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Author: The Higher Powers Story: Take It Away, Harry! Rating: Teens Setting: Pre-HBP Status: WIP Reviews: 3 Words: 15,428
As Harry sat with his face aflame at the dinner table, an owl swept into the room. Molly reached for the letter and read it slowly, her face deeply reddening in colour. "Ron? Ginny?" she asked sweetly. "Yes, Mum?" the two answered innocently. "Why in Merlin's name is a Ministry letter coming to inform me that two silencing charms were used in this house today?" she exploded. "It says that one was used in Ginny's room," she said, eyeing Harry and Ginny, "and one in your room, Ronald?" she demanded. Sweet boiling cauldrons, thought Harry, I knew we were forgetting about something.... "Erm..." stuttered Ron. Fred and George smiled expectantly across the dinner table at him. "Er, Fred and George were trying out some new jokes on us, and they were, er, really loud..." he finished feebly. Mrs Weasley turned then to the twins and glared at them. "Is this true?" she demanded. To Harry's surprise, Fred smiled mischievously and said, "Yeah, Mum. It was this new Endearing Effervescence we were trying out." George grinned. "Endearing—but why?" Mrs Weasley asked, in her confusion. "We told you," said George. "It's new, and we were trying it out on Ron and Hermione." Harry felt a slight kick on his foot. He looked over at Ginny, who was next to him, and Ginny smiled with relief. But soon her attention was stolen by the next comment made. "Of course, we still don't know what Ginny and Harry were up to," George finished, grinning widely. "Upstairs, Ginny, Harry, Ron, Hermione!" Mrs Weasley fumed. The four followed, and soon they found themselves in a locked room, with Mrs Weasley staring at them with black, angry eyes. "So, what happened up here? Ron? You first!" Ron looked taken aback but continued anyway. "Weweresnoggingokaybye!" Ron stuttered and, ears red, stomped outside. "Yeah, what he said!" Harry said and dashed out of the room, pulling Hermione and Ginny with him, leaving Mrs Weasley sitting there at a loss for words. However, too soon, Mrs Weasley had caught up with the quartet of troubled teens. "Snogging?" she positively shouted at them, at the foot of the stairs. "You all were snogging? What is this place? A cauldron full of love potion?" Harry couldn't say anything for shame. He had the feeling that Ron, Hermione, and Ginny felt the same way. "Now what's all this?" said Mr Weasley, joining the group and standing behind his wife. Mrs Weasley's fury seemed to dampen slightly at her husband's arrival. "Snogging," she said incredulously. "What?" he said in surprise. "Harry and Hermione? What's Ron and Ginny got to do with all this, then?" "Not Harry and Hermione!" shouted Mrs Weasley. "Harry and Ginny, and Ron and Hermione!" "Oh," said Mr Weasley, a bit abashed, "well, then...well...was it enjoyable?" "Arthur!" cried Mrs Weasley. "I mean...my goodness...you shouldn't be doing that...behind locked bedroom doors...broom closets are better at school!" "Arthur!" shrieked Mrs Weasley. "I'm just saying that stuff like that should not be done in the home, but at school where things like that are expected...." "Arthur!" roared Mrs Weasley, as she hurled a stirring spoon at him. Arthur ducked the utensil just in time, then popped back upright to ask his wife, "Well, now, I see you do have dinner just about ready, then." Harry thought he saw steam begin pouring out of Mrs Weasley's ears, before she turned on her heel and headed back to the kitchen. "All right, Harry," Mr Weasley began, as he sat his briefcase down, "let's chat before we sit down to the table." Harry looked at Ron, who shrugged and followed the girls out of the living room. Mr Weasley caught Harry's eye and said, "What exactly are your intentions with my daughter?" Harry sat motionless for a moment. "Er, I'm sorry?" he said, playing for time. "I said, what are your intentions with my daughter?" Mr Weasley repeated. "Oh, right," said Harry. "I dunno, Mr Weasley, I just, erm, we just decided, er, that it might be nice to, er, start dating." "Well, I figured