. You need to release them. And you need to apologize to both of them, especially Hermione. You know she didn’t deserve this.

Harry cast a Finite and hung his head.

“Guys, I’m sorry. I really don’t know what came over me. Hermione, I am so sorry. You have always been there for me... I’m ashamed of myself.”

AND?! Ginny thought.

“And, I let it go way too far. I should have known better than to think either of you would ever go out of your way to make me angry.

AND?! Ginny thought again.

Harry thought for a moment because he couldn’t think of anything else to apologize for at the time. “And… Oh yeah, I’m sorry that Ginny had to run all the way down here from the seventh floor to make sure I didn’t do anything I’d regret terribly.”

Harry turned to her and smiled. Is that better?

Ginny took this as meaning that her fiancé had no idea of what else to say. She wasn’t expecting him to apologize to her.

No, Harry, you need to do better than that. You need to tell them why you did all of that so that they can understand why you became so upset.

But, I don’t know why, really. I mean I just get really angry and I lose control. I don’t know what’s going on or what sets me off.

You need to tell them that then. Hermione is your bestfriend. Ron is your best mate. I won’t let you push them away. I won’t let you make them fear you. So you had better come up with the reason and let…

“Look, Harry,” Ron started as he put his arm around Hermione, “I should have been more aware of what you’re going through. It’s just as much my fault for talking out of the side of my head. I’m sorry, mate. I hope you can accept my apology for being a right foul git.”

It was another confirmation to Hermione that understanding boys was next to impossible. She was still very upset that Harry had silenced her, and yet Ron was able to forgive him and even apologize for his actions — what he did was no worse than anything he’d done before.

“Boys,” was all Hermione could say.

“You know, Hermione, “Harry said. “I’m sorry I hurt you. It was wrong and I hope you can forgive me.”

This was not the Harry she had expected. She would have expected him to stalk off and brood for a few days after becoming enraged. She almost expected him to lash out at Ginny while she just looked into his eyes for such a long time.

Harry ,look. Hermione’s getting that look on her face, Ginny thought to Harry.

Err — what do I do? You know she’s going to start in on me. Do you want to let her know?

Let her know what?

Let her know about the Eternal Soul Bonding.

Ginny’s head was spinning. How could he know about what she herself hadjust been told by Healer Garzino.

How did you find out about it? Ginny questioned.

I heard you. When you were getting upset — I heard parts of it.

“Wait a minute,” Hermione said. “What’s going on between you two? Areyou two able to communicate nonverbally?”

Ginny and Harry looked panicked. They had held their secret for only a couple of days and here Hermione was already sure they were hiding something.

“You know,” Ginny said to Harry. “It can be right annoying when your best friend is the smartest witch of your age.” Ginny smiled and took Hermione away by the hand.

I’m going to tell her as much as I know, Harry. I think she’ll be happy to help us find out more about what we can expect.

Whate ver you think is right, Harry thought.

“Hey mate, you okay now?” Ron asked. “I mean… you aren’t going to hex me or anything, right?”

Ron rose from the table and patted his friend on the shoulder. Harry turned to look at his best mate’s worried expression.

“Come on. Let’s go see Hagrid. He always seems to cheer you up–well, at least you always seem happy to get away without a broken bone.”

They headed out to the grounds and the hut where the gamekeeper lived. The only time Harry had seen Hagrid since the final battle was at Bill and Fleur’s second reception. It wasn’t that he was avoiding the half giant; it was that Harry had just failed to make time for him. Hagrid had been the first one to tell him about being a wizard and therefore held a special place in his heart. He and his half-brother, Grawp, had played a vital part in the final battle, and that left Harry with a very valuable friendship — a friendship that he felt guilty for neglecting.

“Look, mate,” Ron said as they walked. “I know you have loads on your mind. But, you gotta let some go. I mean, we’ve all been talking to that healer bloke, and he’s been trying to get us all to understand what we did was part of a war. I got that part.”

Ron smiled at his friend and continued as they made their way to Hagrid’s hut.

“Thing is… you have to forgive yourself. I think that’s what I’ve been having the most problems with. What I did to you and Hermione was unforgivable. And well… what I’m trying to say is... I guess what I mean is…”

“Ron, I’m working on it,” Harry said. He looked at Hagrid’shut and sighed. “Tell you what–I’ll do it once you do.”

Harry immediately saw the hurt on Ron’s face. Harry cursed himself for being such a git again.

“Sorry. I shouldn’t be like that. I know you’re having some of the same problems.”

“Yeah, well that’s not the point, is it? I mean, Hermione and I have been working with Healer Godzilla for just as long as you have and–”

Harry stopped in his tracks. “Healer Godzilla?” He stood and gawked at his best mate.

“Well, yeah. I wasn’t supposed to tell you that. I accidentally told Hermione about the ‘Shrinking Shack’ and she thought it was wrong. Can you imagine that? So then I told her about how he just waltzes in and stomps all over me like I’m a bloody child’s toy. Then she says he’s not some kind of monster. Then I just said he was too. He’s like Godzilla. And, well the name just stuck.”

Harry couldn’t hold back his laughter. It was the perfect name for the healer. Of course he knew the man had helped get him to a more stable place in his life, but that didn’t mean that he would be on his Christmas card list.

