Repairing Burnt Bridges by billybob

Index

Chapter 1: Entering Enemy Territory
Chapter 2: Who Knew
Chapter 3: opening gambit
Chapter 4: A little hope is better than None
Chapter 5: When Harry met Ginny
Chapter 6: Doctor Livingston I Presume

Chapter 1: Entering Enemy Territory

Repairing burnt bridges: ... by billybob

Chapter one: Entering Enemy Territory

Pairings: R/H and eventually H/G

Category: UA (alternative universe) or it will be the moment book six of HP is out

Rated R ... for strong sexual innuendo and language

Words 5713

Warning: keep both hands on your broom at all times

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Summary: It is six years beyond the return of Thomas Marvolo Riddle (in Goblet of fire) and three years after the final battle of the Voldemort war.

Every magic-folk family in the UK had been touched one way or the another by the Dark Lord and his Death-eater minions. Defeating Voldemort had been costly both in lives and property. This is the story of second chances, a tale of fated lovers separated by the war reunited again.

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Author’s note number one: this story would not be possible without the pure divine genius of (* Anya *) and her fine story: ‘Naked Quidditch Match.’ This brilliant lady first came up with the concept of magic M-mails, the wizards’ version of muggle e-mails. This concept was further developed by (* Jeco *) and his inspired story: ‘This Means War’

I drop to my knees and pay homage to their wit and sense of humour. I know my tale will never match theirs in quality and I hope they will understand when I repeat the old saying that "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery"

I STRONGLY recommend that any reader of this story find and read these great tales, which give the ever-darkening tale of Harry Potter some much-needed comic relief.

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Author’s note two: Although I will in this story attempt to stay in cannon where possible. I give fair warning of my intention to ‘flesh’ out (make more human) some of the characters in the HP books that I feel to be somewhat one-dimensional. I truly believe that human beings, both magic-folk and muggle all suffer from the same things: desire, regret, guilt and anger.

So if a character speaks or does something in my story, that you believe isn’t in the books. Find comfort in the fact that it is just some dumb yank’s (*from the Midwest USA*) idea of how theses people behave when there are no students/kids around for them to set an example for.

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From: (name withheld by request) m-mail address untraceable

To: The Countess Claudette Marie d'Ormon

Subject: Time for action

I have sent you enough, now is the moment of truth. You must decide if who you are now is more important that who you were. Your search for Mister Right has been a bloody disaster, and you know it. Deep down in the pit of your soul you know that the only perfect mate for you was no further away than your childhood backyard. Seek out the retired headmaster. He will help you

Go back to where you belong, find the three people who never stopped loving you

(Unsigned)

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Twenty-four hours later

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From: Albus Dumbledore (retired)

To: Minerva McGonagall, Headmistress Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry

Subject: Surprise visitor

Dear Minnie

You will never guess who knocked on my front door today. A spectre from the past, begging a favour, the only child of the Count and Countess d'Ormon.

After her spectacular exit from the school midwinter five years ago, I was certain that this particular young woman would never come back to England, especially after making it so abundantly clear that she intended to forget her past and anyone or anything associated with it. I am sure you will recall the devastating effect that her announcement had on one particular student living in Gryffindor tower at the time.

The soon to be Countess now ‘claims’ that her abrupt change in attitude toward all that she had cherished and loved was all due to a hidden Imperius curse. Supposedly attached to an ancient especially charmed necklace (*a family heirloom I understand*). That she put on to cancel the disguise spells she had been living under for almost seventeen years.

I have no way of proving one way or the other whether this is true. I may be just a senile gullible old fool, but I believe her to be sincere in her desire to make amends for the hurt her abrupt departure had caused. She tells me that her return has two primary goals:

(1) She wants to apologize to her former friends as well as her ‘cruelly dumped and discarded ex-boyfriend’ (* her words not mine*) and his family.

(2) She wishes to re-establish a relationship with the couple that raised her for the first sixteen years of her life. This couple (*as you may recall*) was targeted for assassination during the later stages of the war, where they narrowly escaped death at least twice.

Although the "Daily Prophet" reported them killed (*at the suggestion of the OotP*) they actually went into hiding during the war and apparently no one has seen them since. The future Countess hired several detectives in the last year to find them and they all failed

Unable to find her foster parents the future Countess then came to me attempting to find the means to contact her discarded lover. Knowing the family of her ex-boyfriend rather well, I have tried to advise her against this course of action but she is determined.

My question to you is this, Min. How do we arrange a safe time and place from such an apology without getting the Mademoiselle killed, or worse, permanently hexed?

Let me know what you think about all this, and Minerva, don’t tell anyone she is back in the UK, if word reaches those two (you know whom I mean) her life could be in serious jeopardy.

Affectionately yours

Albus

From: Min

To: Albus

Subject: Re: Surprise visitor

It can’t be true, please say you are joking!

If by any wild chance you’re not, tell her to forget the whole thing and get out of the country fast. Because you are right, if "they" find out she is here there will be Merlin to pay.

As in: ‘Cry havoc and set lose the dogs of war’

Minerva McGonagall

Headmistress Hogwarts

From: Albus

To: Min

Subject: Re (2): Surprise visitor

No, I am not joking. Calm down and have a lemon drop, then come over to my cottage and speak to her yourself. The front door is open. (*As always*)

Albus

From: Albus Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagall

To: Arthur Weasley, Minister of Magic

Subject: Diplomatic problem

Min and I have run into a little problem that we feel requires your direct personal intervention. It involves a certain French citizen whose life may be in danger during a visit to England. Her life is now at risk due to a strong desire for revenge by a pair of young businessmen well known to you.

Could you come to my cottage as soon as possible to discuss this with us? The secret of her presence in this country cannot last for long.

Albus

P.S.: if Tonks is a part of your personal security detail today. Perhaps it would be for the best to have her re-assigned to other Auror work, as her feelings toward this visitor are also well known

From: Charlie Weasley

To: All his family except two

Subject: She is back

I was having a chat with an old school chum of mine in the visa department, and she happened to mention that a certain French cow, soon to be a Countess, is once again visiting our fair shores. You remember this "mare" I am sure. She’s the one who ripped the heart out of someone we all know and love, leaving him a walking corpse, completely devoid of all human emotions. An emotional deprived condition, which still exists to this very day.

Like you my brothers, I swore vengeance against this tart.

It is payback time.

C the dragon king

From: Charlie

To: All his family except two

Subject: Re: She is back

Forgot to mention, DO NOT SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THIS TO HIM

It will kill the poor git (no kidding)

C the dragon king

From: Gred and Forge

To: All the family except two

Subject: Re (2): She is back

No need to shout old boy, but point taken. The poor kid couldn’t survive another encounter with that old rabbit slag. However a few unanswered questions still remain, such as where this cheap tart is right now and what do we do to her that won’t land us all in prison.

Whatever we do has to be really good and it has to last for years.

"Revenge is a dish, which is best served cold" (*Kahn*)

De- twins

From: Molly

To: Her husband and family accept two

Subject: Re (3): She is back

(Read between the lines)

Don’t you dare you even think of doing anything vengeful to that twenty-year-old girl

(unless I get pictures?)

You should be ashamed of even thinking of causing public embarrassment to anyone

(Who doesn’t deserve it half as much as this salt does)

I want you all to get together and hang your heads in shame

(Until you find a punishment that fits her crime)

Remember you have a reputation to uphold

(As pranksters)

Mum

From: Arthur

To: Albus

cc: Min

Subject: Too late they know

Fwd: She is back

As you can see, the cat is out of the bag. My family knows she is here and will not allow "her" within a kilometre of the one she cold heartily destroyed. On a personal note, I agree with them one hundred percent.

Honestly Albus, what reaction did you expect after what she has done? Even Molly is screaming for blood. Consider yourselves lucky that I didn’t forward the Mmails my dear gentle spouse has sent me in the last half-hour. She wants a pound of flesh to nail to the kitchen wall.

Not wanting an incident with France, let alone a civil war on the home front. Please advise your ‘guest’ (*in the strongest terms*) to get a disguise spell (*a really good one*) and leg it back to her own country, seeing as she disavowed this one. Where I am informed there exists a powerful restraining order charm, still in full force, that will protect her from the wrath of the Weasley clan. (*Myself included*)

There was only one person who might have believed and tried to help her. Unfortunately that boy is dead. (*His body never found in the debris*) But come to think of it, she discarded him too when she left us all high and dry, five years ago.

Tell her to go home Albus, ... before my brood /family and their friends find her, she is several years too late for an apology. The Mademoiselle has made this bed, let her sleep in it.

Not wanting to be skinned alive myself, for obvious reasons of plausible deny-ability, I must decline your kind offer to come out to the cottage and meet your ‘guest’

My advice to you old friend is to send her packing

A Weasley … M. O. M.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

"As you can see Mademoiselle," Dumbledore said not unkindly as he ended the spell that displayed the Mmails on his study wall. "The direct approach will not work. They now know you’re here and the word will be spread. The twins have many friends, in fact all the Weasleys are extremely well respected in their chosen professions. They and all their friends will all be looking high and low for you."

"Dumbledore is right, you should give up any hope of seeing your ... ex-boyfriend"

"You hate me don’t you?" The young woman said with a thick French accent to her former head of house

"Hate is a strong word, intense dislike would be a better way to put it"

"Why, ... what did I do to you, how did I hurt you?"

"You did nothing to me personally. I was just one of the many that you left behind to try to pick up the pieces of the shattered soul you crushed. I was there for all three of his suicide attempts, McGonagall said with contempt. I was there, one of several people who were around to save your heartbroken ex-boyfriends life. This went on for months until, finally, something snapped deep in his mind."

"It was then he became what he is today, a machine. Cold, calculating and utterly ruthless. For his remaining time at Hogwarts, he has never, not even once, laughed, cried or smiled. I have sometimes wondered if a Dementor’s kiss would have been kinder than what you did to him, for when you were done and gone so were any trace of emotion in the boy."

"You must be proud of that little bit of magic, your last bit of transfiguration before departing Hogwarts. Turning a kind, caring boyfriend into the living dead."

"Once he heard it from you, once you told him that his bloodline wasn’t good enough to breed with an d'Ormon, it was as if nothing mattered to him anymore. His only remaining passion after you dumped him was Quidditch, McGonagall said with a sad smile. The young man in question was always a good tactician, but his emotions got in the way of him becoming truly brilliant. After you ... left, ... he came into his own as a strategist, for without the love he felt for you clouding his judgement as it had done for years, he became truly obsessed with his favourite sport."

"I must admit I was surprised, as were his other teachers at how intelligent he actually was, apparently he had been deliberately down playing his own brain power so as no to challenge a girl who’s only source of self-pride was in being a know-it-all."

"No one denies that you were, during your stay with us, the most brilliant book-smart student Hogwarts has had in two hundred years, but now that the young gentleman didn’t have act dumb to make you feel superior. The library was a place that he didn’t have to avoid any more."

"Don’t get me wrong Mademoiselle, he didn’t go to the library for school work. He was too much like his brothers in that area, but he did go to study Quidditch tactics. With his obsession with game stratagem naturally leading him into the study of all the military arts, both wizard and Muggle."

"Did you know young lady Dumbledore said, entering the conversation smoothly. That your ex-boyfriend, even before you left us, was the undisputed wizards’ chess champion of not only Hogwarts, (students and teachers combined) but also all of England, Scotland and Wales?"

The future Countess was indeed shocked to learn this bit of news, the surprise could be seen on her face plain as day.

"I never knew," she said shaking her head

"Of course not McGonagall snapped. He knew how much your fragile sense of self-worth depended on being so much smarter than anyone around you. So naturally he hid from you anything that might shatter your belief that he was nothing more than an ordinary teenage male, a stereotypical, dumb as a post, boyfriend."

"Professor!" Dumbledore said in a warning tone

"Sorry Albus" McGonagall said "I apologize for my foul mood, after so many years one would think I would have put the Mademoiselle’s cruelty to her ex-boyfriend behind me."

"Apparently not" Dumbledore said with disappointment.

"I admit my failing Albus, but in doing so, I must also point out to the future Countess d'Ormon that if a relative stranger such as I, cannot after five years, put aside her bitterness. Can you just imagine, the pure undiluted hatred that the Weasley clan must feel about what you did?"

"All right, you have convinced me. Claudette d'Ormon said with obvious frustrated disappointment. Seeing ‘Him’ again is clearly a very bad idea, and if it gives you any personal satisfaction, Madame Headmistress, I was well aware even before I came back to England of the exceptional quality of the boy, (*no ... I mean the man*) that I gave up so casually."

"I honestly believe, Professors, it was partially due to my deep down (*long suppressed*) feelings of shame and regret for the boyfriend that I treated so shamefully, that finally cracked the Imperius curse attached to necklace charm that made me walk away from him in the first place."

"Hoping that he would want me back was foolish, I suppose. Claudette said shaking her head in regret. I have seen pictures of him in the French edition of the "Daily Prophet" and he turned out to be a strikingly handsome man. Six foot three inches tall, broad, nicely muscular shoulders. I am sure he has many women in his life throwing themselves at him all the time."

"There is no woman in his life" McGonagall said bitterly. "Not since you left. You need emotions to love someone, and you ripped those things out of him when you ripped out his soul and trod it into the ground!"

"Minerva ... Please ... control yourself," Dumbledore said threateningly.

"I am sorry, really I am, for behaving like a lioness protecting her cub, and a full-grown cub at that. No Mademoiselle, Ronald Bilius Weasley did not ‘go out’ with any other female students after your departure, nor did he date after leaving Hogwarts. You on the other hand...."

"Minerva," Dumbledore said interrupting his old friend "don’t go there, the romantic miss-adventures of the future Countess d'Ormon are none of our business"

"Quite right professor." Min replied.

"All right I get your ‘subtle’ point, professor McGonagall and you right. I am a cold-hearted bit$# who has been a total self-centred slag for the last four years. There, I have admitted it, are you happy now?" The young woman, speaking with a thick French accent, asked bitterly.

"Do you think I am overjoyed about what I have become? An easy to get in the sack ... tart, a member in good standing of the idle ultra rich, desperately looking for any kind of simulation to give some purpose to my otherwise meaningless life."

"There, there" Dumbledore said, standing next to the flushed faced girl while patting the young woman on the back in a comforting fashion.

"Thank you professor, Claudette replied as she pulled herself together, but the headmistress is right. I am too far-gone as a soiled dove, too experienced in certain actives to think myself still ‘pure’ enough for someone as good and kind as Ron. Anyway it was stupid of me not to realize that the man I am still in love with would naturally be uninterested in seeing me again. I imagine I should be grateful to you Madam for reminding me of that fact."

"Does this mean you are returning to France?" McGonagall asked in an excited tone.

"No Madam Headmistress, I concede that looking up Ron is a mistake, apparently there is nothing I can do to be forgiven on that score, but I still have hopes of finding my parents."

"Your parents are the Count and Countess d'Ormon. If you want to find them, I suggest you look in the French Alps seeing it’s the skiing season there." Min said with clear contempt.

Claudette reacted to these words as if she was slapped hard across the face.

"Something else I have learned in my self-imposed exile Madam Headmistress. There is a great difference between the people who give you life and the persons who love and raise you as their own child. When I read in the ‘Daily Prophet de France’ that my English foster parents where murdered, I had no reason not to believe that Death-eaters weren’t involved, with them dead there was no reason to come back to England." She said sadly.

"Recently however, in the last several months or so. I began to receive M-mails and letters (*by owl post ... unsigned of course*) telling me that the foster parents that I had believed to be dead were, in fact, still alive. This unknown informant kept dropping hints that the former minions of Voldemort were not the ones behind the attacks on my foster parents."

"This information was later confirmed accidentally by my biological mother during the delirium following a bad bit of radiation therapy. She confessed to me that my biological father had hired wizard assassins to kill my foster parents out of fear that I would somehow shake off the Imperius curse and return to them. It was also my flesh and blood papa who had planted the false stories of my alleged fatal skiing accident in the newspapers to keep my foster parents from looking for me."

"Never one to pay attention to the muggle news since becoming a d'Ormon, I was unaware of what my papa had done until my unknown informant sent me a muggle newspaper clipping a month ago. Had I learned the truth years ago, I could have perhaps broken free of the Imperius curse sooner and then perhaps Ron and I would be married now." Claudette said, again fighting back a dive into deep depression.

"You owe Ron Weasley much more than just an apology for your unkind departure Mademoiselle, Dumbledore declared. For he was visiting your foster parents the night they were attacked on that deserted back country road.

Had he not been with them that night, trying to comfort them after the report of you alleged fatal skiing accident as described in numerous muggle newspapers, the hired killers would have easily succeeded in murdering them. Your ex-boyfriend saved them both, twice in the same night." Dumbledore said, much to the surprise of the stunned Claudette d'Ormon.

"Wasn’t it fortunate, Minerva said sarcastically, that young master Weasley had not gotten over you as quickly as you appeared to get over him. Your foster parents owe their very lives to that sad truth."

"I wish I could see him one more time to thank him in person" the young French woman said, wanting to cry, desperate to cry, but knowing no tears would come. For the bitter truth was that almost five years had gone by without a single tear coming out of Claudette d'Ormon.

"Ah yes," professor McGonagall said. "Funny you should mention that. For that is the ironic twist of this whole situation. For to safe guard your foster parents from what was thought to be at the time a Death-eater attack. The Fidelius charm was utilized, which made them untraceable to the entire magical world, with only the secret keeper aware of where they were hiding. I have made some inquires since you contacted Albus and myself and, indeed, there has been no trace of your former foster parents since the war."

"Now I am not one hundred percent certain about this mind you, but I believe that the secret keeper for your foster parent’s Mademoiselle was none other than Harry Potter himself. As the ministry of magic as still officially lists the ‘boy who lived’ as ‘missing in action and presumed dead’ your chances of finding them are all but nonexistent." McGonagall said with clear satisfaction, as if to pound home the last nail in the coffin of the Mademoiselle’s rapidly fading hopes.

"The only two people that Harry might have confided in concerning their location," Dumbledore said, interrupting the two women’s verbal war for the second time, would be one of the two Weasleys who remained behind after you left. The problem is as we now know from the M-mails we just read, Ron’s family are well aware of the fact that you are in England and are out in full force hunting for your blood."

"The M-mails also tell us, Minerva added, that there is no possible way that the Weasley clan will let you get anywhere near Ronald even if you used an invisibility cloak. None of his family will allow you the opportunity to explain about any alleged Imperius curse, which you frankly cannot prove ever existed. They will hex first and ask questions later (if at all)."

"I am afraid that my colleague, the current Headmistress of Hogwarts, has an accurate grasp of the temper of the Weasley clan." Dumbledore said sadly.

"You mentioned two people Professor Dumbledore, who was the other person that Harry may have told?" the soon to be twenty-one French woman asked, grasping at straws.

" I am surprised at you Mademoiselle d'Ormon, the old Hermione Granger would have figured it out by now." McGonagall said with obvious contempt.

"When the final battle of the Voldemort war began, Harry must have known that he was going to a fight which he had good reason to think he wouldn’t return from. With that possibility in mind, he would have passed on his secret to the one person that he trusted beyond all others, even his best friend. The only girl Harry Potter ever loved, Ginevra Molly Weasley."

"Ginny won’t talk to me, not after what I did to her brother. She will hex me a dozen different ways before I even open my mouth!"

"Yes, and deservingly so" McGonagall replied with a smirk

"You are right of course," Dumbledore said.

