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SIYE Time:12:01 on 29th March 2024
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Meaning of One, Part One: Stone and Fire
By Sovran

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Category: Alternate Universe
Characters:Albus Dumbledore, Harry/Ginny, Hermione Granger, Minerva McGonagall, Ron Weasley
Genres: Action/Adventure, Angst, Drama, General, Humor
Warnings: Violence
Story is Complete
Rating: R
Reviews: 1026
Summary: If two people are deliberately created to be together, how will the challenges in a world of magic and Dark Lords be dealt with? What would it mean for two people to truly become one? A re-imagination of first year.
Hitcount: Story Total: 547592; Chapter Total: 31355
Awards: View Trophy Room




Author's Notes:
Thanks to my pre-beta (Moshpit), beta (Jonathan Avery), and brit-picker (treecat) for their help on this chapter. Jeconais gets full credit for the Potter family motto, even though I'm not using it as such.




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Very early Tuesday morning, Harry and Ginny were rudely awakened by Percy Weasley, who had risen early. He found them on the same sofa, with their heads resting on small pillows at both ends and their legs intertwined.

“Ginevra Weasley! What are you doing sleeping in the common room?” Percy asked loudly, startling the two children.

Harry bolted upright and backed into the corner of the sofa, mortified. Ginny woke up less abruptly, and then she sat up and faced her brother drowsily. Fortunately, she was awake enough to handle Percy properly.

“We were studying Herbology last night, Percival, and we fell asleep. See?” She pointed to their books, which had fallen to the floor.

The studious boy found it difficult to object to the pair’s apparent dedication to their schoolwork, but he was not completely mollified. “Well, it is certainly advisable to read ahead as much as possible, but you should not be doing so in the common room after hours. Read in your own rooms if you feel that you need more time after curfew.”

“Yes, Percy, that’s a good idea,” Ginny responded, mentally rolling her eyes for Harry’s benefit. Harry only nodded, and then they picked up their books and headed for their respective dormitories.

How much of that book did you actually read, Harry?

I don’t know,
he mused. I’m sure I must have read something, but all I can remember is the title page.

Tsk tsk,
she chided. You should be more studious, like me. I read the table of contents.

Yes, Percival. That’s a good idea, Percival.
He grinned as he climbed back into his bed to wait for the rest of the tower to stir.

Ginny giggled silently. He still was not sure how they managed to convey expressions and giggling without actually doing anything, but it worked. He had no idea why Ginny found giggling so appealing, either.

It’s a girl thing, Harry. You’d better get used to it.

Oh, I don’t mind. I just don’t understand, and I don’t mind not understanding, either.

Good boy, Harry.
Her tone became more serious. You slept well, right?

Yes, amazingly well, thanks. I only had that nightmare once, for a few minutes, and I don’t remember any other dreams.

Same here,
she agreed. I can’t imagine why that couch would be more comfortable than our beds, but I’m not going to complain if it lets us sleep.

I’d rather not get caught again, though. I thought Percy was going to kill me,
Harry complained.

If we end up down there again, we’ll set the alarm on your watch to go off before he gets up. Then we can come back up here for the rest of the morning. That way, at least we get a few hours of good sleep.

You’re very handy to have around, Ginevra,
he teased gently. She did not mind her full name when he used it.

Why thank you, Mr. Potter.

That evening, after another full day of classes, they had to put Ginny’s plan into action. They tossed and turned in their own beds until almost two in the morning then gave up and went downstairs.

Okay, Harry, let’s pick two sofas, Ginny suggested. This time we can stretch out properly.

He left her the sofa they had shared the previous night so that she could be closer to the fire. He chose a slightly shorter sofa off to the side. It was long enough for him and had a thick blanket draped across its back.

Thank you, she said, touched by his thoughtfulness.

You’re welcome, Ginny. You always feel colder than I do, he explained.

They settled down and said their goodnights after making sure that the alarm on Harry’s watch was set for five o’clock. It only took them a few minutes to realize that they were unable to sleep.

I don’t understand, Harry. Last night we fell asleep easily, and now we’re on the same couches and we can’t sleep at all. What’s going on? Ginny asked, frustrated.

Beats me, but it’s getting old.

It couldn’t have been the Herbology book… neither one of us managed to actually read any of it,
she mused.

