Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
These are, of course, Jo Rowling's toys; like many others, I'm just playing with them a bit. Story and chapter titles are identical or similar to song titles by The Who.
Sometimes, I feel I gotta get away
- The Kids Are Alright, The Who
The next several moments were a flurry of confusion. Ginny struggled against Tonks, trying to wrench herself free to reach Harry. The room was filled with sound as Albus Dumbledore, Nicholas Flamel, and Minerva McGonagall arrived by Portkey and Bill and Molly Weasley Apparated into the room. Seconds later, a flash of light sent Tonks sprawling halfway across the room, and Ginny rushed to Harry’s side. Both Dumbledore and Molly Weasley moved forward, reaching towards Ginny, clearly intending to pull her back, but were stopped by Flamel grasping their arms and crying, “Wait!”
Ginny did not acknowledge the presence of her elders with as much as a glance as she knelt by Harry and gently moved his hands from his face. She took one of his hands into hers, and with her other hand, began gently stroking his forehead, pushing his hair back from the scar. Harry’s eyes fluttered and he weakly asked, “Ginny?”
Flamel still restrained Molly Weasley and Dumbledore, but McGonagall had moved toward Harry and Ginny and said, gently but firmly, “Miss Weasley, now, please come away so we can….”
“Minerva, NO!” Flamel’s voice rang with authority. “Young lady, do not release Mr. Potter’s hand under any circumstances!” The other recent arrivals gave Flamel gave a puzzled look. Tonks, who had not met Flamel, had regained her feet and was covertly drawing her wand. Ginny seemed oblivious to anything going on in the room around her; her world at that moment seemed to be limited to Harry. Flamel released Molly and Dumbledore and moved toward the young couple, kneeling on the opposite side of Harry from Ginny. He reached out, taking the hand Ginny had been using to caress Harry’s forehead. She looked up at him then, surprised, almost as if emerging from a trance. Flamel said to her very gently, “Please listen. Whatever you do, if you care for Harry Potter, do not let go of his hand. Do you understand?”
Ginny nodded after a moment, and then turned her attention back to Harry; she seemed to be only peripherally aware of Flamel’s presence. Her eyes were locked on Harry.
Flamel continued, “Very good. Now, listen carefully. We must make Harry as comfortable as possible. I’m going to levitate him to that sofa,” he pointed, “and I want you to keep holding Harry’s hand, no matter what. His life may depend on it. Do you understand?”
Ginny paled visibly, but nodded again, and Flamel murmured and made a motion with a hand that held no wand and Harry slowly began floating up. Ginny stood, keeping a death grip on Harry’s hand, and moved to the sofa. She sat on one end, and guided his body as it settled so that his head lay in her lap. As Harry came to rest, Molly’s presence seemed to register with her daughter: Ginny stared fiercely at her for several moments. Then all of her attention returned to Harry, one of her hands - knuckles white - grasping his, the other again gently brushing back his hair from his forehead.
Molly was so startled that she took a step back; there was no mistaking the defiance and challenge that had been in Ginny’s eyes – or the stark warning not to interfere. Bill whispered to Molly, “It’s as if she’s a lioness, protecting a cub – or a wounded mate. I’m afraid the acorn didn’t fall very far from the oak, Mum.”
“Something’s happened between them,” Molly whispered in reply. “Ginny… wouldn’t… unless Harry…”
The feline intensity of the look Ginny had given her mother had not been lost on the others present. They looked between mother and daughter until Flamel turned and asked, “Do you not see it?”
Dumbledore and McGonagall traced a complex pattern with their wands. Dumbledore slowly nodded; McGonagall said, haltingly, “Their auras… they are entwined… no… it’s more than that - their auras have merged. Harry and Ginny… have… bonded. Albus, how? This is magic far beyond their knowledge and years – only rarely accomplished, even with planning, preparation and assistance from the most powerful among our kind. This… simply is not possible… it is unheard of… how could the two of them possibly have achieved this?”