"We would need some kind of strong incentive for Ms. Weasley to hold off hexing you long enough for you to explain yourself," the old wizard said with a twinkle in his eyes.

"There is no incentive powerful enough to get Ginny to listen to me!"

"Albus, I know that look, McGonagall said, intrigued. You know something, some secret so big that Ginevra will be unable to resist, so don’t make us suffer you old goat. What is the offer, which she can’t refuse?"

"Well, I was speaking to my brother about a year ago and he let slip something he didn’t intend to, but before I betray a confidence I have another idea. Let’s try it first and see if it works?"

>>>>>>>>>>>

From: Albus Dumbledore (retired)

To: Legor Bloom: Director of healer training, saint Mungo’s hospital

Bcc: M. McGonagall, & C. d'Ormon

Subject: Donation of one thousand Galleons to the children’s care unit

My Dear Legor,

I have been approached by a member of a wealthy French Wizarding family expressing a desire to make a donation to your children’s care unit in exchange for a favour.

Claudette Maria d'Ormon the only daughter of the Count and Countess d'Ormon is prepared to surrender the donation in gold provided that it is turned over to one of your final year healer interns, Miss Ginevra Molly Weasley.

The Mademoiselle d'Ormon terms for the donation are theses

1) Miss Weasley must pick-up the donation in person.

2) She must come to the transfer point alone and wandless.

3) She must promise not to hex damsel d'Ormon, before, during or after this meeting.

4) Miss Weasley must swear to tell no one this meeting. (especially her family)

5) She must agree to listen to what the Countess wishes to say to her with an open mind.

6) She must agree to a sixty-minute interview with the countess.

7) She must allow the Countess a half-hour head start before pursuit after the interview.

If these conditions are met with good faith then the future Countess d'Ormon will make the donation as promised.

Let me know if these terms are acceptable.

Albus D

From: Legor

To: Albus

Subject: Re: Donation

Sorry old friend, apprentice-healer Weasley has rejected Ms. d'Ormon terms completely. She expressed a desire to do certain things to the French ‘lady’ that I decline to repeat in an Mmail.

We can use the money and Ms. Weasley acknowledges this with regret, but feels that her short and easy to invoke temper will go off upon seeing Ms d'Ormon, which will make the fulfilling of the stated terms impossible.

Legor

P.S.: from Ms Weasley’s tone and after insisting on hearing the reason for her attitude, I must say that I agree with her refusal to meet with such a sow.

From: The headmistress

To: Her retired former gaffer

Subject: Now what?

Bribery didn’t work, and time is working against us. I still think ‘she’ should go home and forget the whole thing.

Min

From: Albus

To: Little brother Aberforth

Subject: Help

FWD attachment files, surprise visitor (please read)

Please review the attached Mmails and give me your input. As you may recall we discussed this very issue just last week over dinner and agreed that all involved are suffering. As you know, I feel somewhat responsible for what happened and I see this as a chance to make amends. At the time you stated that you had a ‘friend’ working on a solution.

The arrival of my ‘guest’ appears to be an excellent opportunity to reunite at least one set of fated lovers. However, I cannot attempt it without the blessing of a certain secret keeper. From what you tell me ‘his’ injuries are nowhere near as bad as they were three years ago.

I am sure that he is just as interested in the happiness of his friends from school as anyone else, especially those that he used to consider almost family. Could you approach him on this, as he hasn’t spoken to me since the war (*understandably*).

His permission is vital. After all, from what you let slip the other day the missing foster parents have been living in his home since the war.

So that you know, I have requested that the Countess stay in my guest bedroom rather than the muggle hotel as she planned, I feel she would be safer staying with me.

Let me know what ‘he’ says

Big brother

From: Little brother

To: Big brother

Subject: Re: Help

I let ‘him’ read the Mmails you sent me, and he wants time to think it over. He is worried that his old friend may not be able to handle her "sooner than expected" return, (*whatever that means*).

Apparently he has been discretely keeping a close eye on all parties involved for several years now, and had a plan in the works to bring about something similar to what the Mademoiselle herself has proposed.

The better-looking Dumbledore

From: Albus

To: No way your better looking

Subject: Re (2): Help

Time is not our friend in this. The entire Weasley clan is looking for the ‘Mademoiselle,’ helped by every friend they have. Please impress this fact upon him. Care for a lemon drop?

A the senior

From: A, the younger

To: The old man

Subject: Re (3): Help

For the sake of their long overdue happiness, he has agreed to let one person and only one person know of his existence. He is quite adamant that ONLY one person learns that he is still alive, and that steps are taken to ensure that whoever is informed (he or she) will be hexed to prevent the information from spreading.

You have kept this secret for a year now, after my slip of the tongue during a butter-beer binge. If you let slip what you know, to anyone without his permission, he ‘will’ kill you without batting an eye. This is no idle threat Albus; he truly hates you that much. And after they way you "used" him as a disposable weapon I cannot really blame him.

Who is to be told now, he leaves to me. I will M-mail at once, the person whom I feel could most directly benefit from this news,

He trusts me, in spite of my last name, so you better not muck this up!

Aberforth

From: Albus

To: Little brother

Subject: Re (4): Help

THANK YOU SO MUCH. You are right, this news would be best coming from you, and she might believe you. I know I am walking a tightrope and therefore will keep my mouth shut.

Thanks again

Albus

From: (name withheld by request)

To: Apprenticed healer Ginevra Molly Weasley ... (* for your eyes only *)

Subject: Rejected meeting

The individuals most desirous for the meeting between Mademoiselle d'Ormon and yourself have employed a form of blackmail to compel me to reveal the following:

The time has come to let you know what actually happened to the boyfriend that you ‘thought’ you lost on the last day of the Voldemort war. I have reluctantly been granted permission to reveal the previously top-secret facts concerning the final duel that took place in the Dark Lord’s headquarters, in the location that is now the Wizarding world’s only known officially dedicated historical park, the ‘Crater’.

The price of my information is the meeting with mademoiselle d'Ormon that you have already declined. I will not tell you who I am right now, but I assure you that you do know me and that I personally have never lied to you. What I have to tell will be shocking. (Not even the ministry knows about this)

I have charmed this Mmail so that only you can read it. It will self-delete the moment you have finished reading it. Otherwise, I would not say this

‘HE IS ALIVE’

Keep your meeting with the countess and I will tell you more.

(Unsigned)

From: Legor

To: Albus Dumbledore

Subject: Change of mind

Albus, what the bloody hell is going on?

Ms. Weasley has now informed me that she has changed her mind concerning the meeting with Mademoiselle d'Ormon. All terms are now acceptable.

Her change of mind was extremely abrupt, and has a desperate quality to it, as if she was pressured into doing this.

What did you do to change her mind Albus? You better not be blackmailing the girl, as she is my best student healer in many-many years and I would hate to lose her.

I also think that you and I need to have a little face to face chat when this is all over. Your methods for bringing about this meeting between two enemies are very suspect.

After all, you do have a history of using people, all for the better good of ‘the many.’ Does your gross mismanagement of Harry Potter’s short life, ring a bell?

If you have been playing God again with one of my students, I swear Albus there will be Merlin to pay. Voldemort is gone, and you won’t get away with your high-handed tactics anymore.

A very upset Legor

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

To be continued

Comments welcome

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Chapter 2: Who Knew

Repairing Burnt Bridges: by billybob

Chapter two: Who Knew?

6190 words, ... Rated R - for strong sexual innuendo and language

Category: AU ... or will be when book six of HP comes out

Warning: Women who ride brooms should always wear trousers

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Caution: This chapter is written with the assistance and keen insight of a beta reader. So please stop gathering feathers and heating tar, I have been saved from the spelling/grammar demon. "Near thing that."

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Authors Notes:

(1): I did not have the wit to come up with the concept of Mmails, I pay full homage to "Anya" and "Jeco" for coming up with and developing the concept.

(2): Please take note; it is my stated intention to be as British as possible in the writing of all my Harry Potter based stories. However on one point I refuse to budge, I have a pet phrase that I came up with all on my own "Snog-off", which is my HP translation of the American phrase "kiss-off".
I know It doesn’t exist in the lexicon of the UK, but I like it, and I am going to have a royal hissy-fit of temper, hold my breath until I turn blue, until you all let me use it whannnnnn! (let me know if my lame attempt worked)

Now that we have that behind us, (and I had to do a time-out to calm down) I have begged (on my knees pleading) several people with on-hands experience with the Queens English phraseology to beta my stories. My beta-mum Karen and Asli to mention only two and yes they are the ones keeping me British. Just so you know, anyone out there living in the UK reading this who feels the urge to point out my errors, feel free to review.

(3): Along with my beta, I have willingly submitted myself to the ‘supportive’ criticism of my own mum and my Gred and Forge (type) siblings. Believe me the twins are nicer to Ron than my kinsmen are to me. So don’t try to nag, I am in the hands of family so I doubt you’ll be able to out do them. They are professionals!

The above is beta free, so any errors are my own.

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From: C. d’Ormon

To: G. W.

Subject: Meeting

I am told you have accepted all the terms. That is good.

Where do you wish to meet?

Claudette

*******

From: I don’t want to do this

To: Nothing worth hearing

Subject: Re: Meeting

Hagrid’s Hut, Six P.M. tonight

GW

*******

From: Already disappointed

To: An open mind?

Subject: Re (2): Meeting

If you have already made up your mind without hearing me out then I am wasting my time and yours. You never used to make up your mind about things until all the facts were in.

Considering your attitude, why did you agree to meet with me?

Claudette

******

From: Don’t push me,

To: The French tart

Subject: Re (3): Meeting

I am holding my temper with effort, and you know damn well why I agreed to this!

GW

*******

From: Puzzled and confused

To: Count to ten

Subject: Re (4) Meeting

No I don’t. What are you talking about?

Claudette

*******

From: About to lose it

To: Are you lying to me?

Subject: Re (5): Meeting

How about this old salt, ... Harry Potter ... as in, you know where he is!

GW

*******

From: Shocked and stunned

To: You’re kidding right?

Subject: He’s ALIVE?

Who the bloody hell told you that?

Why wasn’t I told, I had given up hope years ago.

I thought he died during the last battle.

Dam-it, Ginny! Don’t toy with me. He was one of my best male friends for years.

He can’t possibly be alive! ... Can he?

CO

*******

From: A surprised and rethinking her attitude Apprentice Healer

To: Claudette/Hermione

Subject: Re: You’re kidding, right?

You really didn’t know? I swear Hermione, if you’re deceiving me about this, promise or no promise, I will hex you so hard you’ll never recover.

Gin

*******

From: Grateful to be called Hermione again

To: The only brutally honest, girl friend that I have had in five years

Subject: Re (2): You’re kidding right?

I swear on all the good memories of our school days together, I don’t know anything about Harry’s whereabouts. Like the rest of the world I thought he died that day.

Please ... I beg you, is he alive, really alive?

H

*******

From Ms. G Weasley

To: Albus Dumbledore (retired)

Bcc: C d'Ormon

Subject: Harry’s whereabouts

What the Bloody hell is going on old man? If this is yet another one of your infamous abuses of the Queens English, I swear you will pay dearly for this ill conceived prank.

Don’t play coy with us. We are not in the mood for the kind of half arse deliberately vague answers that you used so often to trick Harry. We are two mad as hell witches.

GW

*******

From: A stunned and amazed, hoping soon to be no more than just Ms. Granger

To: Gin-Gin

Subject: How could you?

I am shocked, since when have you spoken to Dumbledore like that?

Confused former prefect named Granger

*******

From: You don’t know half of it

To: An old friend that I may have misjudged

Subject: Re: How could you?

You weren’t here to see what that old geezer did to my Harry.

Gin

*******

From: Your former Headmaster

To: Two of my favorite former students

Subject: Whereabouts

I can state to you both with a clear conscience that I ‘officially’ know nothing more about the whereabouts of the ... ‘boy’ who lived, than anyone else in the magical world does. I do know for a fact that the ‘boy’ with the single scar will never be seen again.

However, seeing as you asked me so nicely, I will pass on your polite and respectful request for information to someone who I ‘unofficially’ suspect might have some rather solid ‘theories’ about that particular subject. This individual may then decide to contact you.

Albus D (retired)

*******

From: Ginny

To: HG or CdO … Have you made up your mind yet?

Subject: Buffalo chips

What do you think he meant by that load of fertilizer?

Gin

*******

From: Hermione Granger d’Ormon

To: Gin-Gin

Subject: Re: Buffalo chips

Beats me? Did he always flap his cakehole like that?

Claudette Granger or Hermione Jane Claudette d’Ormon.

You tell me, which do you like better?

H

*******

From: Ginny

To: You still have a lot of explaining to do, (* lost years ... hint ...hint *)

Subject: Don’t change the topic

I will tell you my tale, after you tell me yours

Last one sound’s kinda stuck-up ... Countess

Gin

*******

From: (name withheld upon request)

To: G. Weasley - a young woman who should know better (your eyes only- confidential)

cc: C d’Ormon

Subject: Lose lips sink ships

Warning: this message will self-delete, after being read once by the addressees.

Ladies, may I remind you that Mmails are susceptible to interception by third parties! Such as: persons and or former members of a certain dark-arts organization now officially disbanded. Not all Death-Eaters are in prison you know, and those who are still free or on the run may have extremely good reasons such as *revenge* for hunting down of the former leaders & heroes from our side of the Voldemort war.

That said: the whereabouts of certain missing in action and presumed dead warrior of the late war cannot and will not be disclosed in an Mmail. But seeing as you have spilled the beans to someone whom was just an hour ago your worst enemy.

I must now insist on being an invisible witness to the famous tete-a-tete between Mlle d’Ormon and Ms. Weasley. I feel the need to learn the Mademoiselle’s reasoning for her abrupt disappearance. Wherever you were planning on holding this little chit-chat get-together, change it, to somewhere else. May I suggest the Great Hall at Hogwarts, the scene of Mademoiselle d’Ormon’s most dramatic departure five years ago.

The Secret Keeper

*******

From: Bill

To: Gred and Forge

cc: Mum, Charlie and Dad

Subject: Traitor

As I suspected, the French mare approached her old friend, with the help of that, Billy-no-mates, chronic arse, Dumbledore.

I thought our little sister hated the frog as much as we did, but I was wrong.

And you lot, thought I was mental for putting a tap on Ginny’s Mmail box.

Now it was all encoded of course, our sweet sister is no dummy.

However being a Curse Breaker for Gringotts for all these years has allowed me to become chums with some first rate code breakers and she ... (please, don’t tell my beloved Fleur, or my kind and gentle wife will naturally, Kill - me). Well anyway, this friend of mine decoded about a sixth of the Mmails contents for us.

Mind you, I only got bits and pieces from the half dozen or so Mmails they sent each other, Ginny’s message scrambler is that good.

All I know for certain, and I mean absobloodylutely, is they are going to meet face to face, somewhere in or around Hogsmeade.

Gred, Forge, I have done my part; now its your turn. Call in as many favors as needed. We must know exactly where and when our traitorous sister is going to meet the biggest slag in Western Europe. Once when know when and where ... we attack!

Bill the oldest and best looking of the Weasley bloodline

*******

From: De-twins

To: Our older git of a brother cursed with a death wish

Subject: Re: Traitor

Dear soon to be departed kinsman, may we ask ... are you MENTAL? Please tell us you didn’t go back to see ‘her’ for this help?

Not the same half giantess expert code breaker we always thought might be a distant cousin to Hagrid.

She is what now: six foot, ten inches, two hundred and eighty odd pounds of towering, ‘always warm for William’s form’ ... lust. Can something that big go into heat, and could its Bunk-up playmate survive the encounter? ... Inquiring minds want to know?

Oh do tell ... dear brother, what exactly did you have to ‘put-out’ to gain her assistance? On second though don’t tell us, there are some things, we don’t want to visualize.

Don’t worry about us telling your Misses, the former Mlle DeLacour. However, the price for our silence will be high. Basically we won’t spill the beans for two very good reasons.

(1) You wife is the kind of lady (*half Veela*) that would hex without thinking any innocent, don’t laugh, messenger of bad news.

(2) Now that you’ve been ‘laid’ for the information (* oops, sorry, we meant ‘paid’ of course*) it would be a shame not to take advantage of the information and you dear brother, we will be holding this over your head for years to come.

We will use the information you unwisely disclosed and pull in a few favors. Never fear in the office lover boy, we will find the tart. Just remember; from now on we own you.

Gred and Forge (*blackmail is a useful tool*)

*******

From: Forewarned is forearmed

To: Blackmailers beware (your eyes only - do not forward)

Subject: Re (2): Traitor

First off: nothing happened ... (that you can prove)

Secondly: I would rethink your implied threat if I were you, ... why do you ask? ... How about this then. I will give you a list.

1) During your last term at Hogwarts

2) Girls Dorm Gryffindor (1 am)

3) The beds of K and A

4) Drunken girlfriend swap (without knowledge or consent of either A or K)

5) Potters ‘borrowed’ invisibility cloak (without permission)

6) ‘Lee Jordan’ taking pictures under said borrowed cloak

And last but not least!

7) I’ll let you guess who is the current owner of said pictures and negatives

Also I take this opportunity to remind you two, that your girlfriends of that time, are now living with you as common-law wives. If, after four years of unwed bliss, these ladies still encounter some difficulty in tell you two apart while not wearing clothing, I shall be more than happy to enlighten them.

If you are somewhat confused about what I mean. Let me remind both of you about that adorable (* Mum’s words not mine *) small birthmark on Fred’s right hip that is clearly visible in pictures of him, while bunking-up with George’s then girlfriend Katie. The same birthmark so clearly missing in the bunk-up pictures of Angelina who was at that time and still is Fred’s lady-friend.

The muggle term for this is M. A. D. (Mutual Assured Destruction)

Get my meaning?

Bill.

*******

From: How the hell did you get those?

To: Our favorite and most discrete sibling

Subject: Re (3): Traitor

Any school pictures of us in embarrassing positions from our last few months at Hogwarts are without-doubt ‘doctored’ photos done by Dolores Umbridge clearly aimed to discredit us as ‘role model’ students.

However in the sprite of sibling cooperation and to avoid the upheaval that could result with the appearance of these clearly altered, ‘reputation destroying’ pictures. We are still determined to remain as discrete as our other siblings concerning any ‘sowing of wild oats,’ that may have occurred during our youthful rebellious period.

In other words: We get the message loud and clear ... stalemate!

Gred and Forge

*******

From: Gred and Forge

To: Lee Jordan, business partner and friend

Subject: Frantic

Check the secret ‘old school memories’ vault at the shop, we fear a series of compromising pictures of all of us are missing. Perhaps even the photos of your very intimate and more than a little kinky May-November relationship, with a certain former transfiguration teacher after you graduated and were therefore of ‘legal age of consent’?

Let us know ASAP

Duo in state of panic

*******

From: Bugger all to hell (your eyes only - encoded and scrambled)

To: The owners of the so-called "crack-proof" safe

Subject: Re: Frantic

It’s all gone! The trophies from our fifth year knickers raid on the Ravenclaw girls dorm, (*some of which were later autographed by the ladies we took them from*) are gone,

Also missing are the see-through stone walls special photos, from the shower rooms of sixth and seventh ladies of Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and of course Gryffindor. We did not, as you may recall, record the goings on within the Slytherin girl’s shower room due to our preference for pictures of ‘human’ females.

I also cannot find those snapshots of Percy and Ms. Clearwater doing the nasty in the prefect’s bath. On four different occasions, no less. Who would have guessed that she was a screamer?