Are you in the same position you were in last night? Harry asked.

Yes, exactly the same. I even gave up on my pillow. Everything’s the same, but I can’t sleep.

Maybe we should just go back to our rooms, then,
he sighed. He knew that if she could not figure out the problem, then he would not be able to.

Stop it, Harry. We can’t figure it out. You’re in here, too, even if you don’t say much. She sighed audibly and sat up. There’s no point in going back upstairs. Come and sit with me, Harry. Misery loves company.

Harry got up and walked around to where she was sitting cross-legged at the end of her sofa. Rather than sitting next to her, he elected to recline on the floor with his back resting against the sofa beside her. He leaned his head back onto the cushion and looked up at her.

We’re going to go nutters if we don’t get any sleep at night, Ginny.

I know,
she said. We’ll think of something, though. If nothing else works, maybe we could ask the school nurse for help.

I guess that’s better than not sleeping,
he replied.

They stared into the fire, both of their thoughts and memories wandering through their minds. After a few minutes, Ginny unfolded her legs to let them hang off the front of the sofa. Her bare right foot brushed gently against Harry’s left arm.

As Ginny showed Harry her memories of Christmas, which he had never experienced, he fell asleep with his head on the sofa’s cushion. A few minutes later Ginny followed him into slumber.

***

Wednesday morning, Harry’s alarm woke them. He turned it off, and then he tried to stand up from where he leaned against the sofa. He succeeded, but he found that his body was extremely stiff and sore. Ginny had fared better, sleeping upright on the sofa, but she too was suffering from spending the night in an unusual position.

As they stretched, they carefully focused on their own movements to avoid feeling the other person’s discomfort in addition to their own. When they felt a bit better, they went upstairs to their beds.

It was awfully uncomfortable, but I slept really well anyway, Ginny commented.

Yeah, I’ll be sore all day, but at least I’ll be awake.

Wait a minute, Harry!
Ginny said excitedly, if we were able to sleep even though we were uncomfortable, that means it’s not our beds that are the problem. Lying in any bed is more comfortable than sitting up on a couch or on the floor, right?

Definitely. Even Dudley’s old mattress would have been an improvement,
Harry added.

Then it has to be something else, she continued quickly. The only other difference between the common room and our dormitories is that in the common room, we were touching. The first night, our feet were together, and last night my foot was up against your arm. Remember how we said it felt nicer, more comfortable when we were touching, and how the power test was different? That has to be it!

Harry could not find any objection to her reasoning. So I guess we keep sneaking downstairs at night?

I guess so,
she agreed. At least now that we know, we can start off that way and not wait to stumble onto it every night.

That night, they made no effort to sleep in their beds. The two of them stayed awake in the common room until one of the prefects shooed the remaining students upstairs. They changed into their nightclothes and waited in their dormitories for another half hour, then crept downstairs with their pillows. Sharing a sofa in the same positions they had the first night, they quickly fell asleep.

Two hours later, Ginny was awakened from a nightmare by the sofa’s shaking beneath her. Uncurling and sitting up, she looked at the other end of the sofa and found Harry thrashing against the cushions.

Harry?

Thank goodness you woke up, Ginny. That one is awful, and I never manage to wake up on my own.


Ginny realized that she had been having Harry’s nightmare herself. The flash of green light and the cold laughter still looped in her head, and she tried to focus on her own vision to avoid it.

Why is it so bad? We’ve only had that nightmare once, for a few minutes, since we’ve been touching at night. This has been going on for ages.

I don’t know,
he replied.

Oh no! When I woke up I had my knees tucked up to my chest. I must have pulled my feet away from yours. We haven’t been touching at all.

Ginny crawled across the cushions and wedged herself between Harry’s body and the back of the sofa. Reaching across his body, she took his right hand in her left and pushed her own right hand under his neck. It was an uncomfortable embrace, but it was enough.

Harry’s body calmed, and the nightmare stopped repeating. I’m sorry, Harry, she said.

Why? You had to see the nightmare, too, and you can’t control how you sleep.

I’ll be more careful anyway, I promise.


Once Harry was sleeping comfortably, she slid back towards her end of the sofa, careful to hold his hand until she could transfer her grip to his foot. She rolled awkwardly onto her side and trapped one of Harry’s ankles between her calves. There, that should keep us together.