Ron knocked on Hagrid’s door. Both he and Harry could hear Fang, Hagrid’s enormous Boar hound, barking his welcome.

“Bloody brilliant,” muttered Ron. “Guess I’ll be getting another bath. Sounds like Fangis full of beans.”

Harry smiled as he recalled their first year introduction to Fang. Next to Hagrid, he looked like a normal sized dog. He also looked ferocious. But Hagrid let them all know Fang was rubbish when it came to courage. Fang did take to Ron, so much so that he liked to wash Ron’s ears and face.

The door opened and revealed Hagrid. “’Ello ‘Arry,Ron. I was wonering when yuh’d be down ter see me. I was figgurin thet ya’d ‘ave Hermione and yer new fiancée with ya when ya did.”

Harry’s face flushed with embarrassment.

“Now ‘Arry,don’t go gettin' all embarrassed. I know ya got loads ter do. An’I’m sure ya got yer handsfull with yer school work and all.

“Truth be told, been purty busy meself. Grawp has been a handful lately. And I might be takin a page out of both of yer books.”

Hagridhe sitated.

“How’s that, Hagrid?” Harry asked.

Suddenly , Hagrid jumped up.

“Where are me manners? Lemme get ya a cuppa. Got summa them rockcakes I know ya like.”

A tin of the rock hard baked goods slid to Ron and Harry. Harry was faster than Ron and grabbed the tin.

“Here you are, Ron,” he said. “I think you were the one who really liked these.”

“Oh yeah, right,” Ron said in surprise. He then whispered out of the side of his mouth as he took one of the over hard treats, “Don’t worry,Potter, you’ll pay for this one.”

Three giant-sized mugs of tea landed on the table where the boys were sitting.

“Ya see, I took to thinking bout what yer did at Bill and Fleur’s party. An I got it in mah head to see if Olympe might wan ter … ya know… tie the knot.”

“That’s brilliant, Hagrid,” Harry said.

“Yeah, that it is,” Ron added.

They talked more about their ideas and plans for the future. Harry was glad that while he had never believed that he would have a future he was now able to make normal plans for a normal future.

Meanwhil e, off in an empty classroom, Ginny was about to open up to Hermione. She sat her friend down at the instructor’s desk and paced back and forth trying to decide how to open the conversation. This was not how she normally talked with Hermione. Ginny normally made a statement, and Hermione took over the rest of the conversation with facts and figures. The most she had to add were the obligatory nod or “I see” to show she was listening. When it came to their “boy talks” it wasGinny who conducted the conversation. This was where Ginny was having problems deciding where to start.

On one hand this was a “boytalk” conversation. It had to do with her and Harry and how they felt about each other. Their emotional connection was deeper than she had ever imagined. They were almost one. Yet, on the other hand, she needed Hermione to help her find out more about what to expect from the bonding.

“Maybe if you start at the beginning we can both decide what to say,” said Hermione, interrupting her thoughts.

Ginny flushed at the thought of just leaving her friend waiting while she reveled in her own little world. “I’m sorry. It’s just that this is kind of a difficult thing to just talk about.”

Hermione smiled at Ginny and took her hand when she paced by on her hundredth circuit.

“It’s all right. Whatever it is, I’ll be happy to listen. Or, if you need advice… I’m sure I can help.”

Ginny squeezed her friend’s hand and pulled her into a hug.

“Thanks, Hermione, I knew you’d understand. Okay, here’s what I know…”

Ginny explained her conversation with Healer Garzino about the Eternal Soul Bonding and what he thought were going to be challenges for her and Harry. As she finished up, she wanted to know what Hermione thought about the situation.

“You know, that’s why I was able to catch Harry at the library. I could hear him screaming at you and Ron from the seventh floor. And once I got there, I could actually talk with him. That was why you saw me just looking into his eyes. I’m not sure what the healer meant about our bond being potentially lethal so I’d like to find out. And the thing is that it’s just so hard to talk about. I mean it almost feels like every time I talk about it to someone other than Harry, I’m walking around starkers.”

It was Hermione’s turn to blush. “I’d be happy to help you find out more. And I’m glad you trust me enough to ask. You know I’d do anything to help you and Harry. I have to admit Iwas pretty brassed off at him for silencing me like that. I know Ron can sometimes step out of line, but he was just poking fun.”

Hermione sighed and furrowed her brow.

“I think you should listen to Healer Godzilla and take this slowly until we know more.”

The shock and surprise on Ginny’s face told Hermione she either didn’t understand her or she had just grown a horn on her head.

“What?” she asked.

“’Healer Godzilla?’” Ginny asked back. “You have got to be kidding me.” Ginny burst into laughter. She laughed like it had been the funniest thing she’d ever heard. She laughed so hard her sides hurt.

“What… what made you… come up with that… name?” Ginny panted as she recovered from her laughing fit.

Hermione happily explained that it was Ron who came up with the name.

______

Deep in a forgotten corner of the Ministry of Magic, a magical world globe spun in front of three shadowed figures.

“Look at it,” the first shadow said. “Those damn people took everything. We don’t have a pot to p–”

“That’s enough,” the second shadow said. Her female voice brooked no argument. “I don’t need your colorful metaphors to understand our situation. We must return our world to its former glory, or we risk the termination of our rightful place as leaders of the wizarding world.”