Dumbledore and Flamel exchanged a long look; Flamel raised an eyebrow and Dumbledore shook his head slightly in response. Then Dumbledore, speaking slowly and thoughtfully, said, “Harry and Ginny have shared a powerful magical tie since his second year, when he slew a basilisk with Godric Gryffindor’s sword and defeated a memory Tom Riddle had left of himself in a diary while at Hogwarts. Harry unhesitatingly risked his life to rescue Ginny. At the time, Molly speculated that a connection might already exist between them.”
“Albus, what does all this mean?” Molly Weasley asked, her expression becoming increasingly concerned.
It was Flamel who answered. “Bonding such as this is rarely attempted today. Long ago, the practice was more common. It was considered the ultimate expression of commitment and companionship between two who had chosen to spend their lives together. It goes beyond the commitment required for handfasting - or even for true love - a sharing, empathy, and a total giving of self between two people. It is always touching and touched, even when parted, and never truly parted. It is most difficult to describe. It is rarely attempted other than by partners who have already been years together but yearn for more. It is also perhaps among the most difficult spells to cast; it usually requires outside assistance.” He looked at Harry and Ginny. “This bond appears to be new; I believe it has formed in the past hour.” He paused, and then continued, “It is also among the most powerful I have seen… however... there are aspects that are not clear to me.”
Harry’s eyes were open - like Ginny, he seemed largely unaware of those around them; his attention was focused on her. Dumbledore made use of his wand, and a semi-circle of chairs arranged themselves facing the sofa holding Harry and Ginny. Dumbledore motioned to the others, then sat in the chair nearest to where Ginny still cradled Harry’s head in her lap. He said kindly, “Harry, how are you feeling?”
Harry’s voice was hoarse but became stronger as he spoke. “Better…” Then he looked at the circle of faces surrounding him and seemed to fully realize where he was and the gravity of the situation for the first time: he was lying on a sofa, his head resting on Ginny Weasley’s bare milky-white thighs, surrounded by his Headmaster, his Head of House, another venerable wizard who looked vaguely familiar whom he couldn’t quite place – plus an Auror, the mother of his newly-acquired girlfriend, and that girl’s oldest brother, the curse expert. Molly looked as if she were trying to decide if she wanted to hug them both or hex them into next week; Bill was attempting - but failing rather badly – to conceal his amusement. “Or at least, I was until somebody called a meeting.”
All of the adults smiled at that; even McGonagall for a moment. Dumbledore then said, “Harry, Ginny, please understand; we don’t mean to pry, but we must understand exactly what has happened here. Please, start from the beginning, and leave nothing out, no matter how insignificant it may seem.”
That settles one burning question at least, Harry thought, as he remembered a discussion in the dorm last year, mostly between Dean and Seamus. There actually was something worse than getting caught with a girl in a broom cupboard or unused classroom by Filch - or even Snape.
There was no way he could talk lying here with his head resting on Ginny’s lap – at least not with Molly and McGonagall looking at the two of them as they were. Harry moved as if to sit up; but Flamel and Dumbledore both reached out to restrain him. Flamel said, “Mr. Potter, please listen carefully. Under no circumstances are you to release the young lady’s hand. Do you understand?”
Harry nodded but wasn’t quite able to catch himself before his surprise and pleasure at that particular instruction registered on his face. He muttered, more loudly than he had intended, “Please don’t throw me in the briar patch.” Both Dumbledore and Flamel’s eyes twinkled at Harry’s reaction while McGonagall whispered a quick explanation to Bill and Molly.
Harry looked at Flamel and asked, “Sir, have we met? You seem familiar, but I can’t place you.”
“Yes, Mr. Potter, you do indeed know of me, though we’ve not met prior to tonight; I believe you have a copy or two of my Chocolate Frog card. I am Nicholas Flamel.”
“The maker… of the…”
“Exactly, my boy, exactly.”