Not to mention three large expanding file folders’ stuffed to overflowing with Ron and Hermione pictures. With no offense meant to you blokes, after fighting insesently like a pair of roman Gladiators for four years. When you little brother stopped arguing with that brown haired know it all and started actually snogging her, those two didn’t care a hoot where they bunked-up.

Believe me I was as shocked as any of you were when out of nowhere, this super smart arrogant cow gets the your youngest brother, the poor git, addicted to her ‘charms’ only to dump him "cold and public" in front of the entire student body of Hogwarts. When I saw this with my own eyes all I could think of at the time was what a total slag.

As you can imagine the worse ‘loss’ for me as a result of the rifling of the "crack proof" strongbox, was the disappearance of the only complete set, of full color shots of the current Headmistress of Hogwarts that you lot, "promised" me would be safe for all time.

Bugger it all to hell!

I promised her that I would burn them after looking at them once and she thinks I did, weeks ago. Otherwise she would have never have agreed to pose for me, especially half-starkers! She will kill me if she finds out that I kept them and believe me partners if she suspects that you have seen them too, your going down with me. Dam it, I have to get them back, whatever the cost!

Lee

*******

From: We who are about to die

To: What are you worried about?

Subject: Re (2): Frantic

May we humbly remind you of a few things?

1) You were two years out of school, twenty, a war veteran, bloodied in combat with Death-eaters and a consenting adult. Before you were ever invited into that ladies bedchamber.

2) Although we will not deny that considerable public embarrassment will result from the publication of posed photos of the headmistress. Mostly over her preference of latex and leather corsets which leave little if anything to the imagination. We are reassured by the fact that no ‘in action’ pictures featuring her and her far younger paramour exist, or do they?

3) We have indeed seen the pictures you refer too and frankly, we cannot think of any other mid-seventy year old woman who might be, even one-tenth as well preserved as your lady friend.

Really mate, we had no idea that a mature hottie was hidden behind that look of disdain that she always had on her face when looking at us.

As you have always known, ‘double standards’ always make us mad. Why should some randy one-hundred-year-old, rich bloke, get away with romancing a twenty-year-old bird, but not the reverse? Look if the age difference doesn’t get in your way or hers, then on behalf of George and I, the rest of the world can snog-off.

Speaking of snogging, as today is Friday, we assume you will be apparating up to Hogsmead for some one-on-one ‘use-of-wand’ exercises with your favorite instructor. We were wondering if you would do us a favor prior to have another all night ‘hands on’ practice session.

We need you to ask around and see if anyone has caught sight of Ginny, we desire a little chat with her concerning the company she is running around with.

F&G

*******

From: Relieved but still worried

To: Do you know how much trouble you’re in?

Subject: Re (3): Frantic

How can you two remain so calm, even if the ‘switch’ pictures don’t end up as front-page news in the Daily Prophet? If the girls find out that they existed at all, A & K are more than smart enough to figure out that the invisibly cloak photo shoot wasn’t the first time you two played musical beds with them. Thank Merlin neither of the girls got pregnant, figuring out who was the daddy wouldn’t have been easy.

My Scottish paramour may well end our relationship over those pictures of her. But that is nothing compared to what A & K will do to your wands after they learn of your bed hopping. (*And I am not speaking about wooden wands ...hint, hint ... ouch*). So for all our sakes get those bloody pictures back pretty dam quick.

By-the-way I am not going up to see ‘her’ tonight, she Mmailed me to say that she had a last minute meeting to hold at Hogwarts, which is, very hush-hush. I can’t even wait in her quarters until it’s over. She is locking the castle down, from what I understand, full wards all-round. In fact except for one or two all the other teachers are being asked to leave for a couple of days.

Not to worry, I will find out what it was all about afterwards. Amazing the things a bloke can learn through pillow talk, if he is smart enough to listen. She talks in her sleep a bit too you see, and you’d be surprised how many white-hot erotic dreams she has, (* very good source of ideas to try when she is awake you see*). As well as the more mundane day-to-day stuff like this ‘hush-hush’ get-together. Sorry I cannot help find Ginny for you.

Lee

*******

From: De-twins

To: L. J.

Subject: Hush-hush

1) Far too much information, old chum, concerning our former head of house erotic dreams that we didn’t really need to know about.

2) Real quick, did your lady mention what time this ‘meeting’ was to take place?

Please answer ASAP

Frantic F&G

******

From: A puzzled ... Jordan

To: My partners

Subject: Re: Hush-hush

Since when do you care about ‘her’ meetings, and its six PM tonight, I think.

Lee

*******

From F&G

To: L. J.

Subject: Re (2): Hush-hush

Thanks a ton!

De-twins

*******

From: Gred and Forge

To: Entire family except Ron and Gin

Subject: Beat to quarters

Target sighted ... lock & load.

Meet us at our shop for tea, at 4 P.M. today, to formulate a plan of attack.

De-twins

*******

From: Your dad, ... Minister of Magic

Private code, top-security, scramble & encode

This will self-delete after a single reading by addressee

To: His only daughter (your eyes only, ... your mum will kill me)

Subject: Be careful

Your brothers know the when and where, concerning your meeting with C. d’Ormon. Please be careful.

Your loving father

Arthur

*******

From: A very lucky girl

To: The best daddy in the world

Subject: Re: Be careful

Thanks Dad, I will

G

*******

From: Mr. C. Creevey, Apprentice Photographer for the Daily Prophet

To: Fellow Gryffindor, Ronald Weasley

Subject: Did you know

Please don’t blame the messenger, for bearing bad news. Just to give you a heads up, an old girlfriend of yours passed through customs yesterday.

The former Miss Hermione Jane Granger ... ‘now known as’ ... the Mademoiselle Claudette Maria d’Ormon. She is staying in a Muggle hotel somewhere in London, her whereabouts unknown.

Both the fashion and society editors from the paper went looking for her in Diagon Alley as she is a celebrity of sorts, but none of the shopkeepers have seen her.

Rumor has it your kinfolk are hunting for her for some long overdue payback; I pity the frog if Fred and George find her.

Say hello to Ginny for me, I still care a lot for your sister, even if she didn’t feel that way about me. Harry was a lucky bloke to have her as his girlfriend, even if it was for only a tragically short period of time.

Colin

*******

From: Mr. & Mrs. Neville Longbottom

To: Ron

Subject: Trouble heading your way

Luna informed me just this morning that the Prophet is reporting that "She" is back in town. (* My wife still can not bear to say her name*), its like the old ‘he who cannot be named’ stuff all over again. I hope there won’t be any trouble.

Its been five years now old friend, Luna and I both feel that it is time you put the past behind you and move on. Don’t let H. Granger who is now C. d’Ormon ruin your whole life. Her less than moral behavior since leaving you has proven time and again, one bed after another that she wasn’t really the girl we all thought her to be.

Please do not become angry at us, we are only saying this because we love you as a brother and hate to see you always in pain.

If you feel the need to avoid the reporters as that Skeeter woman is looking for you, our spare bedroom is waiting to welcome you, as are we.

Your friends

Neville and Luna

*******

From: WWINS ... (Witch & Wizard Independent News Service)

To: Ronald Weasley, ... chief strategist, of the National Quidditch team of Great Britain

Subject: Requesting interview

Regarding: Comment on arrival of the future Countess Claudette Maria d'Ormon in England

It has been reported in the society pages of the Daily Prophet under the heading of notables arriving in the UK, that a Mademoiselle Claudette Maria d’Ormon, the only child of the Count and Countess Henri and Juliette d’Ormon. Arrived in London without fanfare yesterday afternoon from Paris.

The purpose of her visit to England is officially unknown, but as this visit lands only a few days prior to the French and English elimination round during the play-offs for the next Quidditch World Cup. I am sure that the sporting world would like to know if you feel in any way distracted by her presence.

Although not generally well known, I happen to have first hand knowledge, that several years ago, you and the Countess were both involved in a heated romantic relationship that ended rather badly. Apparently from what I have come to understand, you took the break-up a lot harder than she did as she has been romantically connected to some of the best looking and riches wizards of Europe.

Rumors circulating about this beak-up all agree that for some unknown reason you compelled the Mademoiselle d’Ormon to chose between yourself and the famous and wealthy, Viktor Krum of the Bulgarian National Quidditch Team who was, at the time, a romantic rival.

The facts are that after receiving this ultimatum the Mademoiselle abruptly left Hogwarts, and directly thereafter, ‘moved-in with, and lived for six months in unmarried bliss’ with the well-known Bulgarian Seeker. That your alleged fiancée seemed to preferred Viktor’s bed to yours, doesn’t speak well of your skills as a lover. A fact that when revealed would greatly amuse my many readers as well as make you the laughing stock of the Wizarding World.

I also have inside information that your multi-year avoidance of female companionship, has more to do with the Countess brutal rejection of your lack of bedroom skills, than with any ‘alleged’ dedication to the sport of Quidditch.

My sports editor doesn’t know about your failure "as a man" with the countess and I am willing promise on my honor as a journalist, not to reveal what I know to anyone. In exchange for a exclusive interview with you and those members of the UK National Quidditch Team that ‘you’ put off-limits to the press.

You remember me I am sure, you know how my quill almost destroyed your friend Harry Potter. You and your little bushy haired friend cost me my cushy job at the Prophet all those years ago and now its payback time. You can forget about blackmailing me to go away, as I am a legally registered Animagus now.

Give me what I want or your "failure as a man" will be front-page news

Revenge is so close I can taste it

Rita Skeeter

*******

From: R. B. Weasley

To: Skeeter the bug

Subject: Snog off

DO YOUR WORST

(Unsigned)

*******

From: Ron

To: His entire family

Subject: Leave ‘her’ alone

Just so you know the Skeeter cow is going to throw some dirt my way about my failures as a man and my rumoured ‘mistreatment and abuse’ of my ex-fiancée. The story will appear in one of the checkout line slander rags I use to laugh at.

Concerning the Countess: I hope you realize that anything you do to ‘her’ after the Skeeter story comes out will only serve to make me look more childish and cruel.

Fred, George whatever you’re planning, please don’t do it. The ‘lady’ is more than wealthy enough to sue you out of business for any prank you pull on her. Your benefactor of all those years ago gave you that money to start a joke shop. It would be an insult to his memory to lose it because of a vicious prank on someone he once considered a close friend.

Leave ‘her’ alone; accept the fact as I have - that I was just not half the ‘man’ that Krum was. She hurt me, I won’t deny that, but two wrongs don’t make a right.

Contrary to popular opinion, I have kept track of ‘her’ through newspapers and magazines and honestly even as successful as I have become (*financially*) the high maintenance Countess d’Ormon current lifestyle is way beyond my modest income.

I know it won’t do any good to say I am over her, as you all know better. But hurting ‘her’ back won’t ease my pain.

Leave ‘her’ alone. She won’t stay in England long, she hates this country almost as much as she hates me.

To tell God’s truth, I sincerely hope she finds someone to settle down with soon. She deserves some happiness now that the war is over, as do we all.

I don’t desire ‘her’ harmed, hurt or humiliated. It was not ‘her’ fault that I wasn’t good enough to satisfy her needs. If it gives you lot any comfort, apparently Viktor Krum wasn’t any better at it than I was, for ‘she’ only shared his bed for six months before moving on.

Pity ‘her’ as I do, whatever she is looking for in a man she clearly hasn’t found it yet, and by my count she has ‘been’ with as many as (*with a rough estimate of*) thirty different men.

As for me, I have given up on romance, having been informed in no uncertain terms, by someone I deeply respected of my shortcomings as a man and failures as a lover. I have decided not to burden any other woman with my romantic inabilities. This is my life choice and after all theses years you all should accept it.

Sorry to be rambling on like this, as I haven’t done this in years.

Please I beg you all, ... leave her alone

Ron

*******

From: His sister (* once again remembering why I hated you *)

To: His betrayer

Subject: The kind of bloke you threw away

Fwd: Leave her alone

After all you have done to him, the stupid git is still trying to protect you.

READ the FWD, you self-centered slag. I hope it makes you feel real proud of yourself

GW

*******

From: Not worthy to lick his boots

To: The eye opener

Subject: Re: Leave her alone

Ginny, I don’t dare hope

I have read the fwd at least a dozen times, word for word, slow and carefully

Tell me if I am wrong, be brutal, I can take it

Am I reading this right: Ron, my Ron, is still in love ... With me?

On the edge of my seat, awaiting your reply

Claudette

*******

From: God, I hate you

To: The stuck-up, self-absorbed, French hussy

Subject: Re (2): Leave her alone

With you Countess, ... HELL NO ... With the memory of Hermione Granger ... YES

The ‘her’ my brother was referring to with such obvious fondness, was the mental image that Ron carries about in his head of the innocent ‘know-it-all’ girl of sixteen that he fell in love with. Not the cheap French tart of today, who couldn’t keep her knees together now for more than ten minutes in the presence of any rich git with a boner.

Stay away from him. He may have been unworthy of you in your opinion years ago, but it is you who are the unworthy one now. Why is this you ask?

It’s because you’re a easy to get in the sack slut who will without hesitation will jump at the chance to put-out as soon as she hears the sound of a blokes zipper going down. Of course he has to be a ultra wealthy bloke, of a noble and titled pureblood Wizarding family or your knees stay together.

So what if he is still in love with the memory of sixteen year old Hermione, you are not that innocent teenager anymore and we both know it.

GW

*******

From: I asked for brutal honesty

To: You don’t pull any punches

Subject: Re (3): leave her alone

I deserved that I guess, at least I know now what kind of lasting love I so foolishly ran away from. You will never know how badly hindsight torments me now, or how much regret I feel for the happiness that I could have shared with him, now lost, perhaps forever.

But with that said, I still desire a chance to explain what happened, at least to you. Of all people, you should understand about regret and lost love.

Can you still find it in your heart to listen to what I have to say with a somewhat open mind?

Hermione

*******

From: 7 ... 8 ... 9 ... 10 … Calming down again

To: You break promises and hearts, I don’t

Subject: Re (4): Leave her alone

Yes we are still on for tonight, for the same reasons, as before, I want my man back. That said I think it only fair to warn you. Your story had better be really bloody good. Because apparently my brothers with the exception of Ron, may well be crashing the party.

I will be there, but if you want any chance of avoiding my kin, who are I assure you totally hell-bent on vengeance. I would suggest you start running now.

Ginny W.

*******

From: (name withheld upon request) Mmail address untraceable

To: Hermione-Claudette Granger-d’Ormon

Subject: I told you so

Just obtained an unauthorized copy of the fwd: ‘leave her alone.’ What did I tell you? Over and over, he still loves you!

(Unsigned)

*******

From: Ginevra Molly Weasley, Apprentice Healer

To: Minerva McGonagall, Headmistress of Hogwarts

cc: C. d’Ormon

Subject: Uninvited guests

I have come to understand that the secrecy surrounding my meeting with the Countess has been compromised, how or by whom is not the issue.

Fred and George are too good as pranksters not to be able to get around any defences that you put up. I am not insulting your abilities; against a normal adversary your precautions would have been more than enough. There is however and I think you will agree with me on this, nothing normal about my twin brothers. I do not suggest lowering your defences, I just accept the fact that they will get around them.

What I propose is that you make use of the Mademoiselle and myself as bait, to draw my kinfolk into a non-physically damaging trap that will render them harmless while Claudette explains in relative safety to the entire Weasley clan her actions of five years ago.

If, as I suspect, my family rejects the Mademoiselle’s explanation, their confinement can be maintained long enough to give the smutty frog a sporting head start before pursuit begins.

Respectfully

G Weasley

*******

From: Headmistress of Hogwarts

To: Former Headmaster (now retired)

cc: Former Headmasters better looking younger brother

Fwd: Uninvited guests (please read)

Subject: Problem

After reviewing Ms. Weasley’s Mmail, I have to agree with her concerning the twin’s annoying habit of getting around just about any obstruction, be it physical, or merely the rules.

That being said, I am open to suggestions as to how to spring this trap that the youngest of the Weasley Clan suggests.

As to who let slip the news of the meeting I fear I must share at least some of the blame. Rests assured that the individual directly responsible will be ‘cut off’ from certain rather enjoyable privileges until he learns what he can and cannot be repeat to others.

As for myself, I have to admit to being a bit foolish for letting slip something that I should have known would be of interest to Fred and George. However, I am determined to learn from this mistake. After a suitable period of punishment, for the doer of this misdeed. I have determined to make better use of my cakehole (* which is a term my first years students use instead of saying "mouth" in case you didn’t know *) after certain types of intense physical activity than venting my worries of the day.

Min

*******

From: Aberforth

To: The Hogwarts Hottie

cc: The other brother she dated many-many years ago (at the same time)

Subject: Re: Problem

Try not to be to hard on your exercise partner. He may have been tricked into revealing the secret. (* Did you remember to tell him not to mention the meeting to anyone? *)

Besides, denial of privileges will punish the guilty as well as the somewhat innocent, and a pro-longed dry-spell (* considering your appetite for ‘exercise’ *) on your part, is not inducive to inner harmony. Both Albus and myself know from personal experience how much more mellow your mood is after a few hours of ‘rigorous exercise’.

As for your "cakehole", I suggest a type of jaw muscle exercise, developed by the French, that you use to be well practiced on, that is all but guaranteed to suck any thoughts right out of your partners head ... if the exercise is preformed properly.

Recalling your skills in creating short-term memory loss, I am reminded that I am somewhat overdue for a cold shower.

Abie

*******

From: I hate it when you are right

To: Ah memories (* I am blushing *)

Subject: Re (2): Problem

Indeed, now that I think about it, I didn’t actually tell him not to mention the meeting itself. I just took my usual pains not to let slip who would be there. Well perhaps its all for the best. Still I think I will forcefully remind him about bedchamber confidentiality

Back to the Ginevra suggestion: The idea of a captive Weasley audience for Mademoiselle d’Ormon explanation would certainly fulfill her wish to attempt to make amends for her misdeeds. It is just a pity that the abused and discarded ex-fiancée could not be around to hear the future Countess’s apology.

I don’t believe that a better example of tragic star-crossed lovers, lost to each other by chance exists outside of Shakespeare. Only Ms. Weasleys love loss exceeds the Mademoiselle’s. in shear magnitude of suffering. It’s a pity that happy endings only happen in Gilbert & Sullivan Operetta’s ... oh well.

Now gentleman, its time to speak of other things. (*Like Cabbages and kings? *)

As Hogwarts is "Again" without a permanent Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. I have asked Professors Severus Snape (* Potions Master and Assistant Headmaster*) and Professor James Evander (*the Dueling Master *) to assist me with this meeting.

In case you don’t remember Professor Evander, he is that young disabled war veteran who joined the staff straight out of hospital two years ago. The poor lad was very horribly scarred during the final battle 90 percent of his body, or so I have been told. The same curse took away all his body hair, his sight, as well as his voice.

And yet, Professor Evander somehow manages to see 360 degrees around him and even through walls, which I understand is an adaptation of Moody famous all seeing eye. As for his voice, he uses a form of unspoken direct into the mind speech that muggles call telepathy. It is most unnerving, I must say.

The poor man walks with an obvious limp and keeps his body completely covered by thick blueish-grey robes, head to foot. He even wears gloves and an full faceless hood at all times. Although he sits at the head table with us for all meals, none of the staff has ever seen him open his hood even once to eat or drink.

In spite of all these physical drawback’s Professor Evander is well respected as a teacher by both staff and students. The formalized duelling he teaches is really nothing more than the successor to the DA that Harry Potter set up all those years ago. It never hurts to have students capable of defending themselves, as we all learned in the late war.