Thanks. Try to get back to sleep.

You’re welcome, Harry.


***

Harry sat up against his headboard Thursday evening while waiting for the other students to fall asleep. He was trying to think of ways to be more comfortable while touching at night. Maybe we can push two couches together, Ginny. That way we could stretch out and cross our ankles or something.

It’s worth a try,
she responded. We’d have to put them back in the morning, and find a way to move them without making any noise.

I hadn’t thought of that,
he admitted.

This is so unfair! We shouldn’t have to sneak around in the common room just to get some sleep! If Snape is half as bad as everyone says he is, we need to be awake for his class.

I know, Ginny, but I can’t think of anything else we can do.

Well, I can,
she said firmly. Stay put. I’m coming up there.

Ginny, you can’t . . .
he began, but he was cut off.

Ginny had also been sitting on her bed, and as she pushed off of her mattress to go downstairs, she vanished from her dormitory and reappeared a few inches above the foot of Harry’s bed. Her body was still trying to push itself up, but she only managed to fall down to the bed and forward onto her face. Harry helped her up, and they sat facing each other as the curtains swayed gently around them.

How are you doing that, Ginny? I really don’t think the castle decided that you should be in my room.

I don’t know. I wanted to come up here, and when I started to move, here I was.


Harry was shocked. You can move around just by wanting to go someplace? That’s not normal, is it?

I’ve never heard of it before,
she confirmed. Did it make any noise or light or anything?

No, you just appeared. Can you go back if you want to?
he asked.

I can try. Ginny pictured her own bed and focused on wanting to go there. They waited a few moments, but nothing happened. Help me, Harry. Do you see how my bed looks? My stuffed bear is next to my pillow. Picture me sitting on my bed, just like I’m sitting on yours now.

Okay,
he said. Ginny still did not move.

Try thinking about wanting me to be there. She giggled. You don’t want Ron catching me here, do you?

Harry’s eyes widened in fear, and Ginny vanished from his room. Focusing on her vision, he saw that she was in her bed, sitting at the foot, looking over at her pillow and the large stuffed bear.

We did it! he thought, but then he noticed that Ginny was very disturbed by something and beginning to panic. Ginny, what’s wrong? he asked frantically.

My leg . . . look at my leg, Harry!

He checked her vision again and found her staring at her right knee. She was kneeling on her bed, and a tall wrinkle in her bedspread ran up to her leg, and then looked like it went into her leg. Now that he saw it, he could feel it, too. It did not hurt, but it was very uncomfortable on her skin and definitely did not belong.

Ginny shifted her weight and tried to pull her knee away from the bedspread, but the fabric moved with her. She seemed attached to it.

What do I do? she asked. Harry could feel her starting to cry.

Come back here, Ginny. He carefully smoothed his own bedspread to eliminate wrinkles. Try to get just above the bed, instead of on the bedspread.

He focused on the empty end of his bed and willed her to arrive without the blanket stuck in her knee. After a moment, as she desperately tried to focus enough to see through his eyes, she appeared. This time she landed softly from an inch or two above the bed, and Harry thought the air itself sighed in relief as Ginny appeared safely.

Quickly, she scrambled up to her feet and looked at her legs. There was no sign of her bedspread and no indication that anything had happened to her knee. She collapsed back down towards Harry and wrapped her arms tightly around his chest, burying her face in his shoulder and crying softly.

Harry had no idea what to do, so he hugged her back and let her cry. In a moment of inspiration, he quickly shuffled through her memories to find other times she had cried, and what her family had done then. He found a scene where Charlie had been holding her just as Harry was now. Charlie had stroked her hair with one hand and rocked her, telling her she was okay.

It was the right thing to do. Ginny saw him perusing her memories and knew what he was going to do, but she still relaxed as he ran his hand down her long hair and swayed gently. “It’s okay, Ginny. You’re alright. We won’t let it happen again,” he whispered aloud, over and over. The heavy curtains around his bed kept the other boys from hearing her quiet tears and his soft words.

A few minutes later, Ginny looked up at him and smiled slightly. Thanks, Harry. I’m okay now. It was a really weird feeling, and I was afraid I’d be stuck like that.