Harry turned to Dumbledore, surprise overcoming his manners, and said, “But you said… in my first year… without the Stone… he would die.”
Flamel laughed from deep within his chest. “Mr. Potter, had you paid more attention in History of Magic, you would be quite aware that rumors of my death have proved somewhat premature and… shall we say inaccurate, many times before.” Turning to Dumbledore, he continued, “You, of all people, should have known that… though I suppose I should not fault Harry’s attention if you are still allowing that goblin-fixated ghost to teach History.”
Harry had never seen anyone even attempt to tease the greatest wizard of their time; he felt an instant liking for the legendary alchemist.
Dumbledore bowed to Flamel and again turned to Harry. “Harry, please start at the beginning; perhaps with your arrival here today; please tell us everything that has happened.”
Harry nodded resignedly and started with the series of letters that had come that morning, then he went on to describe his meeting with Lupin. He avoiding looking at Molly as he described Lupin teasing him about wanting company, hoping she wouldn’t think that he had asked Lupin to set this up.
The letter from Sirius evoked a number of questions from those assembled; finally, Harry pointed to the letter sitting nearby on a table. Dumbledore opened his hand and the letter flew into it. He read thoughtfully for several moments. He then took his wand, tapped the parchment and said, “I solemnly swear I am up to no good,” and continued reading for a few moments. Finishing, he asked, “Harry, may I?” indicating that he wished to pass Flamel the letter.
Harry sighed but nodded; here was yet another wizard to add to the Harry-Potter’s-Life-Is-An-Open-Book Club. Any one else could kiss a girl a few times and then bask in the glow afterwards…which, by rights, he should have been doing right about now. There were some new happy thoughts to think about – ones that should produce a twenty-foot corporal Patronus – but instead, he was playing ‘Two Hundred Questions’ with his teachers.
Dumbledore’s eyes flicked to Ginny for a moment. “I might have wished the timing on one aspect had been, perhaps, different - No; no, I cannot even wish that, dear boy. In just these few moments with you, it is clear that something has changed in you. You are not the same young wizard who stood in my office a few days ago, angry and wounded.”
Ginny continued, describing their conversation and their meal. When she mentioned her letter, Dumbledore again asked if he might read it. She looked at Harry; he nodded but asked, “Professor, I’ve not seen it. Would you mind horribly if I read it first? Would you mind, Ginny?”
Ginny nodded her assent and Dumbledore agreed, “That only seems fair under the circumstances, Harry.” Conversation ceased briefly while Harry quickly read Ginny’s letter. He then handed the parchment to Dumbledore, who repeated the unlocking charm and read.
Dumbledore finished reading the second letter and after passing to Flamel, commented, “I would not have believed Sirius Black capable of such perceptiveness had I not read those letters written in his own hand and concealed with charms he and Harry’s father devised. Not only did he say to Harry exactly what he needed to hear, he is perhaps the only person to whom Harry would have listened. Sirius also seems to have set in motion the other events of today.” He faced the two students again. “Please, continue.”
Harry and Ginny described the rest of their meal; Flamel asked embarrassingly detailed questions concerning what was said between them. The alchemist seemed particularly interested in certain specific points. Harry, responding to a question about one of these, said, “Then Ginny said something I wasn’t sure what it meant – ‘To the gallows foot and after’ but then she mentioned Ron and Hermione; I started trying to figure out if there was a hint there and I never asked her what she’d meant.”
The young couple then described cleaning up and returning to the living room. As Harry and Ginny recounted their conversation, Harry felt one blush fade into the next; this wasn’t easy at all for him; the one redeeming grace thus far was at least no one had laughed at them. Ginny also blushed occasionally, but also at times showed both a bit of defiance and unashamed triumph and pride as she answered. Both of them more or less accurately described what had occurred.