The third figure moved a hand toward the spinning globe. It was a young soft feminine hand with long manicured fingers. As the globe spun, her fingers separated as if to attempt to stop the world from spinning.

“What about Potter?” she asked. “You know he’s to be the next Defender of the Light.”

The first figure cursed. “We need to kill that stupid whelp.”

“That stupid whelp killed the most powerful dark wizard in a generation,” said the second figure. That stupid whelp marshaled enough forces to defeat an army–the Dark Lord’s army. I suggest you not underestimate Potter.”

“I agree,” the third shadow said. “We have all been fooled before by Potter’s abilities. But this time… this time, we have a secret weapon.”

“Bollix, ” said the first. “That’s what the Dark Lord said. “He wanted that damn prophesy so badly that he wouldn’t kill Potter when he had the chance. Fat lot of good that ‘secret weapon’ did him.”

“Silence . Don’t be a fool,” said the second. The Dark Lord wanted to make Potter into an example of what would happen to those who stood against him. We will not make that mistake. I have no need for dramatic messages. I just want him dead. If the opportunity arises where I can make him feel the same pain he gave us, then all the better. If not, killing him will be sufficient for our plans.”

The third figure turned to face the others. “I want him to feel pain.”

______L< /p>

Minister Shackleboltwas again at his desk, wading through the business of rebuilding the wizarding world. Requisitions, meeting requests, demands, and reports all vied for his attention. His predecessor’s administrator, Percy Weasley, had left him with a competent replacement who had prioritized everything according to piles. The young and handsome Mr. Waverly had three piles for Kingsley: must do, can do, and must wait. The must wait pile was the one that concerned him most.

It was that pile that demanded the most attention. It contained the dispositions of all former Death Eaters properties and confiscated wealth. There was nothing the Minister or the Ministry itself could do until a final war-time position was filled. Molly and Arthur Weasley had made it clear to Kingsley that he was not to contact the designee until his healer indicated he was able.

This infuriated the normally reserved former Auror. He understood battle wounds. He understood re-acculturating, but that didn’t make it any less frustrating to have to wait to address the issues surrounding the next step in rebuilding their world.

Just then, Waverly entered his office followed by a levitated tea set. “Minister, your next appointment is here. You will most likely need this, if the news of the next D.O.T.L. is as you expected.”

Kingsley sighed as Waverly poured a cup of tea for his superior. He also placed another cup and saucer across the desk for Kingsley’s next appointment; Healer Garzino was bringing an update.

“Thank you, Ralph. Please show the healer in. I’d like for you to be here as well, to take notes.”

Waverly was aware that his position dictated the utmost secrecy be kept in all of the Minister’s business. He also understood his life could be forfeit if anyone knew the extent of the information he kept secret. Percy had explained to Ralph that his job was to protect the Minister from any political missteps. He had also told him that if the need arose, he would be required to insert himself into any embarrassing political situations in place of the Minister. In other words, he’d have to take one for the team. He was not opposed to being a loyal soldier. He had been very discreet in his activities during the war, so much so that very few knew he was sent to the Americas to stop Death Eater recruiting efforts. His actions were the sole reason Voldemort was unable to bring Latin American Curanderos into the fight.

Ralph Waverly had used every communication technique possible to convince the Spanish and Aztec tongued sorcerers and healers that Voldemort’s plans would lead them down a path of evil, something they had been accused of from the first time they were sought out by Muggles for their healing abilities. He also went to the Samhain Circle in the U.S. to plead with their High Council to maintain neutrality. His original intent was to bring them in on the side of the Light, but that was asking a bit much in an anti-establishment climate. He was able to reduce their involvement to only providing safe haven and medical care.

He also exposed some of Voldemort’s efforts to recruit magical beasts from the Southwest United States and Mexico. Proving the Quetzalcoatl and chupacabras were being seduced into following the Dark was not hard once the beasts began attacking cattle in preparation for travel to the UK.

All in all, Ralph had styled himself as a de facto diplomat. He was part negotiator, part secret agent, and part agent provocateur. Now though, he served the highest magical political figure in the UK. That is, until the new D.O.T.L assumed the helm of leadership.

Even though he had gained sensitive knowledge and abilities, his loyalties were never in question. He came from a long line of international magical men whose goal was service and protection of the Crown and the Ministry of Magic. Normally, he would be called an Unspeakable. His current assignment was investigating an assassination plot, which included finding out who was the target.

“Healer Garzino,”Ralph greeted as he approached the seated man, “the Minister will see you now. If you would please follow me, I’ll take you to him.”

Ralph brought the man to the Minister’s office where he re-introduced the man and sat down in a corner and prepared to take notes.

“Well, Minister Shacklebolt, it’s very nice to see you again. Can I assume you have summoned me to talk about the weather, then?” Garzino said.

Kingsley Shacklebolt could be a jovial man at the appropriate time. The face he showed the healer was not indicative of this being one of those times. As a former Auror, he could look positively intimidating without trying.

“Ahem, well then, I suppose there is nothing to be gained with simple pleasantries?” the healer said. “I must tell you,however, there is nothing I can tell you about my patients. It is not ethical.”