I was scared too, Gin.
He had picked up the nickname from the same memory, but she did not seem to mind his using it.

You didn’t start bawling, though, she admitted ruefully.

He shrugged. I was never allowed to cry.

He felt her settling herself mentally, and she pulled away from his shoulder to sit next to him. So, she said, we both have to want me to move, and we both have to be looking at, or picturing, where we want me to go. And, she grinned, it’s very important to go where there’s nothing in the way.

Do you think I can do it, too?
Harry asked.

I don’t know, but I don’t think we should try it with my room. One of the prefects told me that there are alarms on the girls’ stairs to keep boys out. I don’t know how they work, but we wouldn’t want to set them off accidentally.

Harry agreed completely.

We could try the common room, though, she continued. Wait here.

She pulled apart the curtains around his bed and peeked out to be sure his roommates were all asleep. Carefully, she stepped out of his bed and tiptoed across the room to the door. It opened silently, and she padded down to the common room.

Walking over to their favorite couch and facing it directly, she said, Okay, Harry. Look at the couch with me, and want to be here. Wanting was easy. It would be amazing to be able to travel that way. Harry focused on her view of the sofa and pictured himself standing a few inches above the middle seat cushion. Ginny picked the scene out of his imagination and concentrated on it, too.

A moment later, air rushed by Harry’s ears, and he fell to the floor of the common room.

Picture yourself sitting down next time, Ginny giggled as she helped him to his feet.

I had a hard time seeing myself sitting in midair, he replied, embarrassed.

Oh. I didn’t think of that. She paused. Who cares? It worked!

It’s really strange to find yourself somewhere else and not feel anything change,
Harry said.

Yeah, but I think we’ll get used to it. It will certainly make sleeping easier.

How?
he asked.

I’ll go to my room each night, and you can go to yours, she explained. Once our curtains are both closed, I’ll pop over to your room, and we can get some sleep. In the morning, I’ll go back. Nobody will mess with my bed during the night, so I can remember how it looks and pop there without sticking myself to the bedclothes.

Are you sure it’s okay for you to sleep in my bed, Ginny?
he asked hesitantly.

Do you want to sleep at all?

He admitted that she had an excellent point.

Besides, how will anyone know? Ginny continued. We can learn a charm to make sure the curtains stay closed. That will keep anyone from opening them unexpectedly. Then, if anyone tries to wake you up or something, I can pop back to my room before they know I’m there.

You’re right, I guess. Again.

You’re learning, Harry,
she beamed at him, inside and out, and he could tell how much she appreciated his respect for her. Now let’s get some sleep. You aim for the head of the bed, and I’ll aim for the foot.

They pictured their respective destinations and willed themselves to travel. Nothing happened.

I guess we can’t both do it at the same time, Ginny commented. You go first, then. I’m going to run to my room to get my pillow anyway.

He returned to his bed easily and pulled the curtains closed. Then he sat near his pillow and looked at the foot of his bed to give Ginny a clear view. In the meantime, she had returned to her room to straighten her bedspread and retrieve her pillow. A moment later, she was there. This time, she appeared only an inch above the bedclothes, and she sank into them with a slight bounce and a billowing of her loose hair.

I can’t wait to get some decent sleep in a real bed. It feels like it’s been ages, she said, crawling up next to him as he lay down.

How did you get the pillow here? he asked.

I figured that if my clothes came along when I popped, then my pillow would, too.

She put her pillow next to his and stretched out on her back with a sigh.

You’ll have to remember not to talk or make too much noise when you’re here, Ginny. I don’t think I could explain a girl’s voice coming from my curtains.

She giggled very softly.

Touch my hand, Harry. I’m tired.

His left hand found her right, and they could feel the sense of comfort they had experienced downstairs. This time, however, they were awake enough to notice it before they fell asleep. Finally, the bed feels right, Ginny sighed.

Harry silently agreed, and they fell deeply asleep.

***

As usual, Harry woke up first the following morning, and Ginny found herself sharing his body with him. She was embarrassed to see that she had curled into a ball next to Harry with her arms wrapped around his waist under his pajama shirt and her head resting on his stomach.

Since you’re not moving, I’m guessing that you’re not really awake yet, he said.