I am sending Evander into Hogsmeade to meet and escort the d’Ormon girl to the castle and Severus will meet Ginevra. The house-elves have cleared an area in the Great Hall for the two of them to have their little talk. As school has not yet begun for this term, having students under foot will not be a problem

If my two long-ago former boyfriends would be so kind as to come to my office this afternoon at four, we can discuss the best way to spring an unbreakable Weasley trap.

Affectionately

Minerva.

*******

From: The brothers Dumbledore

To; Ex-girlfriend

Subject: Ah, memories

We will be there

A & A

*******

From: Aberforth

To: Hidden in plain sight

Subject: The plan

Your clever little plot is going pretty much as you predicted. Is there anything else you want me to do, to help assure success?

Abie

*******

From: (name withheld) Mmail address untraceable

To: Aberforth

Subject: Re: The plan

No, the Skeeter woman has been most cooperative; all the pieces are coming into place, and soon it will be over.

(Unsigned)

*******

From: Jordan

To: De-twins

Subject: Bad press

Have you seen the Prophet? Poor Ron!

Lee

*******

From: Tonks

To: The Minister of Magic

Subject: Emergency Codes One

Cancel all of your appointments for today, I am coming up to see you right now!

Arthur, brace yourself for some bad news

N

*******

From: Mr & Mrs Longbottom

To: Minister of Magic, Arthur Weasley

Subject: Whereabouts of Ron

Sir, my wife and I were expecting our old school chum your son Ronald to come for a visit after the publication of that Skeeter woman’s ‘article’.

However he is several hours overdue and frankly, we fear foul play. A ministry Auror was just here looking for my old classmate. Apparently the door to his flat was found kicked in and the apartment itself showed clear indications of a violent struggle.

Are you aware that Ron is missing? If so would you be so kind as to tell us if he shows up at the Burrow. We are both very worried

Thanks

Neville and Luna

*******

From: Your dad

To: His family (all)

Subject: Bad news (brace yourselves)

Your brother Ron was sometime today, kidnapped from his flat in Diagon Alley. No ransom note was found at the scene, nor has one turned up since or so I was informed.

The investigating Auror seems to feel that this is somehow connected to the upcoming Quidditch match between France and England.

I assure you all that everything that can be done, is being done

I will be staying late at my office tonight awaiting developments, along with the French ambassador who denies his country’s involvement.

Arthur

*******

Author parting note: I am very sorry for being so late in updating this story. My only excuse is to say that, Life got in the way. Work problems, car repairs, funerals, kids, grand kids and such mundane things as paying bills blocked my creative muse. Add to all of that was a load of unintended miscommunication with my betas and their own encounter’s with the same "Life Happens" that I ran into, resulted in the delay.

Again: sorry about that!

*******

To be continued, comments welcomed

Back to index

Chapter 3: opening gambit

Chapter three: opening gambit

5343 words, ... rated R, for strong sexual innuendo and language

Category: UA ... or it will be the moment book six of HP comes out

Summery: the players move into position

Warning: rubbing a sleeping dragons nose is a good way to get ate

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A/n: Again, all thanks to the PC’s of (Anya and Jeco) for the Mmail concept.

An: two - with deep regret this chapter is beta-less, drat I have been dumped again

>>>>>>>>>>>>>

From: (name withheld upon request) IP Address untraceable

To: The Entire Weasley Clan (encoded and scrambled)

Subject: Your missing brother

Warning: This message will self-delete after one reading by addressee

Ronald is safe and unharmed, and will remain so as long as you do the following. I assure you his abduction has nothing to do with the impending match with France.

I have taken this action, (the kidnapping) after becoming privy to your plans to crash a certain meeting tonight at Hogwarts. Your strict obedience of my terms is the only way to ensure your brothers ‘unharmed’ safe return:

(1) You are permitted to break into Hogwarts as planed. However, I deny you the right to hex first and ask questions later.

(2) Feel free to disarm or stupefy anyone who stands in your way, those expected to be in attendance consists of the following: (besides your sister and the Countess)

A) Both Dumbledore brothers

B) The current headmistress of Hogwarts

C) Two current teachers of Hogwarts (Snape and the dueling master)

(3) Remember to see your brother again physically intact, you must allow the French tart all the time she needs to explain herself, un-hexed.

Feel free to demand under threat of bodily harm a complete, a detailed explication (which you will audio record and film for me) from the faithless one as to what exactly your youngest brother did so wrong, to rate being so publicly humiliated and dumped.

(4) As her story will no doubt be unacceptable, As English Gentlemen I expect you to allow the Countess a reasonable head start before pursuit. If she is foolish enough to be caught by you lot after that... that would be just bad luck for her.

(5) After the meeting, I will arrange an exchange; your brother for the countess filmed self-humiliating confession suitable for publication, worldwide.

Remember your brother’s well being and return to you, unharmed, will all depend on your best behavior before and during this meeting.

(Unsigned)

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

From: N. Tonks chief of M.O.M. security detail

To: Shacklebolt, Kingsley C & C Auror department

Subject: Re (2): Your missing brother

How can whoever sent the message to my primary be so bloody untraceable? None of the most advanced spells I know seem to work. Who is this guy?

Tonks

 >>>>>>>>>>>>>

From: Shacklebolt, K

To: All Aurors, on duty and off.

Subject: Priority one alert

Nobody sleeps until the youngest son of the minister is back home and safe (before the match, understood). The note sent to the minister’s family may well be a hoax, intended to mislead us. Follow up any and all leads. This case gets solved yesterday

Do I make myself clear?

K

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

From: name withheld upon request, IP address untraceable

To: The Countess Claudette Maria de Ormon

Subject: For your information (read carefully)

Warning: This Mmail will self-delete after one reading by addressee

This mourning at 8:00 a.m. Paris time, your mother, the Countess Juliette de Ormon in the presence of her three-year (very discrete) twelve year younger lover Paul, passed away quietly in her sleep after a two-year battle with cancer.

Your father, the Count was (of course) not at her bedside, he was instead where he has been at this time of year for the last five years, at the Cannes film festival in the bed of the Duchess de Nemours the estranged wife of the Duke de Nemours.

This ‘lady’ and I use the term as loosely as the lady does herself, when it comes to the giving away her physical charms. Was and is, your father’s (on again - off again) unfaithful mistress. A position she held with your father the Count at the time you first put on the enchanted necklace, which changed you from Hermione Granger into what, you are now. As she already holds a noblewoman’s title as the Duchess de Nemours, and as your father is equally unlikely to marry again, as of this moment you are ‘the’ one and only Countess de Ormon.

This information is presented to you not as an attempt to distract you from your goals. You are painfully aware by now that your biological parents were never loving, toward you or each other. You lived their pleasure seeking; self-serving life style for five years and all it’s done has made you feel like a cheap easy to shag slag.

I have provided you with the means to break the Imperio curse that held you in your parent’s hedonistic life style. When you learned that your own father had hired the assassins sent to murder your former foster parents, this truth began to poke a hole in the magical prison that kept suppress your true self. You’re too long quashed and forcefully restrained feelings for a certain redhead from your past did the rest.

You have read his message to his family, you know he still loves the real you. Not the girl forced by the imperio curse to do hateful things to him, and live a life of sexual immorality so totally different from whom you really are at your core. A totally monogamous, one-man woman.

I have done all I can to help you. The Weasley clan will all be at Hogwarts to hear your story. You will not see Ron there, but you must speak as if he is tied down to a chair and gagged only feet away from you, a captive audience to your confession. Hermione Granger waited too long to confess her love for Ronald Weasley; this will be your one and only chance to shout it from the roof tops, loud and clear. For if you cannot convince the Weasley clan that you never really stopped loving him (*especially Ginny*) then what hope have you, to ever convince Ron himself in a face to face.

You cannot prove the existence of the imperio curse that was put on you, so don’t try. Concentrate on bringing out the Mione within you. They will ask questions, hard questions, be brutally honest in your answers, hide nothing, and evade no inquiry they make. It is your only chance to get through to them.

Remember to behave as if you are trying to convince Ron himself to take you back and less than total honesty spells failure. If you can convince no one else but Ginny, your chances to win back, the heart of her Brother Ron improves 1000 percent.

I have rambled long enough, the table is set, the pieces are moving, this is the hardest assignment of your life Ms. Granger, Countess de Ormon, failure for you is not an option.

(Unsigned)

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

As the Mmail faded away, the Countess de Ormon shook her head in amazement once again. She owed so much to this mysterious benefactor, without him or her; she would still be a mindless idyll rich, hedonistic French slag, incapable of loving anyone especially herself.

She wondered how her benefactor had known her two primary goals upon returning to England. The Mione part of the Countess didn’t take long to figure out that as she had told only two people, one of them must be in league with her benefactor. As only one of the two had a history of manipulating people for his own ends, Dumbledore became the prime suspect.

But why would he care? The answer after her few Mmail hints of Ginny’s was obvious, guilt! The old retired headmaster was feeling remorse for transforming a kind, gentle self-sacrificing boy into a disposable single use emotionless weapon who’s only reason for existence was to kill Voldemort. Perhaps even accepting the fact (without caring) that the effort would cost Harry’s life, thinking that sacrifice of one to save many was a small price to pay.

Dumbledore used people, the Countess realized only now, people like Harry, Ron and herself were all pawns on a chess board disposable pieces sacrificed so that the ex-headmaster could win whatever bigger game he himself was playing.

No wonder Ginny hated the man; the old geezer had tossed aside Harry’s life as acceptable loss, once his task was done. Why hadn’t she seen it, Dumbledore was a ruthless opponent to whom pawns meant nothing "the ends justifies the means"

"What a heartless geezer" she said aloud talking to herself

"Wait a minute ... bloody he**"

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.

From: Had a thought?

To: Your going to be mad at me

Subject: Whereabouts of your man

I was thinking about something and I think it only fair to let you in on it at the last minute, allowing a final chance to back out of this meeting, for reasons I will fully understand.

What if Dumbledore is behind this "he is alive" stuff and it is no more than a plot on the old mans part to get us to make up. Maybe even allow me the chance make peace with your family. For no other purpose than to ease his own guilty conscious?

Here is the kicker; it’s all a trick, as I recall from his Mmail that he never claimed to know more about ‘his’ whereabouts then anyone else. The message you received claiming he was alive was unsigned.

I really want to be your friend again, and will do almost anything to bring it about, but hiding my conclusions on this would be dishonest, and that I will never be to you

HG/CO

 >>>>>>>>>>>>>

From: Impressed

To: Do you know the risk you just took?

Subject: Re: whereabouts of your man

Great minds think alike, and thanks for your honesty. It was one of the things that I respected most about my friend Mione. I agree with you it could all be a hoax by that crafty old fox Dumbledore, but a tiny hope is better than none. Our meeting is still a go.

Gin

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Twenty minutes later

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

It was dark and foggy nearly the fence line that guarded the ‘Crater’ the only wizards historical park in England, when the Countess de Ormon apparated into the prearranged meeting point. Instinctively she drew out her wand, so many of the security arrangements had been compromised concerning this meeting that the Countess was aware of the danger that she could now be walking into a trap. She had come early with that possibility in mind, as she slowly turned all the way around, to check for a possible ambush, she became aware for the first time of two things:

(1) The presence of a life sized, prefect rendition, bronze statue of Harry Potter wand out in a dueling stance pointing at an unseen enemy. His wand and body pointed at the exact center of:

(2) A huge fifty feet in diameter twenty feet deep hole in the earth. This was the very site, of the last battle between Voldemort and Harry Potter.

Mademoiselle Claudette Ormon had never found the time in her hedonistic life style, not-once in the last three years to come visit this place. Not once in all that time had she come to pay final respect to the memory of the champion of righteousness. One of only two boys out of the entire Hogwarts school male student population, who had taken the time to look beyond the insufferable know-it-all to see the lonely, shy girl desperate for friends. And it was at this moment that it happened.

For the very first time in five long years, Claudette Ormon was startled by the sensation of tears pouring down her cheeks. The same Imperius curse that had robbed her of her past had stolen away her tears; now, she had them back again.

She was crying, sobbing in grief for her friend Harry Potter. Grief she had been incapable of at the time of his death now poured out of the former Hermione Granger like the flood gates of a dam abruptly thrown open all the way. She dropped to her knees in front of the statue of her friend as a wave of personal guilt all but overwhelmed her.

"I wasn’t here, ... when you needed me most Harry," she wailed out loud

"I let you down ... and I am so very-very sorry"

She was still sobbing in all but uncontrollable grief and guilt when a voice popped inside her head saying:

"Why do you cry woman, he has been gone for three years now?"

Startled Claudette leaped to her feet, wand at the ready, only to see it fly out of her hand across the opening near the statue and into the gloved hand of a faceless fully hooded robed man.

"I am professor Evander, I was sent to meet you" the voice declared in her mind. "You were told of my coming were you not? ... Do not be afraid, I will not harm you, on the contrary I am here to protect you," the unspoken voice declares as the hooded professor offered Claudette her wand back, handle first.

"Come we must not delay, there are Weasleys in Hogsmead searching for you, so we must go around the village"

As silent as a ghost the hooded figured moved off at a brisk pace, which was surprising considering, as Claudette could plainly see that whoever professor Evander was he clearly moved with a limp.

"Excuse me professor but we have never met before, so forgive me for asking. Who are you and what do you teach?"

"I am not surprised you don’t remember me Countess, I don’t look as I did when we were both students at Hogwarts. I too am a veteran of the last battle with he who wasn’t to be named."

" Many died that day and some lived like myself, who would have been far better off to have died along side the honorably fallen dead on the field of glory."

"I should not complain as I do really, I at least got out Saint Mungo, I at least have a teaching position at Hogwarts while so many of my comrades in arms are still in hospital forgotten by the public, family and friends."

"Deformed, the lot of us, by some hideous spell the Dark Lord came up within those final months. Be grateful Countess for my hooded robes. Otherwise, you would have lost your supper by now."

"As a matter of fact, that was the reaction of my fiancée upon seeing me for the first time in hospital. Ran straight to the loo she did, never came back. I don’t blame her ... mind you, I know full well the unspeakable monster I have become. But enough about me, lord knows I haven’t been this candid about myself in an age."

"As to what I teach, well you could say I took up from where your friend left off. I am the dueling master at Hogwarts. It’s a relatively new position only two-year’s old. Basically it’s the legal form of the old Defense Association club that the late Harry Potter formed to teach students how to defend themselves. The war proved its worth and the board of governors approved the new post a year after the end of hostilities."

"So you believe that Harry Potter is dead?" Claudette asked with thick French accented English, crying softly

"Most people believe that Mademoiselle, in spite of the fact that they never found even the tiniest fraction of his corpse." And as with a flash the voice left her mind.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

They walked on into the night in silence after that, encountering no one, coming into the castle itself by a means unknown to a woman who had spend almost six years in the castle. This meant that the dueling master knowledge of the secret passageways surpassed even the famous marauders of old, an impressive feat in itself.

The Countess was the first of the two young women to arrive at the great hall, and at it end standing alone, stood a surprisingly attractive Professor McGonagall. The gray and white streaks in her hair that the Hermione Granger part of the Countess Ormon mind recalled so clearly was gone, as were the age lines on her face and hands. Seeing the look of surprise on her guest’s face, the Headmistress of Hogwarts smiled and said.

"The stern old woman face is a useful tool at times, you of all people should know that we women wear different faces for different people."

"Still my teacher after all these years" the countess said with a smile and a bow of respect

"Have you prepared yourself? Your audience is just outside the walls. It is only a matter of time before Fred and George find a way inside my wards and into this very room," The headmistress declared.

"I know the risk Minerva," addressing the headmistress as an equal for the first time.

"Both Albus and Aberforth have a surprise awaiting for our uninvited visitors, but I must warn you, underestimating a Weasley is always a foolish thing to do" the older woman said.

"Yes it is, and that is yet another crime I am guilty of. Underestimating my Weasley, a boy and then a man who could hold on to a first true love without flinching for five years after what I did to him was clearly a keeper. I know I am unworthy of such a love, as much as I know how badly I desire it. Doesn’t that make me the biggest of all time fools? " The Countess asked as fresh tears rolled down her cheeks.

"No child" the headmistress said with honest warmth "It just proves at last, to my satisfaction at least, that you truly do love him. But I am not the one who you need to convince of this. Getting you to him will be a thousand times more difficult, but where I can give aid you can count on me."

"That takes your supporters up to two" calls a voice from behind the countess, and spinning around for the first time in five years the former Hermione came face to face with a fully grown, into an adult woman, Ginny Weasley.

All traces of the little girl were gone, but there was beauty here in face and form. But like even the best made bejeweled encrusted sword there was a sharp edge to be found in Ginny’s eyes. She had been sharp enough to keep all six of her brothers in fear and awe of her, making them overly protective of someone they knew in their heart of hearts needed no protecting. The jewel-encrusted sword was a wonder when new; its edge due to war was now all the sharper.

The Countess saw all this and more in Ginny’s sad eyes, for although the face was smiling at her, Ginny’s eyes showed a loss, an ongoing pain; no one could ever lessen except one.

But there in the in the very center of her pupil, the countess saw a tiny flicker of a twinkle, and instinctively knew what it was... HOPE ... the last dying amber’s of faith that her beloved still lived.

Claudette knew she was taking a huge chance as with tears pouring down her cheeks and out stretched arms she gave a hug to her old friend. At first Ginny stiffen at the Countess touch, but Claudette had not been the only one who had learned to read eyes so her aloofness didn’t last long.

As Ginny body began to relax the softer side of the young woman came out and with it conditional forgiveness for all her ex-best mate had done. She wanted a full explication of the why Hermione had done what she had done and she also wanted her old friend back.

The important thing was that Ginny was bringing more than an open mind to this meeting. After overhearing the exchange between McGonagall and her old friend, she too now believed that whoever she was Claudette or Hermione, the Countess Mione was hopelessly in love with her brother Ron, and for the moment, that was enough for Ginny.

Unnoticed by both now crying young women, in the shadows by a pillar. Having become a master of hiding in plain sight, with a skill level that easily outstretched the best stealth abilities at tracking of the finest Auror.

The fully hooded dueling master, in a very uncharacteristic manner, openly stared spellbound at the profile of a very attractive apprenticed healer. After a few minutes the shoulders of the hooded man began to move in the manner of someone silently sobbing his heart out. Finally without being noticed the dueling master silently slipped out of the great hall.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

From: Lee Jordan

To: The twins

Subject: No luck

Had an Auror friend of mine who owed me a huge favor for excusing him to his Misses. For a night when instead of being in a friendly card game with me. Was in reality doing the nasty with a pub waitress, who works at the ‘Leaky Cauldron’.

As payback to me, this highly skilled Auror slipped undetected in your brothers flat when both he and his half Veela wife were out.

I told you two I wouldn’t wait around for you lot, to get my pictures back, so I acted on my own accord.

His detection proof safe was easy to locate for an Auror and although there were several blackmail suitable items inside concerning members of his family, including you two, none of the items on the list I provided where there. So my friend took nothing and left.

Therefore I am compelled to conclude that although Bill has full knowledge of the pictures, he does not actually control the physical evidence. Which means there are three options possible? (1) He has the stuff in a bank safe deposit box unknown to anyone but himself. (2) A friend is keeping it for him. (3) He doesn’t have the stuff, someone else in your family does and is letting him use the information for bluffing us.

Just to give you a hint on the last one, which Weasley considers Bill ‘her’ favorite brother?