Kingsley stood to his entire height and towered over his desk and the healer. He flashed the healer a clenched grin showing barely controlled rage.

“I don’t feel like playing games with you, Healer Garzino. We are talking about Harry Potter. I simply want to know if I have your clearance to speak with him.”

Healer Garzino paled at the threat. “Minister, I will not be intimidated to give confidential patient information… to you or anyone else for that matter. Now, if that is all, I bid you good day.”

As the healer started to rise, Waverly stood and moved with almost invisible speed and a grace borne of necessity and training. He placed his hands on the healer’s shoulders and restrained him. His hands hesitated a moment, but brokethrough the healer’s medical protection charm.

“Please remain seated, Healer. I do believe the Minister has not concluded his business with you.”

Garzino had never had anyone break though his charm before. It had always served him well — even his most violent patients had never been able to lay hands on him.

“I assure you,” Kingsley started, “there is nothing sinister here. Well, I imagine there is, if you consider the situation we are facingh as much to do with moving forward in rebuilding and reparations.”

“Mr. Potter...” Kingsley paused and sighed.

“Harry,” he started again,“has always been the Chosen One. He has always been the one who needed protection until he was ready to fulfill his destiny. I’m sure you don’t think the only thing he was destined to do was kill a dark wizard and then fall into obscurity.”

The healer cleared his throat to speak. Kingsley held up his hand to stop the man.

“You see, Healer Garzino, previous Ministers wanted to sway Harry into their good graces to ensure he was somehow beholden to them. What they did was attempt to hold back information, what I like to refer to as mushroom management. They kept him in the dark and fed him manure. That is not what I am trying to do. I need Harry to continue fulfilling his destiny.”

Healer Garzino was shocked that this Minister, who had shown every sign of being Harry’s friend, was treating him like a political pawn. During his sessions, Harry had told him about Kingsley Shacklebolt. Harry had the utmost respect for the former Auror and his abilities. He had even considered forgoing his treatments and joining the Minister in his efforts to rebuild magical society.

“This is not as sinister as it seems,” Waverly said from behind him. “In reality this is really all for Mr. Potter’s good, as well as our world’s best interests.”

Waverly turned to the Minister as if asking permission. Kingsley Shacklebolt sighed and nodded.

“You see, Healer Garzino, Harry Potter is about to become the leader of the magical world by virtue of being the most powerful wizard in the world. It helps that he is also the world’s wealthiest wizard as well.”

“Oh. I see. This is about nothing more than power and money. Well, I can tell you this Minister and who ever you are,” he glared at Waverly, “Harry Potter wants nothing to do with politics or with those wanting to use his fame for their own benefit. I cannot stress enough that anything that you suggest to this end will be rebuffed in no uncertain terms.”

Waverly had a disarming smile and a most relaxing voice. He knew it and decided to use it to calm the healer.

“Healer Garzino, let me assure you, if this were an attempt at subversion, Minister Shacklebolt would not need to wait for your treatment to certify Mr. Potter’s mental health. I would think you would be more curious as to the reason that he continues to allow you to treat him. You may be a media darling, but, it would not be hard to discredit you and your methods.”

The healer opened and closed his mouth like a fish out of water. “How dare you! There is nothing wrong with my treatment methods. I’ll not stand for this... this slander. I have had remarkable results. I stand by my efforts.’

Again Waverly flashed his smile. “We don’t dispute your results. As a matter of fact, we applaud your results–though I doubt the general public will be quite as understanding knowing that you have been torturing their Chosen One.”

Again the healer opened and closed his mouth several times. “I did not torture anyone. There is nothing–”

Waverly held up his hands. “In this case, I doubt there is anyone who will question your success.”

He walked to the healer’s side. “I think it’s a lot like making sausage —everyone enjoys the finished product, they just don’t want to know what goes into it. And in this case, I believe people will, let’s say, want to have your head on a pike for doing things like this.”

Ralph Waverly pulled out his wand and conjured a small cube. He tapped it and it filled with a grey-silver smoke. Each side showed Harry Potter’s face contorted in rage. Suddenly, Harry’s voice rang out.

“And you think you can sit here and judge me? What gives you the right to tell me I’m broken…what gives you the right to call me a coward? You have no effing right to call me those things.”

Waverly tapped the cube again and Harry’s face dissolved into the smoke and reappeared again. This time his face was the picture of despair.

“You don’t know what you are talking about. I love Ginny. I am not abnormal,” Harry screamed.

Healer Garzino’s voice was muffled and unintelligible.

“Yes, you did, I am not a freak,” Harry yelled. “I…I…I know what I’m doing. I’m not hurting anyone.”

The sweat beads on Harry’s forehead glistened.

Healer Garzino’s voice was again muffled and unintelligible

“NO!NO! NO!” Harry screamed into Garzino’s face. “And if you call me that again, I’ll…”

Again Harry’s face dissolved into the smoke.

“You see, Healer, appearances can be deceiving,” Waverly said in a silky smooth voice. “And by the looks of it, I doubt anyone will condone your methods.”

He waited for what seemed like an eternity. In reality, it was only enough time for the healer to think he was being blackmailed. Then a realization dawned on him that he was being drawn into a scheme to bring Harry into the Ministry. He didn’t like it one bit, and he was going to do every possible to avoid being used this way.