Ginny told them how Harry had cursed Sirius. “I thought that was the end of it, Harry didn’t… didn’t… er, that we would be no more than friends - then Harry said… Ginny paused to regain a measure of control. “Harry said that he did care about me, as more than just a friend. That when he had said earlier - ‘I don’t want you following me. There’s no one else I’d rather have with me, at my back, beside me,’ - that he had meant exactly that – me, beside him. Not us – me! Harry said wanted to be with me… and then he asked if I still had any feelings for him.”
“Then Ginny sang my name… I mean, she said my name… it was like hearing Fawkes when he brought me the Sorting Hat in the Chamber – I knew. I knew then that she was giving me… a chance…” Dumbledore and Flamel exchanged a long look.
Ginny took over and recounted her answer to Harry. “…I didn’t think Harry would ever notice a nobody like me…”
Bill interrupted, “At least without some fancy scissors work,” and winked at his sister.
“Bill!” Molly said disapprovingly.
Ginny blushed and giggled. Harry knew, somehow, that the whole thing had been about to overwhelm her, and Bill had seen that, and knew just how to snap her out of it. Ginny grinned at Bill for a second and then said, “Sirius did say that something worth having was worth fighting for. And with six brothers, I reckon I never learned how to fight fair. Anyway, I told Harry I was from a poor family, that I was loud, pushy, not very ladylike – that I wasn’t even in the same league as Cho,” Molly seemed to bristle at the name, “and that I was just a skinny tomboy with scabs on my knees and elbows… and I didn’t want to drag Harry down.”
Ginny continued after taking a deep breath. “Harry told me I could never drag him down; that I was right about Cho – we weren’t in the same league, that she’d never hold a candle to me,” Molly rewarded Harry with a smile, “then he said I was tall and slender and… and that it didn’t matter what was in our Gringotts vault – but if it were the least bit important to me, I could have every last Galleon in his…”
Flamel interrupted, “Brian, every element of the ritual was there; perhaps not the structured, stilted language, ‘Et omnibus fortunæ bonis te amplifico,’ even so, the meaning is the same. I’m sorry, young lady, please continue.”
Ginny had no intention of stopping before Molly heard what Harry had said next. “After that, Harry said I had no idea how rich our family was. That there was so much love, Mum even had a little left over for him.”
From the look Molly gave Harry then, everyone in the room - including Harry – knew that all of his sins, real or imagined in this affair, had been completely forgiven as far as Molly was concerned.
Ginny was recounting her predictions of how her family would react – that Ron would not be happy, that her other brothers would be supportive though the twins would tease, that her father would need a little time to get used to it - when she finally reached her mother. “And er, Mum… er will um…”
“Face it, Gin,” Bill said, “Mum’s already planning the wedding and thinking about good names for the grandchildren. Not that she’s picking on you, the grandchildren thing started a long time ago, just after my first date with Susan Abercrombie. You two will get used to it - Charlie and I have.” Bill had seemed sympathetic towards them throughout this entire ordeal. He’d nodded or smiled encouragingly several times as their tale had unfolded; Harry was at least no longer worrying about finding out if Bill knew as much about casting curses as he did about breaking them. Molly glared at him as he grinned in their direction again.
Ginny and Harry locked eyes for a moment, and Harry decided that even if it meant the end of the wizarding world, he would not describe the next part of their exchange to this group. Dumbledore and Flamel exchanged a glance, but said nothing. “And really, that’s about it. Ginny moved over next to me, and we… kissed, and a few minutes later Tonks came through the fireplace; Ginny got the basket and was about to Floo back to The Burrow; I was walking toward her,” he blushed slightly, “to er, say goodbye, and the next thing I knew, Voldemort was raging inside my head angrier than I’ve ever felt him.”
Ginny and Tonks took over, describing Harry falling, and how Ginny had escaped from Tonks and reached his side. Tonks had noticed Ginny had not used her wand, but Flamel remarked that strange things and accidental magic sometimes happened.
Harry then picked up the tale. “It’s strange, but when I felt Ginny take my hand, it suddenly stopped. I mean, I was totally drained and everything, but as soon as she touched me, it was as if Voldemort was just cut off.”