that out myself," said Mr Weasley gently. "But you don't mean to, er, do anything inappropriate with her?" "Wha—no!" said Harry, his face heating up quickly. "I just, er, I just really only want to get to know her better at this stage." "Well, then," said Mr Weasley paternally, "let me give you a push in the right direction. Don't hide your socks." "My socks?" Harry questioned. "Oh, my, yes, dear boy," said Mr Weasley. "She's got quite a fetish for stealing them; keeps them all in a locked box with her tiara on top." He paused, as he looked down at Harry's feet. "Oh, well. There you have it. She's got to you already, I see." Harry looked down at his feet. He still had his shoes on, but while he had a sock on one foot, his left foot had none. "How does she do that?" asked Harry, awed. "Magic, Harry. Magic." Mr Weasley thought for a minute. "But you know, Harry, it's odd that she's done it to you so soon. She waited a long time to try it on Fred and George, and a month afterwards to try it on me! Needless to say, one reason we aren't rich is because we keep having to buy socks...." Harry laughed. "But really, Harry, I'm serious. It's quite odd. She must really lo—er, like you, you know." And for the first time, Harry saw Mr Weasley's ears turn red. "You know," Harry said thoughtfully, "I really think she does. And for the record, Mr Weasley, I like her, too." Harry then set off to find Ginny, leaving Mr Weasley sitting at the table, grinning thoughtfully. "Well, it had to happen sometime," he said. Harry found Ginny sitting in her room with Hermione, giggling like mad. When Harry entered the room, however, the two girls stopped talking and stared at him, Ginny barely able to contain her laughter. "What are you lot up to?" said Harry incredulously. Ginny's ears turned the exact shade of her hair. "Just talking," she said, trying not to smile. Hermione nodded fervently beside her. "It wouldn't have anything to do with—" He showed Ginny his bare left ankle. Ginny's entire face was now a deep crimson, and Harry's stomach did a belly flop. "No, as a matter of fact," she said. "Just girl talk, Harry." It was Harry's turn to turn red. He motioned embarrassedly towards the bedroom door. "Oh, er, do you want me to...." "Okay," said Ginny, though she had an apologetic tone in her voice. "Sorry, Harry." Harry nodded in acceptance and left the room, leaving Ginny to exhale loudly. "Phew!" she said. "Anyway," she continued to Hermione, who had her legs crossed on the bed in front of her, "where were we?" Hermione giggled again. "You were just telling me how good a kisser Harry is," she whispered in excitement. "Oh, yeah," Ginny said. "Well, he actually is very...." Harry couldn't bear to listen to any more. He decided to turn to Ron for help. "Ron," Harry said, "does Hermione ever talk to other girls about your, er, pardon me for saying...snog sessions?" "Of course she does!" Ron said calmly. "All girls talk about those things! I take it as a compliment, personally. If they think you're good enough to talk about, then that means you're in, mate! Why?" Ron's smile suddenly faded. "Why would you want to know about that?" "Oh, no reason," Harry lied, shrugging. "Mum's reaction was classic, Harry." Ron laughed. "‘Snogging? You were snogging?'" Ron imitated in a high-pitched voice. Harry laughed. "And my dad," Ron added, getting ready to imitate Arthur Weasley. "‘Who? Harry and Hermione? What do Ron and Ginny have to do with this, then?'" Ron's ears turned red with laughter. As they were both laughing, Hermione and Ginny opened the door and stared at them for a while, until the boys noticed they were there. "Er—hi." Harry grinned dumbly. "Hello." Ginny smiled. "You know, if Mum had heard you guys, you would have been locked in a broom closet for sure," she said, as if from experience. "And what, may I ask, were you two doing outside Ginny's room?" Hermione said, putting them on the spot. "We were walking by. You know, er—strolling the corridor," Ron lied, his ears turning red, this time from embarrassment. "You're really beautiful," he added, as a last attempt to save himself. Hermione smiled. "Well, it's