“I am not going to help you. Whatever it is, I’m not going to help.”

Waverly then wagged his finger at the healer and said, “Oh, but you are already helping us, and you will continue to help. You see, as long as you help Mr. Potter, you are helping us.”

“Then why all this… this intrigue?” he asked. “There’s no reason to threaten me if this is an innocuous effort. Creating this adversarial situation is unnecessary. I plan on helping Harry foras long as it takes.”

Kingsley looked to Waverly and waved him away. Kingsley then rounded on the healer. “You have made this necessary, Garzino. You were the person I looked to for help at the onset. Yet you gave me nothing to work with, nor did you so much as give me the opportunity to identify why we need Harry. The threat is real and the sooner we deal with it, the sooner we can end it. Part of the issue is the same thing that Voldemort tried to do — create an army.”

This was not what the healer was expecting. He knew Harry had killed the Dark Lord… at least that’s what the media had reported. Though Harry had not told him yet about the final battle’s results, he had given him no reason to believe Voldemort escaped death. This was enough to bring him around to giving the Minister the benefit of the doubt.

“If it means stemming the return of evil, then I’ll do what I can,” Garzino said.

“That sounds very noble,” Waverly said. “I doubt you understand yet the threat Harry and his associates face. But not to worry, we will give you everything we can to help improve your understanding. But first we will need certain assurances of your loyalty to the Light and to Harry Potter.”

______L< /p>

The weather began changing at the castle. The leaves were changing the Forbidden Forest into a wildfire of color. The contrast of sky blue and warm colors across the horizon was a lit fuse, about to unleash the normally explosive winter on Hogwarts. In the dungeons, the brisk coolness was altered to a dark damp cold. Harry and Ginny were working together on Veritarserum. She elbowed him in the ribs on a down stroke while he was chopping dandelion root, causing him to nick the top layer of the skin at the tip of his finger.

“Sweet Merlin, Ginny, what was that for,” Harry said as he stuffed his finger into hismouth.

“You keep hogging the flame like that and you might get worse than that, mister,” she said as she did a quick Epsikey healing spell on the finger in his mouth.

I wasn’t hogging the flame, Dearest, Iwas concentrating on chopping dandelion root.

Ginny’s ears blushed and she sighed.

I’m sorry, luv. I’m just really cold, and I hate it. I just want to finish this potion and get someplace warm.

Harry was quiet for a moment. He reopened his mind to her. Ginny’s blush cascaded over the rest of her body.

“Harry James Potter,” she emphatically whispered, “that is not… that is just too… if you are going to send that kind of thought to me…”

“Oi, would you two shut it? Some of us are trying to work in here,” Ron said.

Hermione lovingly looked at Ron while he showed concern for doing schoolwork. Ginny, on the other hand, scowled at her brother.

“I would be working if your best mate would keep his mind out of my knic–”

“Ginny,” a shocked and embarrassed Harry interrupted. “Erm, sorry, I shouldn’t have thought that. Well, I don’t know that I could stop thinking that…”

Ginny’s blush deepened. “Harry!”

“Is there a problem here?” Professor Slughorn asked as he approached. “I would have thought this would have been challenging for most of the class, except you, Harry. Your potion skills should be more than up to the task.”

The professor’s walrus moustache twitched as the man smiled.

“Oh, but I’m sure you’re just trying to help others. You know these assignments are shared grades for table partners. Anyone needing help can ask me or my new apprentice.”

Hermione and Ron looked at the professor in shock. Ginny and Harry sighed.

“I guess there is no better time than now to introduce him, is there? My good man,come out, come out wherever you are,” Slughorn sang out.

A dust-covered specter appeared from the supply storeroom. It coughed and dust lifted off it and surrounded it like an aura. The specter moved and the cloud it formed followed it until it lifted its arms and struck itself on the front. The cloud exploded into the classroom causing half the class to begin coughing and sneezing.

“Well…Th is is not exactly what I expected,” the specter said. “I’m not sure what I expected, Professor, but I would have thought most of these ingredients would have been better accounted for and better stored.”

“Malfoy, is that you?” Ron asked surprising the others.

“Yes, Mr. Weasley,” Draco said. The dust had settled enough that Draco’s hair and blue eyes were discernable. “It’s me. I just seem to be a little… dusty, at the moment.”

This was the worst part of Draco’s apprenticeship. He needed to show neither favoritism nor distaste of any student, regardless of house or lineage. Both conditions were set down by the headmistress as grounds for dismissal if broken.

Hermione whispered a cleaning charm, which cleaned most of the dust off Draco. However well Hermione’s charm normally worked, it was not as good when faced with some of the enchantments some of the older dust and grease had collected from the older potion ingredients containers. Draco was recognizable, but he was still filthy.

“Yes, well… Thank you, Miss Granger, for your attempt. However, as you can see, most of this dirt and grime has been surrounded by impenetrable charms. And unfortunately, it seems a stronger spell is called for to bring me to a semi-presentable state.”

Draco was standing no less than ten paces from Harry and Ginny’s desk when he drew his wand. The next events were so fast that the only people who were already looking directly at Draco recognized what happened.

Harry had drawn his own wand while running towards Draco. In the very next moment, Harry had his wand up against Draco’s windpipe and begun to push into it.