If as I suspect, I am correct concerning the Weasley thief who so easily emptied our ever so secret vault. I offer this as a warning to you two as my best mates. Go easy on your sister during your chat with concerning the company she is keeping. If you get her upset enough, the only company at night you lot may find yourself with, will be each other... as in ... the dog house

Lee

 >>>>>>>>>>>>

From: Gred and Forge

To: Best mate and partner

Subject: Re: No-luck

You devil, planed and executed a break-in all on your own, we cry with joy at our protege first independent action, well done. In spite of your apparent total lack of success.

Your conclusions as to the identity of the real thief are also inescapable as she is the only one of the Weasley clan to actually used stuff she has on us on more than one occasion to protect dear William from our wrath.

With that in mind, we were wondering if you would like to join the family, accompanied with the former mademoiselle De Lacour on a seek-and-destroy mission against the French tart who ripped out, our little brother’s heart.

Ginny is in her company and it would allow you a convenient opportunity to negotiate the return of your pictures as a separate item from the other any other items taken from kinfolk.

As we see no reason for her to keep blackmail material against you or the lady, she may be reasonable. We move within the hour, let us know if you’re in or out.

De-Twins

>>>>>>>

From: (name withheld by request), IP address untraceable

To: The vengeful twins

Subject: Getting into the castle.

Warning: This message will self-delete after a single reading by addressee

Most if not all of the secret passageways into Hogwarts are either watched, warded or both. There is however a newly discovered passageway as yet unknown to the headmistress that you might consider. The entrance is located near the gamekeeper’s hut, in the form of an outcropping of rock. Tap the smaller of the three boulders twice and say "mischief" and a tunnel will be revealed leading to the hallway outside of professor Snape potions’ classroom.

I give this information at a price, remember my terms as before, take what revenge you want on the frog Countess, but only AFTER I get my humiliating confession on film.

For providing you with a previously unknown way into the Castle, you can repay your debt to me by having the mademoiselle describe in detail "ON FILM" her many failed relationships. The more it is embarrassing to the Countess the better.

(Unsigned)

 >>>>>>>>>>>

From: Gred and Feorge

To: Entire family except Gin and Ron

Subject: Untraceable messages

We have all been receiving messages (M-mails) that lead Gred and myself to believe (without an ounce of proof) that the great slag of all time, that scum Skeeter woman is behind Ron’s kidnapping. They’re several hints to support this conclusion.

Her demand, for a filmed and audio recorded ‘humiliating’ confession by the Countess, good enough to be published in newspapers. Would only be useful to someone out for revenge on said Countess, for things done to the Skeeter woman say, during the reporting of the tri-wizard tournament the year poor Harry won it?

If you all agree with our reasoning, our question is this. If our main goal in doing what we believe to be the Skeeter salt wants is to get Ronniekins back safe and sound. Do we care how humiliated the Countess Tart ends up looking when all is said and done?

De Twins

 >>>>>>>>>>>>

From: Molly

To: The family except Ron and Gin

Subject: Victory party guest lists.

As I informed you all earlier, I will not be attending your little welcome home festivities for the ‘frog’ Countess. However this does not mean that I do not wish to see wizard style moving pictures of any party games you may have planed for the guest of honor.

After giving the lady a proper send off (see Arthur, I can keep my temper) you and those of your friends. Who had a hand in tarring and feathering the slag faced French Harlot. Sticking her onto a rail before port-keying her arse right out of England (oh dear, sorry Arthur, maybe your right after all about my anger over this)

You are all welcome to come to the newly rebuilt burrow for a better party than the one you gave the cow who destroyed the loving heart of my youngest son and your brother. There will be food and butter-beer a-plenty. The current list has 18 names on it, if any more are coming let me know please, remember dears only those individuals who take a direct hand in:

" Forcefully reminding the French tramp of her mistake," earns the right to butter-beer and cake.

Love, hugs and motherly gratitude.

Mum

P.s.: Bill Dear, I still don’t have a list of your friends who will be attending this party. I need to know how many refreshments to prepare. Please reply ASAP

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From: Dad (level one ministry scramble code alpha one)

To: My favorite daughter

Subject: They are heading your way

Fwd: Victory party guest lists

Little one, I hope your friends are ready for the gatecrashers, there appears to be more than twenty-four coming, which will make this a really big show.

But, whatever happens to the French tart isn’t my worry, you are. Please Gin-Gin do not go heroic and get between them and their prey, you’ll get hurt.

Love: Your Father

>>>>>>>>> 

From: The Weasley on the wrong side of the fence

To: The best daddy in the world

Subject: Re: Victory party guest lists

Thanks for the heads up, the number of gate crashers has all here a little concerned, even the Dumbledore duo, but if what you say is true, she will at least have her say before all He&% breaks out.

Wish us both luck, yes ‘us’ daddy. I haven’t heard the why or wherefore yet, but one thing I do know for absobloodylutely sure. She (whatever name she decides to keep) is head over heels in love with our Ron as he still is with her. And Dammit (oops... sorry dad) at least half of the fantastic four of Hogwarts will see happily ever after, even if I never do.

You’re loving daughter

Ginny

>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Meanwhile down in the deserted dungeon hallways, the plot thickens

>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Ginny had barely sent the m-mail, when four levels beneath her feet a portion of a dungeon wall began to fold into itself. Each separate stone turning and twisting into a whole new position forming into a stone arch in an almost identical way, the wall behind the Leaky Cauldron does when opening into Diagon Alley.

Two side by side wands came out the darkness held by two identical twins. Both boys with the same serious expression on their faces, and a serious expression on either of the twin’s faces hadn’t been seen on them by anyone since the war. Behind them, came row after row of family and friends, twenty-seven in all. Each and every one of them a war veteran, each having fought death-eaters, Dementors, trolls and giants during the last battle of the Voldemort war. A fact over looked by those upstairs.

When the last of the revenge seekers passed through the opening, the stones began to move again, twisting and turning back into the solid wall it was before the change. The attackers knew the ground upon which they were to fight, and moved into battle formations taught to them by Harry Potter himself in the old forbidden defense association club. Those above, particularly Albus Dumbledore in his overconfidence in his own fading magical powers had dangerously underestimated the fighting abilities of witches and wizards trained by Harry Potter.

The invaders had breached the walls of Hogwarts Castle. In numbers alone they held an almost three to one advantage over the defenders. Just as Ginny had predicted, Fred and George had indeed gotten around the Wards that Headmistress McGonagall had put up.

They had help doing it, mysterious anonymous help, but that didn’t bother their prankster’s pride. They were much too wrapped up in thoughts of revenge to be distracted by such a minor detail as that. In fact the twins very single mindedness was to prove to be their undoing, for none of the attackers coming out of the wall, bothered to give more than the briefest of glances down the dead end corridor they had come out off. Seeing that no counter attack could come from the apparently empty corridor, they didn’t give much attention to it.

They did not see, because ‘he’ didn’t want them to, the faceless fully hooded and robed dueling master of Hogwarts, who stood silently in the shadows counting the opposition as they passed.

‘This is more than that old fool upstairs expected’ Evander thought to himself. ‘And they are all combat veterans, another thing I am betting he wasn’t counting on.’ The dueling master chuckled silently to himself. ‘After all these years of armchair generalship it will be interesting to see how the old deceiver handles a battle with the odds so strongly stacked against him.’

Waiting a moment more before proceeding, with all the noise of a ninja on the hunt, in spite of his limp. The speechless and blind, crippled dueling master, with the silent surprising speed which had always come to be a shock to students in his classes, drew his wand and began to follow the invaders up to the great Hall. While at the same time sending a telepathic message to Aberforth Dumbledore, who was four levels above him.

"They are here, twenty-seven in all, combat veterans from the war."

"They have broken off into two groups and are coming up the east and south stairways from the lower dungeon area heading for the great hall."

"I am in a position to their rear and my presence is unknown to them."

"When they attack, so shall I. Whatever you and your brother have come up with had better be really good. Bagging this crew won’t be easy. "

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An: … Sorry about the errors, I am a storyteller not a proofreader. I have other chapters in the can equally non-beta read or corrected. So if you wish to run the risk of hurting your eyes as I slaughter the Queens English, only your reviews will encourage me enough to continue this form of written abuse.

For those readers who feel there is a HP story inside you, make sure you find someone to beta for you, a friend you know well and will no forget about your existence. I had such kind souls helping me until real life made demands on their time. Believe me, they make all the difference in the world to a good story

So now I leave it up to you readers, is the tale worth the pain of my spelling and bad grammar, your reviews will decide the fate of this tale.

To be continued, upon request

Back to index

Chapter 4: A little hope is better than None

Chapter four: A little hope is better than none

7146 words (plus) ... Rated: R for sexual innuendo and language

Category: AU - (or will be) as soon as book six comes out

Summary: Story takes place six years after Goblet of Fire. All characters are Adults

Warning: biggest chapter so far ... pack a lunch

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A/n # 1: Again I must give all praise to (Anya) of ‘Naked Quidditch’ and (Jeco) of ‘This Means War’ for inspiring what you are reading now. Please- please, take the time to seek out theses two great works and see their brilliance. (I am not worthy to be in such great company, not with all my spelling and grammar errors)

A/n #2: Again I am flying solo, meaning without a proof reading beta. Remember, you have been warned

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A little known fact about warfare, especially when engaged in by professionals. Firefights don’t take long and except for the spell words, little if any idle chatter is done by the combatants. The battle of the great hall was just such a firefight, silent and serious. But both sides had their share of surprises.

The defense plan by the brothers Dumbledore was brilliant, however the attack plan by the Weasley twins was slightly better. Not as good as it would have been had Ron formulated it and the twins knew it. When it came to battle or quidditch tactics there was no one in all England better than their little brother, a source of great family pride for the entire Weasley clan.

The Dumbledore trap was sprung; a wall of magical wards surrounded the invaders but only briefly, for George and Fred had expected the old headmaster to try something like this and had come prepared to counter it. When the ward wall disappeared, the battle broke down to a straight dueling match. In other words it became a battle of skill verus numbers.

On the side of the Countess was two very old men, nearly one hundred and sixty years old, both of them admittedly no longer in their prime. With them stood the current Headmistress of Hogwarts School of witchcraft and wizardry Minerva McGonagall, along with two of her most trusted teachers Severus Snape the potions master and James Evander the dueling master.

Evander’s attack on their rear was the only unexpected surprise on the invaders. But as any student of history can tell you, when all other things balance out, the side with the most troops wins. The Countess had seven including herself, the twins had twenty-five to help them out, and the long and short of it was, in the end, overwhelming numbers won out.

This was never a fight to the death for either side and all the casualties of the great hall battle would have the next day to remember it by were a few broken bones and a lot of strained muscles and headaches. The entire battle from start to finish had lasted less than ten minutes and ended with all of the Countess Ormon’s defenders disarmed, unconscious, and rendered helpless by a Petrificus totalus full body binds.

Only Ginny somewhat rumpled and bruised and the Countess de Ormon in a similar condition, (*both of them now wandless*), had been left standing when the vengeful victors the ‘Weasley Revenge Alliance’ found themselves in command of the field of battle. After making sure that the castles defenders were tied up hand and foot, their wands locked in box brought along for just this purpose.

Then and only then did the attention of the Weasley clan and their friends turn to the French tart that had all but destroyed the emotional soul of their little brother. Bill was the first one to reach the Countess, after the wand firefight finished. Although he could not bring himself to torture the not quite twenty-one year old woman with a ‘unforgivable’ curse, as that would have landed him in prison. There was no law in the wizard world about altering the Countesses perfect facial features with his fists.

The blow however never landed. The full force balled fist punch went only as far as a fraction of an inch from the unflinching face of Mademoiselle Claudette de Ormon, there it was abruptly halted, mid air. Stopped cold by an unspoken spell that instantly transformed Bill Weasley into a living statue, frozen in time.

A moment later the tables had turned on the victorious invaders of Hogwarts castle. They found themselves disarmed by the expelliarmus spell, forcefully sat down in chairs, then tied up with ropes by the mobilicorpus spell in four neat, evenly spaced rows, right alongside the still unconscious defenders.

Although awake, (*most of them anyway*), none of them could move. They could see and hear what was going on, but could neither speak or move a muscle to interfere with the only two people left in the Great Hall, who had been deliberately untouched by the spell that rendered everyone else helpless. Ginny Weasley and the Countess Ormon.

To do what had just happened to one or two people at the same time was possible if difficult. To the same thing simultaneously to twenty-seven was down right inconceivable and bespoke of a level of magical power that none in the great hall dare claim, save one.

He made his appearance now, becoming visible for the first time in the only undisturbed by battle, portion of the great Hall. Dressed completely in a faceless-hooded black robe that reminded all that saw it of the garments of a death-eater. As tall (seven feet) and as thin as a dementor, his hands hidden inside the folds of his robes, he surveyed the scene shaking his head in mild disappointment.

"Really Countess" a deep clearly disguised voice declared. "I hope your story lives up to the pains I have gone through to bring this improbable gathering together."

"Who are you?" Claudette asked

"It is not for you to ask questions tonight. You are here to explain yourself to others, is that not true?" The tall dark robed wizard said turning to face the Countess.

Raising his wand hand, still entirely hidden by his robes, without a sound and only the tiniest of wand movements two chairs moved into the center of the hall. One chair came to rest in front of the four rows of chairs, which held the invaders and defenders. Without being told, Ginny moved over to this chair and sat down instinctively knowing it was hers to sit in. The other chair was actually more of a stool for it bore little resemblance to the most comfortable chair in the hall, the one coincidentally Ginny now found herself sitting in, and far less comfortable than those being used by the rest of the Claudette’s ‘captive’ audience.

No one in the room recognized the stool or its placement in the great hall until after it was all over. For it was no ordinary stool, it was in fact the same stool set up in the same place it was set up every year at Hogwarts, for the beginning of term house sorting ceremony.

In a raised position above her ‘audience’ The Countess Claudette Maria de Ormon age twenty years sat facing the trial of her life. In front of the former Miss Hermione Granger, on her right sat Ginny with her kinfolk and their friends in four neat rows sitting behind her. On her left in an empty space all alone stood the Tall dark wizard would had made this dreamed of explanation possible... and then it clicked. Her eyes went wide with realization.

"I know who you are!" she said trembling a little.

"Do you now?" the wizard, asked

"Yes, you’re my anonymous informant, the one who sent me all those owls and m-mails. The one who helped me break free of the Imperio curse attached to this dam unremovable necklace?"

"Why would I do all this for you?" the dark robed wizard asked.

"That is the one thing, that I haven’t been able to figure out. I cannot for the life of me see what you could gain by all of this. Unless you get some pleasure out of being a witness to my total humiliation." The Countess declared with a thick French accent.

"Thank you very much for reminding me," the wizard said with a slight bow, and with another slight flip of his wand. About a dozen still and video cameras appeared floating unsupported in mid air, pointed toward the Countess. While at the same time three muggle style microphones appeared hovering less than a foot in front and a half a foot below her chin.

"The Weasleys were suppose to do this for me, but didn’t keep their part of our little deal. No matter, I was here to make sure it happened."

"You’re going to publish this?" the Countess asked shocked

"You wanted your chance to come clean, well here it is. I never said there wouldn’t be a cost to you, now did I? The dark robed wizard chuckled in an evil way. Atonement always comes at a price Countess. If your precious Ronald was in this room right now tied in a chair like theses others, would these cameras get in the way of your begging him to take you back?"

"No of course not" the countess replied shocked.

"Then kindly remember what I told you, act as if he is here now. Consider this Countess, sooner of later, Ronald Weasley will see these filmed proceedings, along with the rest of the wizarding world. His family has no right to prevent him from seeing it. It may be cruel of me, and very humiliating for you, but I can think of no other way for you to make your case to him. Whether or not I will be successful in this little ploy of mine, shall all depend on how convincing you are right now"

"As to what I personally get out of all this, let us just say that I made a promise to a dead hero, to see to it his friends find the happiness, that life denied him."

Hearing theses words, the tiny flicker of hope inside Ginny died, and she hung her head down and began to cry, her shoulders and then her whole body shook, as her last shred of hope began to fade.

"Ginevra, why do you weep" the dark robed wizard asked clearly deeply concerned

"It was all a lie, the Mmail you sent to me to get me here" Gin said sobbing

"Girl, I sent you no Mmail. Most of my correspondences has been with the Countess"

Hearing this both young woman’s heads snapped so hard in the direction of the dark hooded wizard that their necks would be sore later.

"You’re not the ‘Secret Keeper’ who contacted us today?" Claudette asked her hopes rebuilding as fast as Ginny’s.

"Are you trying to insult me Countess, or are you deaf?" the wizard asked. "I just told Miss Weasley that I have not been in Mmail contact with her. After all I have done for you, why is my truthfulness being questioned now?"

"A tiny hope is better than none, old friend," Claudette said with a sad grin to her old school chum. "If my humiliation is the price needed to restore to you that which was lost, it is indeed a small price to pay."

"Alright my dear patron, I am ready to begin" the Countess said squaring her shoulders in the same way Hermione Granger would do when facing an unpleasant task.

"Not yet my protege, allow me to awake first, a few who should hear this." and with a flick of his wand and saying aloud ‘enervate’ the brothers Dumbledore and headmistress awoke with a start leaving only professors Snape and Evander still apparently unconscious.

"I hope you don’t mind, I don’t know Evander at all, and well, ... I could never stand Severus as a person. So I will let them sleep through this," the dark wizard said in explication for leaving the two Hogwarts professors unconscious.

"Don’t feel bad, none of us liked professor Snape all that much anyway" Ginny said dry eyed her hope restored.

The dark robed wizard turned his hooded head toward Ginevra upon hearing her words and stood staring at the nineteen-year-old for a minute unnerving the apprenticed healer who squirmed uncomfortably in her chair. As if sensing her discomfort the hooded figure turned back his attention to the guests bound, speechless and sitting in four neat rows of chairs.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>

"Listen carefully all of you," the tall thin wizard declared in a loud clear voice as all the floating magical cameras clicked on. "You have been brought here to hear the confession of the Countess Claudette Maria de Ormon formerly known to you, one and all, as Hermione Jane Granger. She will in her own words tell you why she felt compelled to behave so badly to those she cared so much for, after putting on for the first time the very same necklace she wears tonight."

"What she won’t tell you is the history of that particular necklace, for she herself does not know it. That is my tale to tell and is one of the primary reasons for my involvement in a series of events, which lead, to this little gathering. You see this necklace is an especially enchanted bit of jewelry. The red ruby in its center remains red until the wearer finds their one and only true love. The one man out of millions that the three sisters of ancient Greece, called the fates, declare to be the perfect life mate, mind body and soul of the necklace wearer."

"Until that prefect match is found two things happen, (one) the necklace remains on the wearer, unable to be removed by any means. And (two) the wearer is barren, incapable of conceiving a child, until the perfect father for such a child is found. As a side product of this charm, the necklace makes finding the perfect man an obsession for the wearer. It has taken me nearly two years of research, to discover this necklace’s history and the means to remove it."

"Once the wearer comes of age, the charm begins its work. Only when the perfect match for the necklace wearer is found, does the red ruby transforms into a "true blue" sapphire and the necklace automatically opens and drops off. If you all will take a good hard look, you will see that the gem in the center of the necklace around the Countess de Ormon throat is still blood red."

"The Count and Countess de Ormon made a couple of huge mistakes nineteen years ago by using this particular necklace as the magical keeper of Ms. Granger’s secret real identity as their daughter."