Ginny was mortified. I’m sorry, Harry. That’s how I slept with my bear back at home. In my sleep I must have decided you were Snuggles.

Snuggles?
he teased.

I was two when I named him, okay? Mum made me that bear while she was pregnant, and I’ve had it with me every night of my life until this week.

Bring him along next time, then. I don’t mind if you hold on to me, but if you want ‘Snuggles’ I won’t stop you.

Thanks, Harry, that’s really nice of you,
she said, considering it. I might bring him along to sit by my pillow, but I think you’ll do, otherwise. If it’s really okay with you.

I always wanted a stuffed bear. Now, I can be one. That’s close enough for me.

I’d hug you, Harry, but I already am. Wake me up anyway, though. You need to use the loo, and I can’t count things without my own eyes.


He roused her gently, and she smiled up at him as she woke up. They concentrated, and she popped safely back to her room. She pushed the billowing curtains apart and got out of bed.

We slept really well, didn’t we? she asked as she gathered her things for the morning.

Yes, it was great. We even got to get up at a normal time. That dream about your car flying was crazy, though. Was that from your memory?

Yeah, Dad bewitched it. It flies pretty well, actually, but he only plays with it when Mum’s out for the day,
she explained. Is there really a place where Muggles keep animals in cages, or did we make that up?

The zoo? It’s real. I got to go on Dudley’s birthday. The gorillas weren’t really pink, though.

Pity.


A short while later, they descended to the common room from their respective staircases and found Professor McGonagall waiting for them. Her lips were tightly compressed, and her nostrils flared as she breathed. The room was utterly silent, and the other students stayed as far from her as possible on their way out of the tower.

“Mr. Potter, Miss Weasley. Come with me,” she said. Not bothering to wait for a response or to see if they obeyed her, she spun back to the portrait hole and left the tower.

***

(Twenty minutes earlier)

Minerva McGonagall poured herself a cup of tea and positioned herself in a chair facing the south wall of her sitting room. She began each day in the same way, with her dressing gown, a cup of tea, and that particular wall.

The south wall did not have a fireplace or a window. It was completely uninteresting, on its own. What hung on the south wall, however, was a different matter entirely.

Over a decade ago, five of her students had presented her with a gift on their very last day at Hogwarts. They had handed her a large roll of blank canvas, cautioned her to open it in private, and one of them had leaned over to whisper in her ear, “Mischief monitored, Professor. Don’t forget.”

It had taken her almost a week to discover the purpose of this odd gift. Now, it hung on the south wall of her sitting room. Each morning, she activated it and watched it for a few minutes.

On the canvas was a map of Gryffindor tower. Each level of the tower was shown separately, from the common room at the bottom to the seventh year dormitories at the top. Each class of students shared a level of the tower, but a solid stone wall divided each floor into boys’ and girls’ rooms. Separate staircases from the common room spiraled up one side of the tower, with doors at each level. Due to a mild confundus charm on the stairs, few students ever realized that they shared a wall with their classmates of the opposite gender.

The most impressive feature of this sheet of canvas was not its detailed knowledge of Gryffindor tower itself. Rather, it was its knowledge of the tower’s inhabitants. Each student in Gryffindor was represented by a large dot labeled with his or her name, and the dots moved when the students did.

Normally, McGonagall enjoyed watching the map at this hour of the morning because it was orderly. Aside from the occasional diligent prefect, all of the students were still in bed. Each semicircular room contained a neat, even fan of three to six unmoving dots. With a glance, the Professor could see that all of her charges were accounted for.

On this particular morning, however, something unusual caught her eye. The first year dormitory should have had four dots on the left side and five dots on the right, but today there were only three dots on the left. Ginny Weasley was not in her bed.

Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, she was not hard to find. Directly across the tower on the same level, in the boys’ side, was a single dot labeled ‘Ginny Weasley & Harry Potter’.

McGonagall was outraged. This sort of thing never happened in Gryffindor. The Heads of House heard about scandalous activities in the Slytherin dungeon a few times each year, and it was assumed that something was going on among the older Hufflepuffs on any given weekend. But Gryffindors? It was unheard of. In her experience, Minerva thought, the Gryffindors found much more creative places for their assignations.