about time you noticed," she said, and they walked downstairs together, holding hands. "They're so cute together," Ginny commented. Harry wasn't sure if she was being sarcastic or serious. "Er—yeah," Harry replied, looking down. Ginny put her hand out. Harry put his hand in hers. As they walked (Ginny's leg had earlier been magically healed by Mrs Weasley, rendering the entire trip to the Muggle hospital entirely pointless), Harry reminisced. Ginny seemed to notice his silence, however, because she said, "What's up, Harry?" Harry considered how to say what was running through his mind. "Well," he began, "it's just that I've known Ron and Hermione for what's going on six years now, and it's just kind of weird that they're going out now." "I can understand that," said Ginny, giving his hand a sympathetic squeeze. "But just imagine how weird Ron feels about you going out with his little sister." Harry allowed himself a short laugh but immediately became uncomfortably silent again. "Is there something else, Harry?" said Ginny, ushering him over to a couch in the living room to sit down. "No..." said Harry slowly. "I guess...I guess that it's just taking a little while for this all to sink in." "Well, I'm here if you need to talk about it," said Ginny. "See, though, that's kind of the problem," said Harry. "I never really knew you as a friend until last year, and now, in the space of about a week, I've decided that I, er, that I like you, and then you show up at my house, fall off your broom, and ask me out." Harry shook his head in an attempt to clear his confusion. "I just don't feel like any of this is right." "Right?" Ginny asked. "Look, Harry. You know I've liked you since first year. Your liking me now would just make it all the easier on both of us. You've been a nervous wreck around me and even brought up the courage to give me that mouth-to-mouth resuscitation thingy. That takes a lot. Plus, you called the Muggle hospital for me. But even if it has only been a week, that doesn't make it wrong. That's all it takes! Just some love, a little time, and being together. Just ask Ron and Hermione! Uh, what's wrong, Harry?" Harry was sweating and shaking. "Did you say love?" Harry asked. "Um, yes, but—" She never finished. Harry had grabbed her hand, and Ginny felt herself swept into a gentle kiss. "Harry?" Harry and Ginny didn't break the kiss, but they did gather up enough courage to look over their shoulders, only to see Ron standing in the doorway. "Harry?" Ron repeated. "What are you doing to my little sister?" "Well," Harry began, "I think that—" "Ron," Ginny interrupted, "it's none of your business what Harry and I were doing before you got here." Just then, Hermione appeared in the doorway. "What did I miss?" she asked, looking from Ron to the other two and back again. "What you missed was me walking in on Harry snogging my little sister!" Ron said, getting redder by the minute. "Come on, Ron," Hermione said. "You and I can go talk about this. You just need to let them be." Ron's face was as red as a tomato as Hermione dragged him into the kitchen. Ginny looked at Harry and grinned. "That was beautiful," Ginny said wistfully. "What? The kiss?" Harry asked dumbly. "No, Ron's reaction to it! Oh, but yes, the kiss was, too," Ginny said, looking into Harry's eyes. They just stared at each other for a few moments. Ginny took a step towards Harry, so that they were too close, in Harry's opinion. Harry stepped back. Ginny's eyes widened. "I'm—I'm sorry," Harry said, looking down. "It's just—Ron. He—it doesn't feel right," Harry said, ashamed. He could see Ginny's eyes filling with tears. She tried to keep them from spilling over. "Do you like me, Harry?" she asked, slowly and quietly. "Yeah—yes, I do. A lot," Harry said, the words coming out of his mouth before he knew what he was saying. Ginny smiled. "Then what does Ron matter? I think it makes it a bit more exciting this way." She grinned and took a step towards Harry again, this time more cautiously. Harry thought about it. Ginny was right. He would only care about him and Ginny from now on, not what other people thought. He