"In questioning the Count a year ago, concerning its history, he confessed to know only that it was a family heirloom that had been in the Ormon family for several hundred years. He and his wife I have confirmed, knew nothing of its magical qualities, then or now. The family de Ormon were living in England nineteen years ago when there then almost one year old daughter came under threat of kidnapping by death-eaters."

"It was part of a complex plot of the Dark Lord’s a breeding project to use kidnapped pure-blood children to create a master race of pure blood witches and wizards, all raises to be his devoted followers and death-eaters. Its similar to what a mental muggle named ‘Hitler’ tried to do to other muggles called Germans during the nineteen forties."

"To protect their only offspring they decided to use a French variation of the fidelius charm where the secret keeper is not a person, but rather a thing. They most unwisely chose the necklace you see the Countess wearing now, for this purpose."

"Then with the pure blood arrogance that would have made a Malfoy proud, they decided to hide their daughter not with a wizard family were their precious child might face death from a random death-eater attack. No, with all magic-folk out of consideration, they decided to hide their little girl in an otherwise barren muggle family."

"They chose the Granger’s by pure luck of the draw. They didn’t bother to look into their background at all, beyond the fact that they where the right age, had recently moved and had few if any family or friends. They modified their memories without giving a thought about the rights of the muggles whose minds they were toying with. The Granger’s were mere pawns to the Ormon. English peasants who could be used and discarded without a thought. They used magic to convince them that the Ormon baby girl was in fact their child. The fact that the barren Granger’s wanted nothing more in life than a baby of their very own, powerfully reinforced their magically altered memories."

"A secondary ‘plus’ for the French variation over the English one, is the fact that the physical appearance of the one under the charm would automatically match the family they were hiding with. Only when the ‘Fidelius charm’ ends, does the true physical appearance of the blood parents become dominate once again. This explains the abrupt physical change in Hermione when she put the necklace on for the first time, five years ago."

"If the arrogant Count and Countess first mistake was in picking the wrong heirloom to enchant, then there second one was their belief that Voldemort of nineteen years ago was unstoppable. For what you may not realize is the fact that the French variation of the ‘Fidelius Charm’ can be locked into a set period of time, such as: weeks, months, and even years. Keeping whomever is under it, safe for the duration of its magical internal timer. As the Ormon themselves would also be effected by the timer and not know themselves with whom they had left their child, setting the timer became the Achilles heel of their plan."

"By thinking Voldemort was unbeatable the Count and Countess wanted their little girl to be almost a full-grown witch before the charm ended. They’re thought being that a teenage child would no longer be in any need of either physical protection or the parenting skills that they knew they would never possess."

"But the Dark Lord wasn’t unbeatable, for less than two months after invoking the fidelius Charm on their only child, the great and powerful Voldemort ran into an enemy he couldn’t defeat. A tiny, green eyed, helpless baby, the ‘boy who lived’ Harry James Potter. Suddenly their enemy was gone in a flash, leaving the Count and Countess trapped by there own cleverness, with their only child lost to them for a minimum of fifteen years."

"Now this French couple weren’t entirely stupid, they realized the danger in waiting so long to get their daughter back. By that age Hermione may have become so deeply attached emotionally to her muggle foster parents that the Claudette buried inside the fidelius charm, might have little if any interest in her ‘real’ blood parents."

"So this is where I think that the (non-provable) forbidden curse on the necklace comes in. I believe and admittedly cannot prove that the Ormon family ‘hedged their bet’ so to speak with a legally unforgivable as well as very powerful French variation of the Imperio curse. Which would compel their child to violently reject her English past."

"Now I know all of you who are listening to me are asking yourselves, why didn’t the effects of the Imperio curse show itself at once, as English victims of that particular curse do. Her physical change was immediate and abrupt almost to the second she put the necklace on in fact. As to why she didn’t march right out of Hogwarts at once, my answer is, I don’t know. Perhaps the mental take over of Hermione’s mind was designed to be subtle, or perhaps she resisted its influences on her personality for a time. Remember she put on the necklace in September and didn’t storm out of everyone lives, vowing never to return, until December."

"Her departure and the shattered soul she left in her wake, left bitter feelings in the hearts of anyone who remembers the Ronald Weasley of before the suddenly revelation that his girlfriend and fiancée was a foster child. This bitterness and the events in Ronald’s life after Claudette’s departure has clouded this issue long enough."

"I spent almost two years gathering my information on the necklace, most of my options on how the charmed jewelry was used; especially the variation of the Imperio curse attached to it is pure conjecture I admit that. One of the two people capable of confirming any of this just passed away and the laws against self incrimination, both French and English forbid me forcing the Count to take a truth potion again."

"Yes I said again, as in a second time. I admit that I have broken our law and as there were no cameras running the first time only the Count and I know what was said. His word against mine I am afraid, and yes I know that any evidence taken under duress is inadmissible and all that rot. Had I asked the right questions or known the correct dosage who knows what I could have learned."

"Water under the bridge now, I suppose. I will finish this up now so that we can let the Countess tell her own story. Three years ago I believed as you do now, that the woman sitting on that stool was a heartless self absorbed slag unworthy of any consideration. Then something happened to me, which gave me almost a year free of any other distraction except self-examination."

"My mind kept drifting back to that period of time when Hermione Granger transformed into a completely different person in attitude as well as appearance. Mademoiselle Claudette Marie de Ormon didn’t even sound the same as Englishwoman Hermione Jane Granger and after reviewing in my mind every moment that went into so drastic a personality and attitude shift. I became convinced that the change in her was not a natural one.

"Once I realized that the necklace had taken over the body and mind of Miss Granger. I became determined to help Claudette crack the Imperio curse. A spell that has held Hermione a prisoner in her own body for almost five years. I helped her to allow more and more of her true self, the ‘Hermione" trapped inside Claudette to show through."

"Hear her out with an open mind, which is all I ask ... Thank you."

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Having finished his little speech and noting more than a few looks of interest, in the eyes of about a third of his prisoners. The tall thin hooded wizard turn once more back to the Countess. Where she sat on the stool, who along with the others had heard the history for the necklace for the first time. She now sat spellbound, slacked jawed openly staring at her benefactor unable to think of the implications of what had been said bounced around the inside of her head. Finally finding her voice she asked:

"Why didn’t I think of this? It all makes perfect sense, the way you put it."

"Why? The wizard replied. Let me answer your question with a question. How many books have you read in the last year?"

"Books," the Countess said "why none, who has had time with all that has been happening"

Turning back to those still tied down in their chairs the faceless hooded wizard said:

"Those of you who remember Hermione at all, before the change. Doesn’t it strike you as odd that the insufferable know-it-all, who for her entire history at Hogwarts always had her nose in a book, hasn’t read even one in a whole year?"

This comment got just the reaction that the tall thin hooded wizard had been hoping for. For the captive audience couldn’t help but see his point. This was indeed totally out of character for the Hermione Granger they all remembered, and it was now that the mysterious wizard provided the coup de maitre (the masterstroke)

"Tell me Countess, after leaving Hogwarts your sixth year, did you ever finish your formal education?" the wizard.

"No, I didn’t see the need to at the time, after all I had a full social calendar full of gatherings with my peers of the French nobility, to attend to." Claudette said automatically without realizing how out of character that was for Hermione, to whom schoolwork always came first.

Even Claudette, in light of the progress she had made in the last months in breaking free of the Imperio curse which had suppressed the Hermione part of her personality. Was hopelessly shocked by the words pouring out of her mouth.

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From: Colin Creevey, reporter and photographer for the Daily Prophet

To: Neville and Luna Longbottom

Subject: Attack on the rebuilt Burrow

Hold on to you hats old friends; I just got back from an official trip to the Weasley burrow (rebuilt after being destroyed during the war) on behalf of my newspaper. You may have heard about the Ronald Weasley kidnapping earlier today as reported by the prophet, well guess what? Ron’s mum has now also turned up missing. The Minister (her husband) is simply furious, and is calling this is the worst incident since the war. Foul play is of course suspected.

In fact none of the Weasley clan can be found, Fred and George shop is closed up tight, three hours early. I just went over to Ginny’s flat and her flat-mate Hannah Abbott says that Ginny left sometime this afternoon for an appointment and doesn’t know when she will be back.

Now I know full well that Fred and George are more than capable of taking care of themselves, Ginny too for that matter. But that doesn’t stop me from being worried about her, please let me know if you hear anything.

Colin

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From: Shacklebolt, Kingsley

To: Special task force Weasley kidnapping

cc: N. Tonks

Subject: Authorization

Have just received the green light for the round up and interrogation of Rita Skeeter and any and all of her known associates.

Tonks you are reassigned from the minister’s security team as of now! I am putting you in charge of the twin disappearances of Ron and Molly. Your being given a free hand in this, in exchange for sooner than otherwise expected results.

Take the gloves off Nymphadora, I will back you one thousand percent if you step on any toes. Just get the Ministers wife and son back alive and whole. P. D. Q..

Kingsley

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From; Rita Skeeter

To: Percival Weasley, fourth undersecretary to the director of Archives, Ministry of Magic

Subject: Comment request

Do you have any comment to make on the twin disappearance of your mother and youngest brother? It has been suggested that you are not all that upset at their kidnappings due to the bad blood between you and your family dating back to the war.

I will be glad for the opportunity to print your side of this family dispute. Especially concerning any bitterness you may feel in regards to your lack of advancement within the ministry since your fathers three-time re-election to the post of Minister of Magic

Awaiting your reply

R Skeeter

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From: Tony Blair, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

To: Arthur Weasley Minister of Magic UK

Subject: Diplomatic problem

I just received a most urgent request from the office of the president de France. Apparently my counterpart across the channel has been pressured to help the Count Henri Charles de Ormon locate his only child the Countess Claudette Maria who I understand is of legal age and is on a shopping trip here in England.

The letter I received from the French implied that you have a personal animosity toward the girl and have even threatened her life on occasion. I have informed the French ambassador on the phone that such a charge is ridiculous and that we would do all in our power to find the Countess Claudette Maria and return her to her father as quickly as possible. I have gone out on a limb for you my friend, in a way that I would never have done for your predecessor. Don’t let me down.

TB

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From Mr. & Mrs. Percival and Penelope Weasley

To: Rita Skeeter

Subject: Comment request

The answer is "no comment." ... stay away from us.

P&P

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From: Minister of Magic

To: Albus Dumbledore

Subject: Times up

Have received an official inquiry from the muggle prime minister concerning your ‘guest’ the frogs want her back "unspoiled" so I want you to bring her to my office tonight, so we can port-key that piece of trash back to France and her papa.

Arthur

Error: unable to deliver last m-mail from MOM

Reason: receiving party m-mail box closed

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From: Minister of Magic

To: Chief Auror in charge, personal security detail

cc: Fredric Romulus, director port-key department

Subject: Port-key to Hogwarts

Please acquire a port-key directly into Hogwarts castle, I want to leave with-in the hour. Please inform all concerned of this trip and make any security arrangements required. I expect to be back in my office in two hours or less.

Arthur

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During most of her Confession, done in thickly (French) accented English. Claudette kept referring to Hermione in the third person, as if talking about someone other than herself. A facet of her story that everyone who heard it found disturbing for its all but obvious indication of a emotionally split-personality

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Hermione Jane Granger had been during her time at Hogwarts School of witchcraft and wizardry the most brilliant book-smart student in two hundred years. Give her two hours in the library and no matter how obscure the plant, creature, potion or spell Hermione would find the answer. She had in her five years as a student well earned her title, as a ‘Know-it-all’ there was simply no use denying this fact.

But such a title came at a cost. Book smartness doesn’t make a girl popular with boys who for the most part are easily intimidated by someone whose intelligence is so vastly superior to theirs. Girls also don’t care much for someone who makes them feel stupid and do can just about anything better than they can. So although there was no disputing Hermione Granger’s abilities in any technical area of magic. There was one thing that Miss know-it-all failed completely at, expressing her-self emotionally and making friends.

On a personal level in many things, Mione was utterly clueless. The best known example of this was Ron. Of the hundreds of boys at Hogwarts only one had ever seen the plain-featured know-it-all as anything other than a pain in the arse. Even Harry, who was a true-blue friend to her since their first year together at school had never quite gotten beyond thinking of Hermione as the know-it-all source of all the answers.

To Harry, Mione was just "one of the guys" so to speak, a part of his team, who he could always count on to help his solve whatever problem he faced, be it learning a spell or facing a basilisk.

It was Ron, only Ron who time after time, sprang to the defense of the brown bushy haired know-it-all. It was Ron much more than Harry who felt the greatest sense of loss when their brilliant friend was petrified during their second year.

Gradually Hermione became aware on a conscious level, of Ron’s steadfast devotion to her. But how did the most brilliant student at Hogwarts respond to the one and only male who felt insanely jealous of Viktor Krum’s romantic interest. She began to nag him, like an old woman, argue with him at every turn, and make his life miserable. Did that drive Ron away, as it would have anyone else, ... hell no!

The very nagging that drives most muggle men straight to divorce court, only brought Ron and Mione closer to one another. They in fact became inseparable, arguing every step of the way. Falling hopelessly in love with one another without the shy looks and awkward first steps that is the hallmark of 90 percent of more normal teenage romances.

Whereas many other couples, Harry and Ginny for example, found just holding hands and going to Hogsmead, being seen together, as major milestones in the relationship. Mione unable to face her extremely strong feelings for Ron responded to her powerful attraction to her friend by picking on him all the more, nagging him senseless over the tiniest thing. And yet in spite of her behavior like a female dog (being a bitc*) to the boy she in her heart of hearts adored. No amount of mistreatment seemed to drive Ron away.

It took Harry two weeks to get the courage to Kiss on the lips Ginevra Molly Weasley for the first time. For Ron and Hermione it was their biggest row yet. For Ron and Hermione it wasn’t the slow and gentle transformation from friends to lovers, as it was for Harry and Ginny.

For Mione and Ron, becoming lovers for them, was more like spontaneous combustion. In the midst of their biggest row of all time, for reasons Ron never did understand, he just reached out, grabbed with both hands Mione’s beat red face (from arguing), pulled it close and just kissed her, flat out ... good and hard, right on the lips.

It had been a good thing that she and Ron had chosen an empty classroom for their little ‘discussion’ otherwise the embarrassment factor for both of them would have increased a thousand fold. For that first kiss packed the power of a hundred atomic bombs, the dam burst open on suppressed emotions years in the building. They literally went from zero to sixty, in two seconds flat. After that, clothing just slowed them down, Lee had been right. Once the snogging started Ron and Hermione didn’t care a hoot when or where they bunked-up.

She still nagged him, and he still took it without batting an eye. But their arguments became softer, more affectionate almost a form of foreplay. For even when she was most in love with Ron, Hermione found it nearly impossible to openly express her feelings, toward the boy/man she loved more than life itself.

This was her downfall; this is why Mademoiselle Claudette Maria de Ormon failed in the great hall, in front of a captivated audience to convince anyone of her genuine need to make amends to the man she had hurt so deeply. Still couldn’t even admit out loud (even now) how she felt. She could not bring herself to say the ‘L’ word. ... Not even once.

She told her listeners her tale all right, but it was if she was speaking of another person, not herself. She told them things they already knew, the arrival at Hogwarts two days before her sixteenth birthday of the Count and Countess Ormon with the stunning news that she wasn’t who she had always believed herself to be. She told them how she had struggled with it and had finally accepted the truth of it. What had prompted her to put on the necklace she still wore?

Ron had been in the room along with Harry, Ginny, Dumbledore, the Granger’s and the Count & Countess Ormon when the transformation had taken place. When plain featured, brown uncontrollable bushy haired, Hermione Jane Granger like a caterpillar, had metamorphosed into an almost Veela like, stunning beautiful, strawberry blond, super-model like butterfly. With the face of an angel, and the curves that brought out the devil in any normal, healthy, straight male.

The young drop-dead-gorgeous teenager standing in front of everyone that day bore no resemblance to the brown haired wallflower whom she had been a moment before. Claudette, because she didn’t look like Hermione anymore, dripped sensuality from every pour like a Veela did, unconsciously. Her school uniform fit her differently, she held herself differently the overall change as abrupt as day is to night.

The effect on the people in the room was predictable, envy from the women, and desire from the men, with two notable exceptions. Harry who still regarded Claudette in the same way he always had Hermione with a platonic friendship that delighted his instantly jealous girlfriend Ginny. Ron on the other hand had a different interpretation for his girlfriend’s abrupt transformation. Never one to feel worthy of his bookwormish lover, Ron saw Hermione’s change into Claudette as the beginning of the end of his romantic relationship with Hogwarts resident know it all.

For it is well known that the three things required to make a boy forget how smart a girl was, Claudette/Hermione now had in abundance. The face that could launch a thousand ships, a voice as seductive as the sirens of ancient Greece and last but by no means least a 36-24-35 centerfold figure.

Claudette admitted to her captive audience in the great hall, five years later. That she had quickly become intoxicated by her newfound power over every male student in Hogwarts except Harry. Even Male teachers fell victim to her wiles Snape himself seemed to be less harsh with her. She acknowledged that her new found sex appeal to the entire male student population left her surrounded by a group of admirers day and night. Which naturally left her with zero time alone with her alleged fiancée Ron, the bloke she was suppose to be head over heels in love with.

She acknowledged, only now (five years later) the abundant warning signs, that her new admirers were pushing Ron further and further away. Much to the amazement of just about everyone, Ron actually tried to be patience and understanding about his ‘girl’s’ transformation. For almost two months he was usually tolerant of Hermione’s nonstop flirting, deceiving himself into believing that it was only a phase she was going through.

He even took no notice of the gradual change in the way his girlfriend spoke. The pure English sentence structure and correct word usage that was the hallmark of Hermione began to be slowly replaced by French mannerism. So that now five years later, English appeared to be for the countess a second language, a foreign language instead to her native tongue.

Ron’s barely controlled jealousy Claudette deliberately overlooked as she enjoyed for the first time in her life the undivided attention of so many boys. In her heart of hearts Hermione knew that Ron could not hope to compete with wealthier boys and their many expensive gifts. Finally his jealousy fueled his temper to the point of an explosion and that resulted in the row to end all rows. Right in the middle of dinner in the great hall itself.

It started innocently enough, with Ron politely inquiring when he could expect some quality time alone with his girlfriend. It ended in a shouting match, where Claudette in great detail described Ron’s:

1. Financial prospects after school, (dismal).


2. His physical appearance shortcomings (plain looks, non-muscular physic).


3. His less than noble bloodline which she considered to be no better than (English peasants). And finally:


4. His inability to satisfy a real woman sexually (untrue) but at that point in the row, Claudette was out to hurt Ron anyway she could.

Now, five years later, in the same great hall of Hogwarts. Knowing full well cameras were running, Mademoiselle Claudette Marie de Ormon recanted the sexual slurs she had made in public, against her boyfriend. She described how since leaving Ron, no other lover, and she admitted to having shared the beds of more than twenty men. Had given her one-tenth the pleasure emotionally as well as sexually that sixteen-year-old Ronald Bilius Weasley had done.

There had been better-looking men than Ron, better looking even than the way he looked now, and he was a handsome devil these days, she conceded that. There had been a dozen of these brainless Adonis in Claudette’s bed since her sixteen-year-old first boyfriend. In shape and face, stunning beautiful men many highly skilled in the arts of physical lovemaking.

And yet in spite of all these rich and handsome men had to offer in and out of bed, none seemed to touch Claudette’s core. Her interest in them would quickly fade to the point where she would actually become frigid, compelling the young Countess to move onto the next handsome, if in many cases intellectually clueless, stud.