The students involved were first years, which meant it was more innocent than it could have been, or at least she hoped it was. Still, what would their parents think? Minerva sighed. Glancing at the bottom right corner of the canvas, she muttered, “Prongs would be proud, I’m sure.” Molly, on the other hand, would be anything but amused, regardless of the children’s ages.

As the transfiguration professor stared at the two problematic dots, trying to decide how to handle the situation, one of them vanished and reappeared on the proper side of the tower. McGonagall was shocked. Ginny had not walked down to the common room or even over to the connecting wall. She had somehow transported herself from one room to the other. It appeared that Miss Weasley’s appearance at the sorting might not have been the castle’s doing, after all.

That conclusion settled the matter of what to do with the odd pair. They would all have to visit with the Headmaster as soon as possible to discuss the students’ indiscretion and Ginny’s method of travel. Minerva tossed a pinch of Floo powder into her fireplace, clearly stated “Headmaster’s Office”, and put her head and shoulders into the green blaze.

Seeing that Dumbledore was seated at his desk, she remained only long enough to say, “Albus, I’m bringing two students to see you. Do not go anywhere.” Then, she pulled herself out of the fire and began dressing for the day.

***

Ginny, Harry, and Professor McGonagall rode the spiral staircase up to the Headmaster’s office in apparent silence. The two children, however, were anything but calm.

She knows, Harry.

Maybe they just want to talk about our classes?
He offered hopefully.

We haven’t done anything in our classes except share a wand, and they know all about that. McGonagall must have found out we were in your room somehow. They might expel me for this, Harry. Ginny was worried. She had not planned to be at Hogwarts this year, but she loved it and did not want to go back home now.

Us, you mean. They could send me back to the Dursleys, too.

She shook her head slightly. It’s different for you, Harry. They can’t expel the Boy Who Lived. What would people think?

Well, they’d better be ready to expel me if they want to expel you.


Before Ginny could respond, Professor McGonagall pushed open the door to the Headmaster’s office and ushered them inside. Dumbledore was sitting at his desk, sipping tea and waiting for them.

“Good morning, Professor McGonagall, Miss Weasley, Mr. Potter. To what do I owe the pleasure of such an early visit?” he asked cheerfully, his eyes twinkling as he glanced at the Transfiguration Professor.

“Headmaster, perhaps you would like to ask Miss Weasley where she slept last night,” the stern woman replied, clearly restraining herself.

The old man turned to Ginny. “Miss Weasley?”

Ginny raised her chin and looked the Headmaster in the eye. “We slept in Harry’s room, sir, in his bed.”

Dumbledore’s eyebrows rose above the rims of his glasses, but he did not seem surprised. “That’s very interesting. May I ask why you chose to sleep there?”

“It’s more comfortable than the sofas in the common room, sir,” she said simply.

Rule number two. If you’re caught, and you know it, stand up straight and tell the truth as much as possible without making things worse.

“Is it also more comfortable than your own bed, Miss Weasley?” McGonagall asked sarcastically.

“No, ma’am, probably not, but Harry would set off the alarms on the girls’ stairs.”

Harry could have sworn he saw Dumbledore grin slightly behind his beard.

“Perhaps you’d like to tell us why you felt the need to sleep next to Mr. Potter, then?” he asked Ginny.

Now we’re getting somewhere, Ginny explained. Once they’re listening to your side of the story, you have a chance to survive the lecture.

“As I said, sir, it’s more comfortable,” she repeated. “The first night we were here, we slept in our own beds. We had horrible nightmares and didn’t get much rest at all. The next three nights, we couldn’t fall asleep in our rooms, and we ended up on the sofas in the common room. After Percy caught us the first night, we set an alarm and went back upstairs before anyone woke up in the morning.

“Finally, we figured out that we only felt comfortable enough to sleep if we were touching, and it didn’t matter where we were. Last night I decided it was silly to have to deal with sofas and alarms. So I went up to Harry’s room, and we slept there, holding hands. We finally got a good night’s sleep, too.”

“I see. Mr. Potter, do you agree with Miss Weasley’s version of events?” Dumbledore asked.

Harry shrugged. “Ginny sees what I see and feels what I feel, sir.” Ginny had a sudden hunch, and Harry acted on it. “Apparently she dreams what I dream, too.”