“Mister Potter, what is the meaning of this?” cried Professor Slughorn.

Harry’s face was contorted in rage. Sweat pasted his shirt to his body. He responded to the professor’s words by raising a nearly blinding shield between him and the rest of the class. The shield was so strong it slammed the shutters closed and sealed the door. Hermione was the first to react by throwing her own shield over the remaining students and the professor. Even with the shielding they could feel the intense heat Harry’s shield generated.

Ron shook Ginny from her shock. “Ginny, you have to do something. Harry needs you to snap him out of this.”

She knew he was right, but she hardly knew what to do. This was far beyond what she had witnessed atthe Burrow. There, the healer, her mumand dad were there as a safety net. Now, she knew she was on her own. In the span of a few heartbeats, she went from shock, to surprise, to helplessness. Now was no time to fall apart. With her courage restoring itself, she called out to Harry. Nothing changed — either he couldn’t hear her, or he wasn’t listening. But, it wasn’t time to panic yet.

______L< /p>

Harry’s mind was racing. He heard Draco’s voice, but all he saw was his father, Lucius Malfoy, drawing a wand. His body, as well as his magic, sprung into action. To Harry, it was as though he was watching his every move from outside himself. He didn’t even feel his feet as he sprinted towards Malfoy. He couldn’t control his arm as it pushed his wand into Malfoy’s neck. He never noticed himself raise the shield.

“I guess it was just a show then, wasn’t it, Potter?” Draco managed to say as Harry’s wand started to cut off his breath.

“A show for whom, Malfoy?” Harry said. “A show for your dear master, maybe? You sick bastard. I don’t know how you got out of Azkaban, but you won’t come here and get your revenge without me having something to say about it.”

The fear on Draco’s face changed into confusion and surprise. He could see that Harry thought he was his father. Draco had always understood that he was more similar to the Black family than the Malfoy family — he had always taken after his mother in appearance, as well as build. How could he have been mistaken for his father? The only similarities were his eye and hair color.

“I’m not Lucius Malfoy,” he choked. “I’m Draco Scorpios Malfoy. I’m not him.”

Harry ,Harry

A voice in the tempest was breaking through. It was familiar, but far away. Harry strained to hear it. He wanted to hear it. Yet he was growing angrier by the moment, as he looked into the pale blue of Malfoy’seyes.

Harry , it’s not real. You need to stop this now. Listen to me, please.

The voice was growing louder in its desperation. As it grew in Harry’s mind, his anger ebbed slightly.

Harry , please stop. I know you can hear me. Please stop this now. I don’t know why you’re doing this, but you have to stop. Hermione can’t hold her shield much longer. Yours is too strong and we can’t get out of the classroom. Harry, please, killing Draco won’t solve anything.

It was enough to bring Harry back to himself. He finally saw who was standing before him. He released his breath and his shield fell. He took another breath and withdrew his wand from Draco’s throat.

After he put his wand into his robes, Ginny swung him around to face her. Unabated tears were flowing down her perfect face. Harry reached up to wipe them away.

“Don’t you dare, Harry James Potter,” she growled at him. He stopped himself and lifted his eyebrow inquestion.

“You are not going to just wipe away my tears and make it all better. This is exactly what you asked me to do for you, and I want you to see what you have done to me in return. You asked me to be there for you. And I was. And what did you do to me? You ignored me and almost killed everyone in the classroom. For what?”

Harry was stunned. “I thought it was Malfoy,” he said.

“Well, no bloody kidding. It is Malfoy. You’ve know him since your first year.”

“But I thought he was Lucius. I thought he’d escaped and I thought he was here to get revenge.”

Ron approached the two and put his hands on their shoulders. “Oi, why don’t we just chalk this one up to a learning experience, yeah? No one got hurt. Let’s go find somewhere to talk. I already spoke to Professor Slughorn and he said it would be fine.”

Hermione took Ron’s hand, and Ginny and Harry followed as he led them to the Room of Requirement. Ron performed the ritual and the door appeared. They walked into the sitting room of number twelve, Grimmauld Place. Harry didn’t ask Ron why he had chosen this place instead of the common room.

Ron and Hermione sat together in a loveseat, leaving Harry and Ginny a couch and an overstuffed chair to choose from. Ginny sat and centered herself in the chair and looked for Harry to sit on the couch.

“Well, I can see this is going to be a right friendly chat,” Ron said.

They all looked at Ron in shock. Harry broke a slight grin and looked towards Ginny, who rolled her eyes. She giggled and set off Hermione into a laugh. The tension broke as all four of them laughed.

“You know you’re going to need to apologize to Draco,” Ronsaid. “And you’re going to have to go to every Slug Club function until you’re thirty-five.”

This sent them into another peal of laughter. They eventually settled down and became quiet.

“Well, I guess it’s up to me,” Hermione said. “What happened? I mean, one second you and Ginny were fighting over the cauldron flame, the next thing I know you have your wand to Draco’s throat. If that would have been all, I could have understood… maybe even been supportive if it weren’t for that… I don’t know what to call it.”

“It was a shield,” Ginny said. “He did it before when he was angry with Healer Garzino.”