Viktor Krum (Ron’s greatest rival, at least in his mind) as it had turned out, had been completely impotent with women, and they had lived together as friends for six month’s, not lovers. One by one, Claudette’s sexual and romantic failures were paraded in front of her captive audience, like a catholic girl going to confession, revealing each of her sins to a priest. She spoke of each of her many lovers in a monotone voice completely devoid of the very kind of passionate emotions that had been so lacking in all her relationships with men after Ron.

In fact the only time Claudette’s story had any life to it at all was when she spoke of reconnecting with the Hermione part of her personality, the bit by bit breaking of the still partially in force Imperio curse. A curse who’s very existence she could never hope to prove.

Her all too later realization that there was only one man she had ever loved or would ever truly love. The man she had so shamelessly abused for years with endless nagging, the man she had so publicly humiliated. ... Ronald Bilius Weasley.

At the end, Claudette/Hermione was crying, head hung low, depressed beyond words. "Its funny, she said in between sobs. Since putting on this dam bloody necklace. I haven’t cried once, not once in almost six years and yet today I cried twice. Once for letting down Harry when I apparated into Hogsmead at the ‘Crater’ and now for a lost love. A love that everyone in this room especially me, knows I am no longer worthy of."

"If it gives you Weasleys any personal satisfaction, if it fulfills any tiny part of your desire for revenge on me. Then you should feel happy in knowing that I compare every man who ever touches me, to your brother, and they never live up to Ron’s high standards. He has spoiled me to all other men, he was my first man, and I fear the best man I will ever have had the privilege to know."

"I am sorry for what I did to him, more than you will ever know. My penitence is to live my life loving him, unworthy of him. I would gladly let his brother Bill, beat me to a pulp right here and now if that was the price of turning back the clock. I would sell my soul to the devil for a second chance with him. But that is not in the cards, I know that now. You may publish this event worldwide for all I care and if my humiliating confession allows Ron to finally put me behind him and move on I will be happy with that."

"I am finished now, both here and in Europe. I have done half of what I have set out to do. With the help of my benefactor and a few of my old teachers I have made my apology to some of the Weasleys at least. Whether you except it or not I do not know, but I tried."

" For me only one question remains, and that is for Ginny my only true-blue girl friend. Have I said enough for you tonight, to have you reveal to me the location of my parents if you know it?"

"I am sorry Hermione, truly I am, but Harry never told me where they were" Ginny said with tears of sadness for her friend pouring down her cheeks.

"How about Ron?" Claudette asked desperately "Could Harry had told him before he ..."

"No Mione, Ron became distant from everyone after you left. Seeing us together as a couple so happy with one another was almost painful for him to see. I don’t think he and Harry exchanged two dozen words during the last four months Harry was ... alive." Ginny said fighting back tears.

"Then I have failed" the Countess said, beginning to give in to despair.

"Who told you that you were to be the one to judge Success or Failure, the tall, thin wizard said to the countess shaking his head in disappointment? There are others here who are to make that determination, for example. Miss Weasley as you were the only person actually invited to this shindig what do you think about all this?"

To be continued, comments welcomed

Back to index

Chapter 5: When Harry met Ginny

Chapter five: When Harry met Ginny

6714 Words ... Rated ‘R’, for strong sexual innuendo and language

Category: UA or it will be, once book six comes out

Warning: A troll in you bathroom, always leaves a mess

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Authors notes: did I ever mention the debt I owe to (Anya) and (Jeco) for the concept of m-mail, I bow in homage toward their PC’s, I am not worthy. In other words go find and read these great works (hint-hint) and read them. Subtle aren’t I?

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From: Department of legal port-key manufacture, m. o. m.

To: Office of the Minister for Magic UK

Subject: Port-key request (directly into Hogwarts entrance Hall)

Sorry Arthur, no can do. The Headmistress has full wards up (reinforced). We have tried a half dozen times and we can’t get through.

Does Minerva have something special going on at the Castle tonight? You might want to rethink your trip altogether. I have never encountered such strong wards before, not since the war anyway. I doubt you will get through even on foot.

If you declare this an emergency I can get my team up there and we can force a hole in the wards for an assault on Hogwarts, if you fear foul play.

Let me know what you want to do.

Frederic Romulus

Head of port-key department.

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From: Minister for Magic (personal code)

To: Frederic my old school chum

Subject: Re: Port-key request

Never mind getting me in, just send up a general Hogsmeade port-key we will walk from there, and to answer your question Freddie old boy. Yes ‘Min’ has some hush-hush meeting going on up there, and I am late for it.

Chat with you later.

Arthur

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From: N. Tonks

To: De-boss (Kingsley)

Subject: That Skeeter Cow

No luck my chieftain, this old salt, doesn’t know squat about the missing Weasleys. Although a search of her digs, uncovered some major slanderous material on Arthur’s family. Of which 98 percent concerned his son Percy and things he did for old Fudge.

This material I regret to report was accidentally ‘dropped’ into a roaring fire, that just happened to be burning in the middle of the street outside of Ms. Skeeter’s residence (fancy that) destroying the lot (including all original copies and negatives).

All I can say concerning this is regrettable incident is ... oops! Will follow up on other leads after putting out the fire in the street

Tonks.

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From: Kingsley

To: N. Tonks

Subject: bon-fire

Good work with that Skeeter woman, don’t worry about repercussions, I would have done the same in your shoes, and it was a long shot anyway. Are there any leads left? Last I heard they were all dead ends. But keeping working on the Weasley disappearances and let me know at once what you find.

K

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From: Name withheld by request, IP address untraceable

To: Aberforth Dumbledore

Subject: Whom did you tell?

I know your tied up and all, and cannot speak but I need to know who you told about ‘him’ if it was the Weasley girl, nod your head ‘yes’ three times.

(Unsigned)

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From: %$@#*&^** more than a little upset.

To: Aberforth

Subject: Of all people, why her?

She will get sick at the sight of me just like she did before. Are you a sadist like your brother? Getting pleasure from watching her reject me again, run from me in horror like she did that day in hospital.

All right I did give my word on this, but only her understand, and if she reacts, as I fear she will, just so you know, I end it here. I will be modifying her memory so she forgets all about me. She deserves a life, children and happiness Dammit.

(Unsigned)

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"What do you mean, what do I think? I am stunned, it’s a lot to take in at one time" Ginny Weasley said not liking at all being the center of attention.

"Well then, how about first impressions, as for example. Do you believe what the Countess has told you, in other words, was her story convincing or not?"

"If your asking me weather or not I think my old school chum, became one of the biggest tarts in all France after leaving Hogwarts, the answer is a definite ‘Yes.’ As for the rest of it I am honestly not so sure."

"Frankly I found your tale of the history of the necklace more convincing than this junk about an Imperius curse that makes someone renounce their English heritage and the only parents they have ever known. Just to run off and have bad sex, with half the men of Western Europe." Ginny declared with her famous blunt honesty.

"So you don’t believe the Countess when she says that she is still in love with your brother Ronald?" the faceless specter wizard asked.

"I never said that, retorted Ginny. Of that much at least I am certain of, she loves Ron, or thinks she does. I saw it in her eyes. It’s this alleged ‘Imperius curse’ as an excuse for her immorality that I don’t buy. But even that doesn’t matter, I am not the one she needs to convince and believe me when I say, I am a push over, when it comes to convincing compared to my brother Ron."

"Let’s say I buy into this whole curse idea, where does that get us. You cannot prove any of it in court so no legal relief is possible. Besides if the curse is on the necklace, and the necklace cannot come off, there is no way to end the curse, right?" Ginny said trying to be reasonable.

"You are as beautiful as you are wise Ms. Weasley your reputation is well earned, the hooded wizard said with a bow of respect. But let us cut to the chase shall we. For the ultimate purpose of convincing Ron which part is more important to prove, her love for him or the existence of the Imperius curse?"

"If the only purpose of all of this was just an apology for past mistakes, I would say she doesn’t have to prove anything, a sincere expression of regret would be enough. Ginny said reasoning it out. But from what I just heard her say, The Lady d’Ormon appears to have a secret/hidden secondary agenda. That goes way beyond a mere apology and encroaches into the area of a full-blown attempt at reconciliation. If as I suspect getting back her old boyfriend is her real goal then, proving her love for him is what should hold center stage."

"The problem is, and I hope you will forgive me for saying this Hermione. But after being burned and rejected so brutally by the ‘French tart ’... proving the Countess’s undying love now to Ron, a love strong enough to overcome such a large emotional hurt would be a nearly impossible feat, a Herculean labor in scope. That is if you could get him to sit still long enough to listen to such a proof."

"But what if I could prove it, her love for him. Her ‘until death does us part’ kind of love, What then? Would you end your animosity toward your brother’s ‘lady’ and re-accept her into your family. Welcome her back as the best mate of yours that she use to be?" the tall thin specter wizard asked calling Ginny’s bluff.

"There is no way to prove ever lasting love, and you know it!"

"Your side stepping my question, so I will lay my cards on the table. I have the means to prove one way or the other weather or not Ron and the Countess are fated to be together for the rest of their lives. If I can prove that, will you become Claudette’s champion to your own family and act as peace maker to end this vendetta?"

"Yes, but I tell you there is no way to prove such a thing"

"How about you Countess, are you prepared to risk your one chance at Ron and happiness in a single throw of the dice. Is your alleged love for him strong enough to be put to the test, here and now?"

"Yes, my love for Ron is more than strong enough" Claudette said with determination.

"Wager offered and accepted" the wizard declared as if springing a trap on the two women.

"What’s your game then? Ginny said with a leer. Is this some kind of a cruel joke? What good is proving this love, if he who needs convincing of it, isn’t here to see it?"

"Well spotted Ginevra, you are exactly right. For this to work Ronald Bilius Weasley would have to be here in person wouldn’t he!" And then with a flick of his wand, the hooded wizard pointed to an empty space to his right and said "Accio Ron-cape", abruptly an invisibility cape flew in to the specters outstretched hooded hand revealing a bound by ropes into a chair petrified body of the kidnaped Ronald Weasley.

Unlike the others in the room Ron had an actual cloth gag in his mouth. He couldn’t move a muscle, but he had however been able to see and hear everything that had happened. Clear proof of this was the tears pouring down his cheeks as he stared unwavering at his ex-girlfriend sitting on the stool.

Ginny didn’t know what was going on, but the fact that Ron had been in the room, the whole time invisible, spoke volumes of the kinds of magical power the hooded wizard controlled. Clearly this entire gathering had been his doing from the get-go and for now Ginny thought it best to play along.

"Hermione, come over here and remove Mr. Weasleys gag, if you please"

As if walking to the gallows, Claudette slowly rose to her feet and walked over to where her ex-boyfriend sat bound to a chair. With trembling fingers she untied and removed the gag in his mouth her eyes never leaving his. As she did this almost in a trance, she only half heard what her benefactor was saying.

"Mr. Weasley as this test will effect your life as deeply as it will the Countess I cannot proceed without your consent. But I cannot help but wonder if you too would like to know if you and the woman you knew as Hermione Granger are indeed fated to be man and wife for the rest of your lives. Your family believes that you are still in love with this woman, if they are right are you prepared to put your love for Hermione to the ultimate test?"

" I believe that my little test is a win-win for both of you. If it succeeds you will have found again the love you thought you lost. If it fails, then you two where never fated to be together and with that knowledge. You both can final bring closure to this relationship and move on to better lives with others," The specter wizard declared.

"What do I have to do, for a second chance with my Hermione?"

"Nothing really was the reply. Just sit there and when she kisses you, kiss back" this comment made both Ron and Claudette/Hermione finally break eye contact with each other, to turn as one to face the fully hooded wizard.

"That’s right girl, I want you to climb into this young mans lap, wrap your arms around his neck and kiss him, with all the passion that you can muster, with all the love of a bride on her wedding day. You do that, and I will handle the rest

Claudette gave her benefactor one last long look, before turning back to Ron. If this was destined to be their last kiss, Claudette-Hermione, Marie-Jane Granger-d’Ormon was determined to make it memorable. She climbed up into Ron’s lap only realizing now, how much grown up Ron the man was. She wrapped her arms tenderly around his neck and leaned in to give the single most important snog of her life.

There were no flashing colored lights, no bells ringing, no fireworks, the earth didn’t move it was just a kiss. A great one to be sure, but when all was said and done, just a kiss. Everyone in the great hall looked on, spellbound, and we are talking over thirty-two people. Each and every one of them kinda of let down by the lack of fireworks.

As the two people most involved finally came up for air, the kiss ended. With both Ron and Claudette-Hermione more than a little disappointed at the lack of anything-spectacular happening and more than a little fearful of the worse.

"Nothing happened" Ginny said expressing the feelings of everyone who looked on

"Yes it did, wait for it" the hooded wizard replied

And then suddenly, into the utter silence the followed the end of the Kiss, one and all heard a clearly audible "click". The necklace that had been around the Countess d’Ormon’s neck for nearly six non-interrupted years, without another sound, slid down from her neck to land in a pile in Ron’s Lap. And there in the place of the red ruby, was a shining brightly light true-blue sapphire.

Ron and Hermione stared down at the blue gem in stunned disbelief, their minds unable to process the significance of the gem transformation from red to blue. Ron was the first to look up from the enchanted bit of jewelry, but then he had reason to. For a change was underway within the body of the young French noblewoman sitting in his lap.

The straight strawberry blond hair of Claudette began darkening to a bushy dark brown, the same color that Hermione use to wear. Her almost perfect-featured face became a little less perfect, a balanced blending of the best parts of both Hermione and Claudette. As if her body had made the best compromise possible between the French and the English side of her mixed heritage, with a touch more Hermione dominate.

With the necklace gone, so went the lingering parts of the Imperius curse and abruptly Hermione’s middle-class British upbringing and morality hit the twenty-year-old witch head on.

She immediately buried her brightly blushing face into Ron’s shoulder and began to sob

"Oh Ron how can you bear to look at me, after I been such a shameless tart?"

Abruptly to everyone’s surprise (especially Ron) his long lost girlfriends thick French accent was gone, banished for good. And hearing her speak the queens English as she use to, Ronald broke into the first genuine smile he had worn in five years and whispered in ‘his’ girls ear.

"It’s all right luv, your home now, where you belong" he said as tears of pure joy poured down his face.

Looking on from one side, tears of joy mixed with envy on her face. Ginevra Weasley felt the happiness for her brother for having found again his love, as well as the pain for her own lost love. Unbeknown to her she was at that moment being stared at herself by the hooded benefactor of the countess. Who finally, shaking his head as if to break him-self out of a trance he turned to the empty space to his left and said to empty air:

"Can you see what I do, the prefect match charm of the necklace has worked its magic, the Imperius curse is fully broken. Hermione, the one true love of your son’s life has been returned to him.

"It is time to end this vendetta and welcome the mother of your future grandchildren back into your family. What say you Molly Weasley?" The hooded wizard asked as he removed with his wand a second invisibly cloak from the bound and gagged matriarch of the Weasley clan. Who was the first of the prisoners freed from their bounds, Ron being second.

Suddenly everyone was set at liberty, and in the midst of hugs all around, the hooded wizard faded and disappeared unnoticed, except for by the two elderly Dumbledore’s who had in vain been struggling through the mob trying to reach Hermione/Claudette’s mysterious benefactor.

None of the former combatants attempted to re-new the battle. For the young woman sitting on a smiling in delight Ronald Weasley lap staring with such obvious adoration into to the eyes of her beloved. Made any thought of continuing the struggle unnecessary. One and all had heard the story of the necklace and they had all been witnesses to the charm working its magic.

The Countess and her tale had been disbelieved by most in attendance, even by some of her defenders. But the necklace charm doing its magic right in front of them, transform disbelief into belief. Providing all with eyes that see with clear undeniable proof of the love that the Countess had confessed for her old ex-boyfriend. It was only at this point that professor’s Snape and Evander were awakened and released, both of them instantly demanding to know what they had missed.

Into this bedlam the Minister for Magic UK arrived along with the French ambassador and two magical hit squads in tow. He was naturally overjoyed to see both his wife and youngest son alive and well if somewhat bruised from the ropes that had bound them to their chairs. His attempts to discover where they had been were repeatedly frustrated by his spouse, who kept pointing at her youngest son. A crying while smiling young man completely oblivious to his surroundings as was the young woman sitting on his lap.

The ‘Ambassador of magic for France’ with a photo of the Countess Claudette Maria d’Ormon in hand had no more success than the Minister for Magic (UK) in getting the attention of the two young people sitting in the center of the room. For both Ron and Hermione/Claudette were completely oblivious to anyone around them. She just sat on his lap staring into his eyes, smiling in pure delight, while he sat there with his arms around his ladylove smiling back.

An impromptu welcome home Hermione celebration (ignored by Ron and Granger-d’Ormon) got underway at once with only professor Evander excusing him-self from the festivities due to unspecified aliments.

Off to one side behind a pillar one person stood apart from the merry makers. She had come to the castle with only a tiny flicker of a hope. Now that the meeting appeared over so did her hope to hear something, anything. But no one had come forward, and she was left seemingly forgotten in her grief. Unaware that she was being watched, carefully watched and discussed.

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From: Aberforth

To: Hidden in plain sight.

Subject: Can you not see her?

Well, what are you waiting for?

Abie

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From: Name withheld by request

To: Aberforth

Subject: Re: Can you not see her?

Yes I can see her. I know what your thinking you old goat, I promised. But are you sure she wouldn’t be happier remembering me the way I was, instead of the monster I am today?

(Unsigned)

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From: Aberforth, ... I saw how you looked at her.

To: Don’t deny the desire your feeling.

Subject: Re (2): Can you not see her?

Your body is as healed as its going to get; it’s now or never. And besides you promised me I could decided whom I could let in on our little secret. Just knowing your alive won’t be enough for her and you know it.

Look, if she reacts as she did in hospital I will modify her memory myself, I swear it. You have done all of this to give your friends a second chance at love. Don’t you deserve your shot at it too?

If it doesn’t work, I will get royally pissed with you, we will go on a bender, hit all the pubs in Notting Hill I promise, just you and I.

But first, give it one more go, please! She deserves a second chance and so do you.

Now ... logistics, do you want me to approach her first and act as a go between during or what?

The honorable Dumbledore

>>>>>>>>>>

From: More scared of this, than I ever was of Voldemort

To: He who will pick up the pieces after she is gone.

Subject: Re (3): Can you not see her?

No it’s best I do it all, to get it over with quick, especially if she gets sick again.

Don’t get too pissed at the welcome home for Hermione, we may have heavy drinking to do later.

God I am scared!

Unsigned

>>>>>>>>>>

From: The one you’re looking for

To: The girl I left behind

Subject: Second chances

Warning: This message will self-delete after a single reading

Hello Gin-Gin, I am told your looking for me. I am not sure you will be happy when you see, what little is left of me to see, because I bear little resemblance to your old snogging partner.

To prove to you that this Mmail is no hoax: Do you remember where I left a hickey on your beautiful body our last night together, the spot your knickers couldn’t hide. Does the peak of the crescent moon ring a bell?

If you want to meet me in person, come to our favorite pub in Hogsmeade in an hour. I will be there form ten until eleven in disguise. Just sit a table in the back (our favorite booth) I have reserved it for you. Just wait there and I will approach you.

If you still think this a hoax, or don’t want to meet with me out of fear of a repeat performance of our first post battle chance meeting, in hospital three years ago. I will fully understand, after all you became violently ill and ran to the loo at just the sight of me. If that disgusting sight from three years ago, jogs an unpleasant memory strong enough to make a second encounter unthinkable. Then simply do not show up at the ‘Three Broomsticks’ and I swear I will never bother you again.