Ginny spoke next, on cue. “Professor, what spell makes a bright green flash? Is it a joke spell? Because someone was laughing about it.”

Dumbledore paled.

“I see,” the Headmaster repeated. He visibly shook himself and then continued. “So you find yourselves unable to sleep properly unless you are in physical contact?” They nodded, and he leaned forward in his chair.

“Harry, Ginny, you must understand that all of the rules here at Hogwarts are in place for a reason. I trust that you two are entirely innocent in your actions, but allowing any students to sleep together will make the other students think it is acceptable for them to do so also. For the older students, and for the two of you in the future, it simply cannot be allowed. Do you understand?” They nodded hesitantly.

“Very well. We will speak with Madam Pomfrey about this and find a solution that does not involve your sharing a bed. In the meantime, we will provide you with a small dose of Dreamless Sleep potion. I must insist that you not sleep together in your rooms, the common room, or anywhere else.”

“But, Headmaster,” Ginny began, “we can’t take potions forever. We just want to . . .”

Dumbledore cut her off, “I am afraid that it cannot be allowed, Miss Weasley.”

Harry’s anger, which had been slowly fading since he arrived at Hogwarts, returned in full force. Ginny felt Harry becoming enraged and got angrier herself that the Headmaster was having such an effect on Harry. The temperature in the room rose several degrees in response.

I’ll hex him into next week! Ginny fumed.

Wait, Ginny. I have an idea. Maybe we can get all of this out of the way at the same time.

Okay, Harry, but if it doesn’t work, he’ll have bats where he doesn’t have any bogeys.

What?
he asked, confused. She quickly showed him a memory of the last time she had used the Bat Bogey Hex. That’s great! We’ll have to use that one someday.

It’ll be today if you don’t get started,
she warned.

He returned his full attention to Dumbledore, and Harry’s anger made him bold. “With all due respect, Headmaster, I don’t think you can stop us.”

“Mr. Potter!” McGonagall began, outraged. “You will not speak to the Headmaster in such a tone!”

“I assure you, Mr. Potter, that we can.” Dumbledore warned, his expression tightening. “The dormitories have very effective magical wards, though we do not normally use them. Even I cannot pass through those wards without the proper counterspell. How could you do it?”

“Like this, Headmaster.”

With that, he thought of his bed back in Gryffindor tower and wanted Ginny to be there. She caught on and vanished almost instantly.

Okay, Ginny?

I’m fine.
She caught a stray lock of her hair and tucked it behind her ear. What now?

Be ready to come back, but see if you can arrive just behind the Headmaster this time.


“Ginny’s in my room now, Headmaster. Would you like to try your warding spell?” Harry challenged.

He did something, Harry. I heard the door close, and the room is buzzing now.

“If Miss Weasley is in fact in your room, she will now find it impossible to leave.” Dumbledore’s expression had become grave, though he did not yet appear to be angry. “Minerva, please locate Miss Weasley and bring her back here.”

Professor McGonagall stepped to the fire, tossed in a handful of Floo powder, and shouted “Gryffindor Common Room!” as she stepped into the green flames.

Ginny opened the curtains on Harry’s bed and perched at the end, facing the door. A moment later it opened, revealing McGonagall on the other side. The professor cast a spell on herself silently and then stepped through the hazy blue light which filled the doorway. As soon as she spotted Ginny on Harry’s bed, Ginny winked broadly at the older woman and popped back to the Headmaster’s office, leaving her Head of House staring at the curtains as they fell closed. Ginny appeared behind Dumbledore’s chair and swayed slightly as she fell the last half-inch to the floor.

“Hello, Headmaster,” she said from directly behind him. Then she popped back to her original place beside Harry as the candle flames in the room danced briefly. “Professor McGonagall will be along shortly, I’m sure.”

Harry addressed Dumbledore again. “Didn’t you say that you shouldn’t try telling Ginny what is and is not possible, sir?”

McGonagall emerged from the fire in a controlled tumble and nodded briefly to the Headmaster, confirming Ginny’s location of a moment before.

“Indeed, Mr. Potter, it seems that Miss Weasley has surprised me once again. I am certain, however, that if I were to send her home, her mother would be sure that she did not wander.”