Dumbledore exchanged glances with several of those assembled. “This is indeed a surprising and unexpected twist. We will need to discuss this further, I think.” He nodded to the adults. “Perhaps we might let Harry rest if we moved to the kitchen….”
“NO!” Harry and Ginny had both shouted; Harry’s eyes were blazing. He took a deep breath, and tried to speak calmly. “With all due respect, Professor Dumbledore, this involves us. Ginny and I have done everything you’ve asked, including walking three teachers, her mother and her brother through the most intimate and private moment of our lives. We held almost nothing back.”
Harry noticed Molly Weasley react to that ‘almost’ for a moment before catching herself as he continued. “For years, you have planned out my life, given me only part of the story, made decisions for me without any idea what it was like to live with those… those… Muggles. It ends here and now, Professor, for good. I want,” then looking at Ginny, he corrected himself, “Ginny and I want to be involved and have a say in everything that has to do with us from now on – at least if you ever want any cooperation from me ever again about anything.”
Dumbledore looked mildly surprised; Flamel grinned broadly at both Harry and Ginny, and said, “Bravo, Harry!”
Flamel looked pointedly at Dumbledore, who nodded. “Harry, you’re quite right. I apologize; old habits are sometimes hard to break, even when I’ve told myself that I must change them. Yes, you and Ginny have every right to be involved in something that has such an impact on your lives.”
Flamel then asked, “Mr. Potter? Young lady? May I be familiar and address you as Harry and Ginny?” Both nodded their assent, and Flamel continued, “Harry, you have taken an important step, my boy. You’ve not told us to shove off, as would certainly be your right, and leave you to life; nor have you passively waited to be directed. You’ve demanded to have an ear and a say in all that’s going on about you, and that is exactly as it should be. Brian,” noting Harry’s puzzled look, he nodded at Dumbledore and continued, “Albus Dumbledore was called Brian by his parents when I first met him, and I’m rather afraid it has stuck - even so, he was quite a bit older than you are when he first made such a demand of me.”
“I don’t understand, sir,” Harry replied.
“Harry, your Headmaster is what we now call a Guardian. So am I, or at least I once was. I am to Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore as he is to you. The Guardians existed before wizards started to record their history – perhaps as long as there has been a wizarding kind. To put it simply, the Guardians defend the side of light. For example, Brian’s tasks included opposing Grindelwald, whom he stopped in 1898, and defeated for good in 1945. Godric Gryffindor was my guide and mentor, as Merlin Ambrosius was his. The Order exists to support and protect the Guardian, and that, my boy, is what you are now, or more accurately, what you are about to become. You and your bond-mate are the first in living memory to learn this secret of the Order of the Phoenix uninitiated.”
Harry looked rapidly between Flamel and Dumbledore, trying to take this all in. Flamel nodded at him and gently said, “Yes, I know it’s a lot to take in all at once; but I’m here to help, too. Think of me as your mentor’s mentor. A grand-mentor, if I might coin the term, not unlike a grandparent, who has the privilege of participating in the good times while leaving the problems to the parent.”
Needing some time to sort this out, Harry looked at Dumbledore and asked, “Professor, what did Sirius mean when he said to remind you I’m not a mushroom?”
“Ah, Harry, your godfather was fond of several types of Muggle entertainment, including their music and cinema. The phrase he spoke of is a bit of slang, which refers to how mushrooms are grown, which is in the dark, and how they are fertilized, or fed, which is with, er, manure. I’m afraid I have not done justice to the colorful and colloquial phrase that Sirius used, but that should give you gist.”
Dumbledore continued, “Harry, how are you feeling? You and Ginny shall certainly be included in our discussions, but it seems foolish to do more tonight than we must, given what you’ve been through today. Perhaps we should plan how we get through this night and continue at ten tomorrow morning as we had originally planned.”
Harry nodded, “I do feel a bit tired. But do you have any idea what happened tonight?”