pulled Ginny close to him, into a long, passionate kiss. Fred and George walked into the living room where they were snogging. "Er—okay, George. What do you say we do our experiments upstairs, then?" Fred said, amused. "Reckon we wouldn't have much space in here. Right then, upstairs," George said, clearly amused as well. The twins ran upstairs. Ginny and Harry continued, unaffected by the world around them. Fred and George continued upstairs, only to find nothing different, except that the two people had different faces. "Can't we do anything we like around here?" George hollered, though not disturbing the four figures who had disturbed their experiments. "Looks like he's not too mad now, is he?" said Fred, grinning. "What's all the commotion up here?" It was Molly Weasley, who looked a bit flustered from the sudden scream from George. Fred and George quickly closed the doors to the two rooms so that the occupants remained unquestioned for now. "Nothing, Mum, just stepped on a thumbtack, second one today." Then he gave a mock glare at Fred, just to make it more convincing. "But why are those doors closed? I just cleaned in there, and they need airing out." Mrs Weasley waved her wand, and slowly the doors opened. "See, Ron, I told you it was only an eyelash," Hermione said, quickly pulling away from Ron. "Yeah, thanks, Hermione," said Ron, his ears glowing a guilty red. "Oh, hi, Mum," he said, casually, as though he hadn't noticed she was there. Mrs Weasley cocked an eyebrow. Ron grinned apologetically, and his mother shook her head and turned out the door. "Now, back to business," said Ron, kissing Hermione again and pulling a cauldron out of her bag. "You know, if I didn't know better, Ron, I'd say you had ulterior motives for wanting to make this potion." "Well, maybe," he said, grinning affectionately. "But this was both of our ideas, so if they suspect anything, it's your fault." "Ron, I made a potion in second year that broke forty-five school rules, not to mention turned myself into a cat. I think I'm ready to deal with anything your mum says." "My mum?" Ron asked, pouring the last of the ingredients in the cauldron. "Yes, you saw her face just now! Plus, she made a love potion during her Hogwarts terms, too." "So how do we get it to Ginny and Harry?" Ron asked, obviously wanting to change the subject. "Well, we can pour it in their glasses or something. But first, we have to drink it ourselves. On three. Ready? One, two, three." They both took a huge gulp, and each noticed the other in a much more affectionate light. Ron couldn't help but notice how beautiful Hermione looked and.... *** "'Mione!" Ron whispered. "Here's our chance to give the potion to Harry and Ginny." He finished his statement as he heard Harry and Ginny start into the kitchen. Hermione quickly filled the two goblets with the potion and handed one of them to Ron. They got up and headed towards the kitchen. "Why can't I find anything to drink in this house?" Ginny was asking as they walked in. "You guys need something to drink?" Ron asked, standing in the doorway. "Here, take my goblet. I'm finished with it." "Why? What did you do to it?" Harry asked, eyeing Ron. "Nothing, honestly. It's just a nice little something that 'Mione made." Hermione grinned, then tried to cover it by pretending to cough. Ron handed the goblets to Ginny and Harry, and they gulped the potion down aggressively. "Must've been thirsty there, mate," Ron said cheerfully, clapping Harry on the shoulder. Harry looked around, his eyes wide and blank for a moment. Then he turned his gaze to Ginny, who stared right back at him into his eyes. "Hem, hem," Hermione coughed playfully. Ron turned to her. She winked at him, and he nodded. They walked out of the kitchen, holding hands. Harry was mesmerised by Ginny's radiance and beauty. Ginny was mesmerised by Harry's charm and affection. Harry got closer to Ginny, brushing a piece of fiery red hair out of her eyes. Ginny leaned into him, but as their lips were about to touch.... BOOM! An explosion shook the whole of the Burrow, causing a few bits of ceiling to crack and fall down. Dust filled