“He put up a shield like that and you didn’t bother to tell us? How long did it take Mum and Dad to put theBurrow back together?” Ron asked. “Blimey, Harry, how were you able to talk them into letting you ask Ginny to marry you if you blew the house apart?”

Ginny spoke up again as Harry hung his head. “He didn’t do it quite as powerfully as this one. Make no mistake, it was ghastly the way Mum and Dad acted. They were ready to hex anything that might have shown up.”

“I didn’t have to talk them into anything,” Harry mumbled.

Ron’s face flushed with embarrassment. He’d done it again and embarrassed or angered his best mate without thinking.

“Yeah, I know, Harry. It’s just a thoughtless remark. Didn’t mean anything by it, you know.”

Harry nodded his understanding.

“Well, I’m sure what we saw today is going to have some very severe repercussions,”Hermione started. “First off, I think Professor McGonagall is going to have to launch an investigation to satisfy the Board of Governors that Harry is not a risk to the students or the professors.”

Hermione was in full lecture mode. “We’ll have to come up with some sort of reason for Harry’s outburst, something that involves Death Eater activities of the past.”

“You mean like Malfoy drawing his wand?” Harry said. He clearly felt that Malfoy’s provocative movements were at fault. He also thought Malfoy was a lot smarter than to have drawn his wand around him with such carelessness.

“It wasn’t obvious to the rest of us, Harry,” said Hermione. “I think I can speak for the rest of us. All we saw was a dust-covered Draco trying to clean up a bit before being introduced tothe class. The only obvious thing was that my cleaning charm didn’t work, although I’m sure the dirt on Draco goes down much further than the skin.”

Suddenly the four of them heard a barking laugh. Harry smiled, thinking his godfather would have enjoyed Hermione’s little poke at Malfoy.

“Did you hear that?” Ron asked.

“Yeah, you heard it too?” Ginny replied.

Harry had assumed that the laugh had come from a memory of Sirius. Since they were in the Room of Requirement’s idea of Grimmauld Place, he was certain no one else heard the laugh.

A familiar voice echoed from a dark corner in the sitting room. It was the place where Sirius used to sit andthink.

“What’s the matter, Harry? Don’t you want to believe a mangy old dog can have nine lives?”

“Only cats and Kneazles have nine lives — and really it’s only Kneazles,” Hermione said without thinking.

Then, from out of the darkness a figure rose from the chair in the corner and walked into the light. It was Sirius Black.

“Hello, Harry. It’s been too long.”

-------- -L

Professo r McGonagall paced her office thinking about the day’s events. Harry Potter had attacked a staff member and put the lives of a classroom full of students in danger. She was frightfully aware of what Harry could do on his own. As Hogwarts Headmistress, she was also aware of how Ginny and Harry’s growing bond affected their magic.

Professo r Slughorn had just finished voicing his concerns to her. Even if Harry was one of his favorite students, he still could not allow his behavior to compromise the rest of his students. He said he even understood Harry’s issues with Mr. Malfoy, yet he also asked that until she could assure him that Harry was able to control himself that he not be allowed back into class.

Minerva McGonagall looked to the paintings of former headmasters and headmistresses. She looked to one in particular. Albus Dumbledore’s painting had drifted off to sleep after a few moments of lucidity. He had not come back since.

“You know, Albus, your protégé could use a little help. It would be in his best interest to have you here once in a while.”

Nothing happened. She turned and went to her desk to sit.

“Ah, my dear Minnie, you know Harry is in need of more than I can provide.”

Professo r McGonagall jumped at the old familiar voice of her predecessor.

“And I believe he is getting some of that now as we speak. I daresay Harry is about to understand the inner strength that brought him through his quest to defeat Tom.”

“Is that going to be enough to give him some self-control?” McGonagall asked tightly. “I can’t have him going around blowing up classrooms and threatening the staff. And his and Miss Weasley’s bond is very troubling.”

“I’m sure troubling is not the way they see it. I believe it is again part of their strength. It is a strength, that if my guess is correct, will be needed shortly for dealing with upcoming events.”

“What upcoming events?” she asked.

“Alas, Professor, you know there are things that I cannot divulge. Be that as it may, I can only say that you must do as you see fit to maintain discipline. That should be more than enough help for Harry and Miss Weasley.”

Professo r McGonagall’s thin lined lips twitched upward in a small smile. She normally would bristle at anyone giving her instruction on how to do her job. But this was her friend Albus.

“I’ll be having a conversation with all parties involved after dinner, and I’ll be demanding an explanation.”

When she looked back to the portrait, she wasn’t surprised to see that Albus Dumbledore had slipped back into his normal slumber.

“The same as always, Albus. Just enough information to muddle the waters.”

_______L

“You know, Harry, the Room of Requirement is a wonderful tool. And like the Mirror of Erised, you can waste your life away wishing for things that are not truly achievable.”

Sirius approached Harry and put his hand on the younger man’s shoulder. Harry could no longer restrain himself. He embraced Sirius with a full bone crushing hug Molly Weasley would have been proud to give. The stinging sensation in his eyes gave wayto tears of joy and despair.

“I’ve missed you, Padfoot. Merlin, you don’t know how much I’ve missed you. I… I’m so… I’m so sorry.