“You’re probably right, Headmaster,” he shrugged, unconcerned. “That’s okay, though. I’d really like to visit the Burrow in person. Want to go, Ginny?”

Harry, we can’t go to the Burrow! We could land on something and get stuck.

They don’t know that. Remember this spot, Gin. We’ll go to your bed this time. If you went through the wards on my room, I should be able to go into yours. You pop there and let me see it, then I’ll pop to the other end of your bed.

Okay, Harry. I hope this works.


Ginny vanished. Harry grinned slightly, his fringe rustling against his forehead, and followed her. They faced each other on her bed for a moment, then popped back to Dumbledore’s office. Harry arrived first this time. Fortunately, neither Dumbledore nor McGonagall had moved, and their landing place was empty.

“You’re right, Ginny, it’s wonderful,” he said aloud. “Smells like bacon for breakfast, too.”

Fortune favors the bold, eh, Harry? Ginny said, amused at his cheek.

Whatever it takes, Ginny.

This time, both Professors were clearly shocked. As far as they knew, two first year students had just transported themselves two hundred kilometers away and then returned, all without regard to the wards designed to prevent magical transit.

“How did you do that, Mr. Potter?” McGonagall asked.

“We don’t know, Professor. But it seems to work, doesn’t it?” he answered.

Harry decided it was time to stop playing with their new ability. “Headmaster, Professor, we’re really not interested in breaking rules or starting fights for the fun of it. We just can’t sleep when we’re separated. Ginny came up with a way to keep anyone from finding out that she’s in my room, and she can get there without anyone knowing. If you’ll teach us how to charm our curtains closed, we’ll promise to make sure it stays a secret.”

Professor McGonagall was slowly reddening, but the Headmaster seemed willing to discuss the matter. “You are aware that I could simply expel you both, aren’t you?”

Ginny gave Harry the insight he needed. “Yes, sir,” Harry replied evenly. “You could. But you won’t, will you?”

Dumbledore stared at Harry with his eyes narrowed for a long moment. “No, I won’t,” he agreed at last. “Very well, Miss Weasley, you have my permission to sleep in Mr. Potter’s room provided that you are not seen and that you fulfill one other condition.

“Tonight, the two of you will visit the Burrow. If you can obtain Mrs. Weasley’s permission to share a room, I will allow it here at Hogwarts. Agreed?”

It was Harry’s turn to pale, and Ginny gulped audibly.

Being able to sleep is worth it, right? she asked.

She’s your mother, Ginny. If you don’t want to have to tell her about it, we’ll find another way to get some sleep, he replied.

His quiet acceptance of her decision strengthened her resolve. We can do it, Harry. I’ll find a way to convince her.

“Agreed, Headmaster,” Ginny said aloud.

Dumbledore nodded. “I will make arrangements for you to travel to the Burrow at six o’clock this evening and to return on Sunday afternoon at four. I leave it to you to think of a plausible story to tell your brothers, but eventually you will need to tell them the truth. For now, you should both return to Gryffindor tower to prepare for today’s classes. I believe you can still attend breakfast in the Great Hall if you hurry.”

“I think we can make it, sir,” Ginny replied, smirking slightly. Harry popped to his bed, and a moment later Ginny was in her bed as well.

***

When both of the students had vanished, McGonagall sank into one of the chairs facing the Headmaster’s desk. “How do they do that? It’s clearly not apparition.”

“No, it is not apparition,” he agreed. “They make no noise, they do not use their wands, and of course the castle’s wards prevent it. The only effect I noticed was a slight stirring of the air. I have no idea how they are transporting themselves, and I feel confident that they do not know either. Clearly they can do it at will, but they have not yet thought to question why or how. We must watch them closely to determine what exactly they are doing.”

McGonagall could not think of anything else to do, so she nodded her agreement. “Albus, do you think Molly will agree to this arrangement of yours?”

“Once again, I have no idea. As Mr. Potter pointed out, the usual rules of probability do not seem to apply to Miss Weasley or, it seems, to himself. But Molly Weasley is a unique phenomenon in her own right.” He paused thoughtfully. “Perhaps we will finally discover the answer to an ancient question.”

McGonagall, familiar with Dumbledore’s cryptic ways, indulged him. “Which question is that?”

“What happens when an unstoppable force encounters an unmovable object?”

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