(Unsigned)

>>>>>>>>>>

From: Name withheld by request IP address untraceable.

To: My protégé.

Bcc: Aberforth D

Subject: One last service to perform.

You will not hear from me again after this, my task is done. In fact only one thing remains. To find the last item on your list take the road that passes by the place which revealed Wormtail’s true form to the three of us. Take this road west, away from the castle, beyond the village of Hogsmeade for half a league. On the right, you will find a small cottage, they that you seek live within.

Go gently with them my old friend, considering what you were only half a year ago, I thought it best not to tell them you still lived. Now that you are restored to both yourself and to Ron, I strongly suggest that you take him with you when you go to find them.

They will remember Ron, after all he saved their lives more than once that night. Their gratitude to him for their lives will allow Ron to vouch for you (who you really are) to them. It will take time for them to accept you again. Be patient, the love for you as their child is still alive within them, but will have to be re-earned.

Farewell my protegee, Ron will take over your protection now

(Unsigned)

>>>>>>>>>>

This last Mmail to his protege was the mysterious wizards undoing, for although the Countess wasn’t quick witted enough to read between lines, for Hermione, the smartest witch to attend Hogwarts in two hundred years it was child’s play. With her razor sharp intellect restored to her at last, she put two and two together almost instantly. Her eyes went wide in surprise as she re-read for the third time the first ever Mmail from her benefactor that didn’t contain the self delete after only one reading clause, that he was know for.

Excited, Hermione began to search the room for Ginny and when she caught sight of her best mate standing alone against a pillar softly crying, she began to drag Ron through the mob of merry makers. (She hadn’t let go of his hand since the necklace had dropped off her neck). When Ron gave her a ‘what’s going on?’ look, she turned to glare at him with a special serious expression on her face, that Ron hadn’t seen in six years. It was the "Harry’s in trouble look" that Ron had seen countless times during their school days. A look he thought he would never see again. Any thought of resistance ended abruptly when his Hermione said:

"Ron we have to find Ginny ... NOW"

"Okay ... okay, don’t nag, I am coming" he said making them both smile in memory of past adventures.

"Ginny ... Ginny," Hermione called to her best friend catching up with the young woman as she was just about to slip out of the great hall unnoticed. "We have to talk"

"Not now Claudette. I am in a bit of a hurry," Ginny said glancing at a wall clock that read 9:55 P.M.

"But Ginny, he is alive, I just got proof. Here read this!"

"Who’s alive, what you two ranting about? Ron asked, the whole thing feeling a lot like old times, when Ginny and Hermione would get together to compare notes about. ¼ And that is when it hit him, that’s when he realized in a flash of insight why this felt so familiar to him, all the pieces of the puzzle fell into place.

"Hang on, ... are you two saying what I think your saying? ... Harry is alive"

"Hush Ron" Hermione said to him "people are looking at us."

"Hermione my love, we aren’t school kids anymore"

"That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be careful"

"Honestly, ...Will you two look at your selves," Ginny said chuckling. "You haven’t been back together thirty minutes and your already starting a row. Stop it, right now!"

Deeply embarrassed, both Ron and Hermione, looked down at their feet like two school children caught being naughty.

"By the way HG, welcome back," Ginny said smiling taking the sting out of her words. "Ron, behave and keep your voice down, He doesn’t want people to know he is still among the living."

"Then it is true?" Ron said excited.

"Yes, I think so, I am going to meet him now" Ginny said again looking at the wall clock.

"Not without us your not," Ron declared getting angry.

"Ron, he been hurt, seriously hurt. To the point where I apparently saw him in hospital three years ago and didn’t recognize him at all," Ginny said shaking her head sadly. "The impression I get from the Mmail I just received, is that he is scared to death that I will find his physical appearance disgusting and run away from him ‘again’.

Yes I said ‘again,’ apparently I behaved very badly indeed when I ‘saw’ him in hospital. Although if I am right in my memory of that time, my jogging to the Loo had nothing to do with the patient I saw just prior to losing my lunch. But he doesn’t know that" Ginny said starting to cry.

"We’re coming with you Gin," Ron said determined, "he was ... is our best friend too"

"No, I can’t risk it, stay here. Let me see him first, ... alone. Now let me go I am already late." Ginny said turning and running out of the great hall. Ron started to follow but Mione held him back.

"No love, as much as I want to follow her too, we can’t. Look behind you, everyone one is watching us. If we go, you mum will want to go along with everyone else. Harry isn’t really ready for that, not-yet anyway. Be patient, Ginny will talk him into letting us see him."

"I have to agree with Mademoiselle Granger/ d’Ormon about this" Aberforth Dumbledore said coming around the pillar where he had stood in hiding eavesdropping on the conversation. "He is very unsure of himself right now. It has taken me two years of talking to convince him to let anyone else but me, know that he survived that last battle with Voldemort."

"In fact Mademoiselle, Ginevra wasn’t suppose to have told you about it. But that was my fault not hers, I should have warned her that he didn’t want anyone else to know."

"True be told, I should modify your memories so that you forget the whole thing." the younger of the two Dumbledore brothers said. "But I won’t, provided that you give me your solemn word to tell no-one else what you have learned tonight. He will approach you when he is ready. If tonight goes well and I pray to God that it does. You may see him yourselves sooner rather than later."

"I take it you’re his secret keeper" the young countess said, now once again in full Hermione mode.

"Yes, he approached me after getting out of hospital. And Ginevra was quite correct about his condition. Your friend was in hospital an entire year unrecognized, he was in the ICU ward for almost two months hanging on to life by his finger tips. It is amazing he is alive at all really."

"Unrecognized for a whole year, I don’t believe it?" Ron said clearly upset.

"His injuries were so extensive, he bore no relationship to the young man you two remember from Hogwarts, Dumbledore said. Actually he is quite happy about his current non-entity non-famous status. To him the ‘boy who lived’ is dead, and he wants the "Great Harry Potter" to stay dead too. And frankly I don’t blame him."

"He has a new life of sorts, a new name and a new identity. You’re going to have to get to know him all over again. He is deformed physically you should prepare yourself for that. I won’t go into details its not my place. But believe me when I say his going into hiding had more to do with his injuries than any desire to avoid any of you, especially Ginevra."

"He was my benefactor during the last year wasn’t he? Claudette-Hermione asked, already knowing the answer. Harry was the mysterious wizard who was here, controlling everything, freeing me from the necklace, the Imperius curse, getting Ron to take me back in spite of all I have done. Do you have any concept of how much I owe him."

"We owe him luv," Ron said with a chuckle as he hugged her gently.

"Yes you are correct again, he was the one who became convinced you were under a spell when you left us."

"Excuse me Countess" a voice, said from behind the trio talking at the pillar. Turning around Hermione saw Ron’s dad standing in front of her with a concerned look on his face.

"Oh, hello Mr. Weasley, I mean mister Minister for Magic sir. Its good to see you again" the young woman said in a voice that Arthur recognized at once as the voice of Hermione. He paused and took another hard look at the young woman in front of him.

"I am sorry, but I am afraid that you are going to have to come with me. The Muggle Prime Minister of the UK is under pressure from his French counterpart to have you return to France and to your ‘loving father’ post haste." Arthur said clearly uncomfortable.

"Am I being expelled from England as an undesirable?"

"No of course not" Arthur said exasperated

"Then unless I am under arrest, I must most respectfully refuse to go. I have just discovered where my ‘thought to be dead’ foster parents are living. People I have not seen in five years, I have no intention of going back to France until I have seen them, I think you understand why."

"Impossible, Harry Potter was their secret keeper, and he is dead. There is no way you could know where they are." Arthur said clearly disbelieving the Countess.

"Not true dad" Ron said covering his girlfriends Freudian slip. "Harry told me where they were hidden before he died. After saving their lives twice he thought I could be trusted."

"You never told me this" Arthur said turning on his son

"Well dad, the whole idea of being a secret keeper is to keep something secret, Ron said with a big grin, and you have to admit I have kept this one pretty well."

"Well yes, I see that. But that still leaves the French to deal with."

"Just a suggestion Arthur" Aberforth said entering the conversation smoothly "but you can use a school owl to send a letter to the French government. The ambassador can informing the president of magic for France that you and he have located the Countess and can confirm to his government the lady’s good health. Moreover you can inform the French Republic that you and the ambassador will be happy to arrange a meeting between the Countess and her father the Count. Say in your office tomorrow afternoon around four."

"Good idea Aberforth, I believe that will be acceptable to all parties involved. After all it is rather late in the evening to be thinking of paying a visit to the French consulate now. Look at the time, it’s almost eleven now. Ronald would you be so kind as to escort the Countess to the Dumbledore cottage in Hogsmeade and then come back to the Burrow. We need to have a little talk.

Molly bluntly refuses to tell me how she got here or why her wrists show signs of the same kind of rope burns that you have. As Minister for Magic UK I have learned what not to see, officially. The same rules however don’t apply to my family young man. Goodnight Mademoiselle, Arthur Weasley said, as he formally bowed toward the Countess before turning back to his wife who was giving some kind of impassioned lecture to her assembled family and their friends.

"I will take my leave now as well, by the way, great cover on the Granger secret keeper slip. I never knew you were so quick-witted. As for you Countess goodnight" the old man said bowing before moving off.

"You dad is right, it is getting late. Much too late to drop in on my parents" Hermione said clearly disappointed. "Will you go with me tomorrow and visit them up properly?"

"Sure, I will go with you to my dads office too, if you want me to?" Ron asked suddenly shy for the first time in years.

"I would like nothing better," and without another word she leaned in for their second in six years snog. Much to the cheers and applauds of everyone left in the great hall.

>>>>>>>>>

At six minutes to eleven, an out of breath, Ginevra Molly Weasley burst through the front door of the all but empty Three Broomsticks. There were only a half dozen patrons in the pub at this time of night. For after all, this was a weekday and many in the pub had to work in the mourning. Ginny looked around and was somewhat surprised to see a very familiar set of robes sitting at a table near the fire, Professor Evander.

Ginny shook her head and at once marched back to the booth in the back of the pub, to the corner booth with the tiny ‘reserved’ place card on it. She had barely sat down when professor Evander approached the table. Looking up a very nervous Ginny said:

" I am sorry professor I can’t chat right now I am expecting someone"

"Yes I know, I was just about to give up on you coming at all"

A disembodied voice said inside Ginny’s head, her first experience with telepathy was disturbing to say the least. She looked up into the Faceless full hood of the professor, noticing his gloved hands and mentally shuddered as she thought of what such head to foot covering might be concealing.

"Are you my escort professor, she asked, will you be taking me to him?"

"No Gin-Gin, I am the person you have been looking for all this time. What you see before you now, is all that is left of Harry James Potter."

Ginny’s eyes went wide in surprise and shock, Harry had been expecting this very reaction so he was prepared for it. So without being asked, he sat down in the chair opposite his old girlfriend to wait for her to recover. He had put a lot of thought in to this meeting, having planed it in his mind for the last two years.

He had wanted it to be in a public place, so that Ginny would feel a little inhibited about expressing strong emotion. There were major shocks coming for Ginny that night and he wanted to make sure that a public place would give her a feeling of flexibility to escape, if the horror that he thought himself to be became too much for her to bare.

"Harry, is it really you, under there?" Ginny said regaining a bit of her composure

"No, the Harry you knew died, three years ago. What you see before you, is a blind, speechless, cripple war veteran, covered head to foot with hideous scars. The same blast which ended Voldemort life, also robbed me of my ability to see, speak and all my body hair."

"So, no Gin-Gin, I am not the Harry Potter you remember. His soul is inside of this disfigured horribly burnt shell that sits here with you but that is all that is left of him."

"I sometimes feel that you would be better off remembering your teenage lover and fiancée as I was then, rather than the thing I have become now."

"I remember quite well our first meeting after the battle, it was during rounds and I was in the death ward. You took one look at the fresh raw meat that was my body, then promptly turned bright green and ran from the room."

"I realize that you didn’t know it was me. In fact being blind I couldn’t actually see it was ‘you’ who ran from the room. It was your fellow apprenticed healers who you left behind that verbally identified (*by name*) the healer that had run off. None of your classmates, by the way, have much of a bedside manner. For they openly discussed my revolting physical appearance right in front of me without once checking to see if I could hear what they were saying.

Their lack of caring for a patient is disappointing, but not half as much as the fact that the sight of me sickened you. It is the memory of that which has made this meeting so difficult for me to face."

"Can you ever forgive me for that" Ginny said reaching out for a gloved hand resting on the table.

"Nothing to forgive Ginny, you didn’t know. I just hope that, now that you know how impossible any relationship with what I have become is, you can at last find some closure."

"Hold on, what’s this. Are you dumping me as your fiancée?" Ginny said more than a little worried.

"Ginny, be reasonable" the voice in her head declared. "You have no idea about how I look Starkers."

"If you are as blind as you say you are, you don’t know what you look like in the buff either." Ginny said with a smile trying to lighten the mood

"Answer me this Harry," Ginny asked turning deadly serious. "It’s important to me. Do you or don’t you still love me?" the significance of this simple question was a plain as the concern written all over her face.

Harry had been struggling with this very question for two years now, trying to balance his personal needs and desires with his wish for Ginny’s happiness. Everything depended on his answer. Then gathering his courage to do the right thing he said directly into her mind:

"Ginny ... Ah ... I won’t lie to you. So the truth is ..."

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

To be continued comments welcome, flames are not!

Authors’ Notes: I thought I saw a cliffhanger,

I did, ¼ I did see a cliffhanger!

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Chapter 6: Doctor Livingston I Presume

Chapter six: Doctor Livingston I presume

7108 Words ... Rated: ‘R’, for sexual innuendo and language

Category: UA or it will be the moment book six of HP comes out

Warning :

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Authors notes: this is posted on SIYE, non-beta proof-reader checked

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From: Dumbledore the senior

To: Junior

Subject: How’s it going

I am dying here, why couldn’t I come along. I have a stake in this too

Albus

>>>>>>>>>>

From: You know why

To: Don’t get your knickers in a twist

Subject: Re: How’s it going

Well they are still here and still talking, which is a good sign. From a couple of shocked looks on Ginevra’s face, I believe he has told her about the nature of his injuries. That she hasn’t run away in horror could be considered a positive development. By the way how are Ronald and the Countess getting on?

The younger and better looking Dumbledore

Abie

>>>>>>>>>>

From: big ‘D’

To: little ‘D’

Subject: Re (2): How’s it going

R/H are in the parlour snogging, and have been doing so since arriving at my cottage twenty minutes ago. I am thinking of throwing cold water on the two of them to bring the ‘heat’ in the room down.

Remarkable isn’t it, the re-transformation of Claudette d’Ormon back into (at least partially) Hermione Granger. I don’t recall anything like it before, most remarkable. I have the necklace by the way in a silver box on the mantel over my fireplace. I have removed the last of the Imperius curse on it, which was easier to detect off the neck of the Countess then when it was on her.

Just so you know, Molly laid down the law to her children concerning the Countess and Ronald. The gist of it, from what I overheard, is that their will be dire consequences to any Weasley or their associates who interfere with their youngest brother and his "lady friend" (her words not mine) during their attempted reconciliation.

Lee Jordan, a business partner of the Weasley twins arrived at the castle, just as the impromptu welcome home Hermione celebration was winding down. Last I saw of him he was following the current headmistress of Hogwarts in the general direction of Minerva’s private quarters.

Ah to be young again, a mere child of seventy. Apparently the little wand battle in the great hall has gotten Minerva all worked up and ‘tense’ (if you know what I mean).

So I believe that Mr. Jordan punishment for the Weasley / d’Ormon meeting indiscretion will be postponed until Min has worked off her current state of stress related tension. Poor boy, I fear he will have difficulty walking in the morning.

Well I am going to have to break up the wrestling match in my parlour, as I recall Arthur wanted a few words with his son tonight. Moreover, I don’t want him pounding on my door to drag his son home, it will disturb my phoenix.

I will be up awhile, so keep me posted on any H/G developments.

Albus

>>>>>>>>>>

From: A. D. the spy

To: Stop watching R/H snog

Subject: De-latest

Dearest brother, guess what I just overheard thanks to a pair Weasley extendable ears. He is using muggle telepathy (drat) so I have no idea what he is saying to her.

Ginevra on the other hand is verbalizing her responses so I was able to hear her ask the ‘L’ question. If just facial expressions are any indication at all of the nature of his response, well let me put it this way. I don’t believe anyone has seen a bigger smile on that girl’s face in a very-very long time.

Now they aren’t exactly tearing each other’s clothing off, but we knew this was going to go slow if at all. However, I can tell you that he did removed one of his gloves. Its scared badly just like the rest of him and I believe, he did it to give her just a peek at his injuries. But I can tell you that she took a hold of that hand without hesitation, and I doubt he expected that reaction at all.

All in all, this has been a most promising evening.

Abie

>>>>>>>>>

"Remember Ginny, No one must know I am alive. If you do wish to continue to see me, even half as much as I do you. The public impression must be that you are ‘seeing’ Professor James Evander the duelling master at Hogwarts. Your family won’t like that at all, and you know it. I don’t really blame them for I also think you can do better than ... well, lets say a disabled war veteran.” the voice in her head declared softly.

"Well I really wasn’t in two places, what you saw was a Doppelganger, which is a German word for a kind of magical duplicate. I needed one to fill in for me while I did my hooded wizard trick. After all professors Evander was supposed to be unconscious and tied up while the main show was on. It wasn’t as if my copy had to walk or talk. All mine was required to do was just lay there like a big out-cold lump, with just a bit of extra magic to make it look like it was breathing. I don’t think anyone in the great hall, not even you Ginny, gave the unconscious professor Evander a second glance.” Harry said with amusement thick in his telepathic message.

"Point taken" Ginny said resigning herself to hearing Harry’s voice inside her head from now on.

"What am I suppose to say to all this sexual innuendo?” The voice in Ginny’s mind asked.

"Ginny your incorrigible!” The voice in her mind (clearly amused) declared.

"Harr... James two quick requests and I will understand if you don’t want to fulfil the second one. One, can I see you tomorrow? And two: Will you let me kiss you goodnight?”

Ginny knew she was pushing things a bit, especially if you consider that this was her first semi-date with her former boyfriend in three years. But she was desperate to see the worse, in other words she wanted to see his face.

For his part, the former Harry James Potter had suspected that just exposing a single hand wouldn’t be enough for Ginny. Sooner or later, if he wanted any future with her at all, Harry knew deep down, that he would have to reveal himself to Ginny in all his scared and deformed glory.

Picture in your mind a twenty-one year old wizard completely devoid of any facial or body hair, meaning completely bald, no beard or for that matter eyebrows. Try to visualize every single inch of the pale white skin on Harry’s head and face covered with long red (paper cut) thin scars, criss-crossing his face like the lines on a London city map. And finally try to imagine two cloudy white eyes, two sightless orbs in place of Harry’s green eyes. Put all these mental images together and you will understand what Ginny saw when her long lost boyfriend lowered his hood.

"No, this is how I appear from head to foot, or at least so I have been told" the voice in her mind declared does "Does this mean you no longer find my appearance disgusting?”

Now I know that being a healer, physical disabilities don’t bother you, but you must expect some negative reactions from your brothers. After all they gave Harry Potter the ‘hero’ a rough time why should you expect them to behave any differently with James.

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