“For what, Harry?”Sirius asked, not expecting an answer. “For winning? For freeing the magical world from a tyrannical maniac? Wait, no, for taking away my chances with the lovely Miss Weasley?”

Sirius looked at Ginny and waggled his eyebrows at her. “You are taking good care of my godson,aren’t you?”

Ginny smiled and nodded. “I’m doing the best I can.”

“So, what else then? Hmm, could it be that all the good you have done has been worth the price, Harry? I’ve got to say there have been plenty of great people who have come before you and done less for fewer people.”

Sirius then looked at Ron and Hermione, who had sat through this encounter in shocked silence so far.

“And to top it off…” Sirius’ voice took on a husky tone. “... you have your friends and family, who have stood by you through thick and thin. One of them made a decision to support you even when his mum and brother were against him.

“And then there’s the smartest witch of her age, maybe of a few ages. She put everyone and everything in her life on the line for you, Harry. That’s not something people do for some insane git. That’s something a person does when they believe in another. That’s a real gift. It’s the same gift that your parents and Moony shared with me. And there wasn’t aday that went by that I didn’t thank my lucky stars for it.

“Harry, I can’t begin to tell you how proud you have made all of us.”

Harry released Sirius and looked into his eyes.

“You mean my parents and Moony?” he said.

“Oh Harry, you’d be surprised at how many believe in you and have nothing but gratitude for you and your actions. Even Dobby and Hedwig are proud of you.”

This was more than he could sort out. How could those two have been able to let Sirius know what they felt about him.

“I know Dobby is the first to let everyone and anyone know that he served the great Harry Potter and the Most Noble House of Potter.

“Hedwig is harder to understand. But whenever your name comes up, she perks her ears up and preens.

“Harry, I’m not sure if I can tell you this… or if I should. Your work here is not yet finished. And you will need all the help you can get to–”

Suddenly , Sirius disappeared.

“To do what?” Harry said. “Sirius, what do I still have to do? You can’t just tell me I have more to do and clear off. Tell me!”

Harry looked at his stunned friends and had an idea.

“Room,” he started, “I need to see talk to Sirius Black.”

They waited. Nothing happened.

“Room, please, I need to see Sirius. Please bring him back. I need to know what he was talking about.

“Ron,wha t did you ask for when we came in here?” Harry asked his still stunned friend.

“Uh, I asked for a room where we could talk,” Ron said.

“Is that all?” Harry shot back.

“Well, you’re probably not going to like it.”

“I don’t care, just tell me.”

Ron rose from his place next to Hermione. He walked to where Harry stood and spoke in a low voice.

“Harry, I asked for a place where we could talk some sense into you. Don’t go all bloody nutters on me. I think… No, you know what? I know it’s time we got down to putting ourselves back together.

“Sirius was right. What do we have to be guilty for? We did all the right things and we won. I’m not going to stand here and say we didn’t make some mistakes.

“I know I made some brilliantly stupid moves. But that’s not the point, right? We all came through it together. Granted, we lost some very special people. I almost lost the love of my life. But if we keep thinking about our past mistakes, we’ll never be able to move on. I know you and Ginny are trying to move on. Hermione and I are doing our best too. I just think it’s time for us to move on together.”

Harry blinked at his best mate. It was hard to listen to the words coming out of his mouth.

“So what then... do we just forget everything and pretend it didn’t happen? Is that what you want us to do?”

“No, that’s not what Ron is saying at all,” Hermione said. “He’s trying to say that we need you to forgive yourself and us for surviving.”

Hermione ’s words hit him like a punch to the midsection. He could not believe they thought he wanted them dead. They were his friends and family. They were all he had.

“Harry, we all have to do the same thing. Don’t you think that we carry the same feelings that we could have done more? Or that none of us should have survived? It’s not as though Voldemort was making this into some kind of picnic for any of us. We all have the same kind of issues. I don’t doubt that Ginny has them too. I just think she’s been covering them with taking care of the rest of us.”

Ginny ? Harry asked through their link. Is this true? Have I been so thoughtless to think you made it through everything okay while you’re hurting the same as the rest of us?”

Hermione turned to Ginny and said, “If you deny it, you are only doing what we have been doing to ourselves. You are only burying it deeper. Tell him everything.”

Yes, it’s true. I’ve been hiding behind taking care of all of you. I’ve been trying to make sure you really were fine. I want to be strong for you. I want to be there for you.

All Ron and Hermione saw was Ginny nod her head. Harry raced to her side.

“I’m sorry. I can’t believe I’ve been so thoughtless. I never wanted to hurt you. I just never thought about what you were going through. I’ve been so self-absorbed.”

“No, you’ve been healing,” she said. Ginny looked into his emerald eyes. She passed all words, thoughts, and emotions and went directly to his soul. Harry , it’s alright to be ‘okay’ now. I want you to be ‘fine’ now. I want us to be fine.

Harry brought his fiancée into his embrace. “I do too.”

Ron looked to Hermione and said, “Well, that went a lot better than I expected.”

“Who are you and what have you done with Ronald Weasley?” Hermione asked with a smile.

Ron smiled and copied Harry example by bringing her into his embrace. “Well, now that we’re done here for now, how about we head to the Great Hall for dinner?”

Both girls rolled their eyes.

Harry smiled and said, “Good call, mate.”