Flamel, rather than Dumbledore answered. “I have a theory, Harry. You have a link with Voldemort, as you know; when you bonded with Ginny what you felt - the joy, the love, the completeness - would have flooded through that link as well. It must have been quite unpleasant for Voldemort. For the bonding to have taken place required both of you to open your minds to each other to a great degree. When you physically separated, having not fully adjusted to the changes, you were left wide open to attack. No doubt Voldemort struck back from anger with everything he had. When Ginny reached your side, you were again beyond his reach. While you are together, the circle is closed, and you each protect the other. Apart - you are both open - and unfortunately, at risk. If you had not been interrupted,” as both Harry and Ginny blushed, “the link between you most likely would have further stabilized and been much less open to outside attack, and would have provided the same protection even if you were physically apart. For now, however, it seems that by remaining in physical contact, you appear to be beyond Voldemort’s reach, and for the moment, that’s good enough.”
“Voldemort can’t get to me now… because Ginny and I are, er, holding hands?” Harry asked, with a guilty glance at Mrs. Weasley. Both Dumbledore and Flamel nodded.
“I could have been….” Harry’s gaze locked with Dumbledore’s, “holding hands… with Ginny… all last year… instead of taking Occlumency lessons… with Snape?”
Tonks and Bill tried to stifle their laughter as Dumbledore answered slowly, “There is much I do not understand about what has happened here today, Harry. However, I believe the messages left for you both by Sirius were somehow a significant factor.”
Flamel added, “You might take comfort in that while the bonding took place, what Voldemort felt through the link was as uncomfortable for him as what he sent back to you, and I suspect it was far longer than the few moments it required for Ginny to reach your side.”
“You mean… that I can cause Voldemort the same sort of pain he’s caused me… by,” Harry again looked guiltily at Mrs. Weasley, “er… kissing Ginny?”
“Perhaps,” Dumbledore replied. “I can tell you this will require some research…”
“I can live with that,” Ginny whispered to Harry.
“…as well as whatever intelligence we can gather. But now that Voldemort is prepared, it may be possible that he can take steps….”
“Harry, Ginny…” Molly Weasley said, “really… maybe it doesn’t look possible to you now, but I was Ginny’s age once myself. There’s nothing I’ve hoped for more than the two of you would end up together if that’s what you both wanted.”
Dumbledore, his eyes twinkling brightly, said, “Let us consider the practical matter of tonight. It would be best for Harry to stay the night at his relatives; however, I fear there may be practical difficulties….”
“Leave that to me, Albus,” Molly Weasley snapped. “Those despicable Muggles will not cause a problem.”
“Very well, Molly, I shall leave it in your capable hands.” Dumbledore stood. “If there are no other pressing issues, then Professors Flamel and McGonagall and I shall return to Hogwarts and continue with Harry and Ginny tomorrow morning.” No one objected, and the three Professors Disapparated with a series of soft pops.
Bill glanced at Tonks and said, “Mum, Tonks and I were going to be staying here tonight to be close by and keep an eye on things… What are you planning to do?”
Molly looked thoughtfully at her oldest son. “I’ll return to The Burrow long enough to let your father know what is going on, then return here for the night. That should work.” She turned to Harry and Ginny. “Harry dear, do you feel as if you can walk back to your aunt and uncle’s?”
“Yes, I’m all right, Mrs. Weasley,” Harry replied.
He and Ginny stood and followed Molly Weasley back to Privet Drive. Molly said nothing as they walked the short distance; there was a certain set to her shoulders that told both Harry and Ginny this was not the time to make small talk.
On reaching the door, Molly rang the bell, and they all waited. A few moments later, Uncle Vernon opened the door and, recognizing Mrs. Weasley from King’s Cross the day before, started to turn red in the face - but that was as far as he got. Molly Weasley casually brought out her wand and said calmly, “Dursley, I’m afraid we must ask for your help. Harry and my daughter Ginny have a small problem. They are caught in a rather awkward spell that requires they hold hands. I’m certain this won’t be a problem and that you and Mrs. Dursley will cooperate in any way you can…” Molly’s wand twitched slightly and her expression tightened, “OR ELSE!” Then Molly continued as if she were a neighbor looking for some small favor. “I can count on your help?
Vernon Dursley had backed away as she spoke and simply nodded. Molly Weasley continued, “Very good. You should be aware that both Ginny and Harry have permission to use magic as if they were adult wizards, and Ginny really hasn’t had much contact with Muggles – non-magical folk. I wouldn’t want any accidents to happen, say, because of a misunderstood comment. I’m sure you understand?”
Vernon nodded again. “Good,” Molly continued. “Then these two will be spending the night here. They are quite able to take care of themselves and will be returning to Arabella Figg’s first thing in the morning. They will be no bother.”
Turning to Harry and Ginny, she continued, “Now, if there are any problems, several of us will be nearby. Get some rest, mind your manners, and I’ll see you both in the morning.”
Vernon quickly disappeared back into the house when Molly turned to face Harry and Ginny and motioned for them to enter. She stood in the open doorway while the young couple climbed the stairs to the second floor. Harry then led Ginny down the corridor to the smallest bedroom; they entered, and he locked the door with a spell. He looked quickly around the room; thankfully, he’d left things in fairly decent shape. The only dirty clothes were the ones he had changed out of that morning, and at least they were folded neatly on the chair. Then he turned to her, blushing. “I wasn’t really expecting – this.”
“What? Just the two of us again?” Ginny asked, amused at his discomfort. “Finally starting to realize that you’re in over your head, Potter?”
“No, it’s just… a bit much… and maybe a little fast.”
“We have to keep touching until at least tomorrow – and we have to sleep tonight. Not much we can do about having to do it together.”
“But… like this?”
“Which of the two of us don’t you trust?” Ginny asked, grinning widely.
“I just didn’t think your Mum…”
“It’s already a bit cramped in here, even for just two. Oh, okay, I was surprised too, a little. She probably trusts you, even if she’s not really sure about me. Besides, the Prewetts were always big on tradition, and since you rescued me, you supposedly had first dibs on my hand – and I expect that goes for the rest of me, too.”
“Huh?”
“Oh, it’s not important. I’ll explain it some day. No one pays any attention to that stuff any more.”
“Maybe you were right… I am in over my head.”
Ginny smiled. “We’ll manage; but we need a bit more room.” She moved her wand in a complex pattern; Harry’s small twin bed expanded; the mattress also became thicker, and by appearances, softer. Several thick pillows replaced the thin one that had graced Harry’s bed. Ginny kicked off her trainers and sat down on the bed. “For tonight, we’ll just sleep like this. If we have to keep this up tomorrow, we’ll have to work out what to do about changing clothes and showering.”
Harry followed her example and kicked off his shoes, then removed his socks. Ginny slid across the bed and allowed Harry to lie down, keeping her hold on his hand. Harry lay on his back, and she snuggled up to him, lying on her side against him. Harry, whose face had been red more often than not since reaching his room, began to relax as he slipped his arm around her and held her close. This - Ginny here, beside him, curled against him – was wonderful. And even though he was here, on Privet Drive, he was happy… and no longer alone. He still felt a little guilty; he whispered, “Gin, I’m sorry I got you in this mess.”
Ginny laughed. “Harry, you have nothing to be sorry for at all. I’m where I want to be, and where you said I could be earlier tonight.” Noting his puzzled look, she explained, “At your side, you silly git. And you know what? I like it here. Okay, okay, I didn’t expect things to happen quite this fast either, nor did I expect Mum to tuck us in… but I’m not the least bit sorry about how things have worked out.” Her voice trailed off, then she whispered in Harry’s ear, “Harry, I’m really a good girl who does what her Mummy says. I’m going to kiss and cuddle you till I drop and hope Voldemort has a really bad night.”
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