the room as the sound reverberated around it. "What in Merlin's name was that?" asked Ginny, whose previously gleaming red hair was now dusty grey. Her face was beautifully grey to match. "Fred and George?" she asked. "I dunno," said Harry, grasping Ginny's hand in his. "But we'd better go see what happened." And pulling Ginny along behind him by the hand, they raced outside. They were greeted by an awful sight: a dome-shaped crater in the middle of the Weasleys' driveway the size of the center ring of a Quidditch pitch, emitting bluish smoke from the bottom. Harry and Ginny looked around, but before they could assess anything, a huge, blue...something came hurtling downward from above them. The blast threw both Harry and Ginny backwards, and they landed five metres away, sprawled out on the ground. "Ginny!" yelled Harry, rolling over to check on her. "I'm fine, Harry," she groaned, as she got to her feet. "What was that?" Harry squinted through the dust and ashes that had been erupted at the impact. He could see that now a second crater had been formed next to the first one. He looked up, again squinting up his eyes against the grime in the air. "Look!" he whispered. He had to whisper, because flying above them in circles on a broom was a sole figure. Ginny heeded his call, but before she could respond, Harry's scar began burning unbearably. He fell to the ground, clutching it in agony. Then a flash of blue light pierced his closed eyelids, and Harry knew no more. "Harry? Harry! Oh, wake up, please, Harry!" The voice of Ginny Weasley seemed to echo from far away. Harry felt his eyelids twitch as they forced themselves to open. "Wha...what happened?" "We're not sure, Harry. I got knocked out as well, but...oh, dear, Harry, it's worse than I thought! Come on, I'll help you walk." Ginny took him inside, where Hermione was lying back with a cold compress on her forehead. "Oi, mate! We thought you'd be knocked out for—ow!" Hermione had managed to kick Ron in the shin. "I'm glad you're all right, though, Harry. Aren't you glad he's okay, Ron?" Hermione said forcefully. "Yeah," Ron replied, rubbing his leg. "I am, too, Harry," Ginny said. Gee, that potion must be really strong, Ron thought. "Here, let's go take care of that bump," Ginny beckoned. "Uh, sure, I guess...." Gee, maybe it isn't that potion! Ron thought. And he was never more right. "Hermione," Ron said, "come help me get something for Harry to drink." "I'll come, Ron," Ginny said. "No, no. That's okay, Gin. You stay here with him for a bit. C'mon, 'Mione." Hermione followed him into the kitchen. "I wonder what they're up to," Harry said as they left. "Probably snogging," Ginny said to herself. "Um...Harry?" "Yes?" he asked, beginning to notice her beautiful eyes and her radiant features. He sat up so their faces were mere inches away. "Are you okay?" she asked softly. "I'll be fine, Ginny. I—" But Harry didn't say any more. The two were staring intensely at each other. Harry abruptly leaned in hard and fast. The two were now kissing. Rather, Harry was kissing Ginny. She sort of sat there with her lips pursed and her eyes wide open in surprise. Harry thought maybe he felt something she didn't and almost pulled away. But Ginny soon relaxed and draped her arms around his neck. While Harry and Ginny were snogging, Hermione was getting worried. As she looked out the window of the Burrow, she said to Ron, "Ron? What was that figure on the broom before?" Ron stood next to Hermione and said, "It probably was just Fred or George." "I don't know. It didn't look like them. Maybe we should tell your parents. What if it's You-Know-Who?" "If it was You-Know-Who, then he would've attacked by now. I'm sure it was just a twin. Besides, if we tell them now, we lose this time together! No, we'll tell them later." And with that, he pulled Hermione close, and surprising both him and Hermione, he kissed her. Hard. Just as Hermione closed her eyes and relaxed, she heard Mrs Weasley scream a frightening scream, causing them to jump back and stare towards the steps. "Um, Hermione...that didn't sound too good." "Ron! Hermione! What happened?" exclaimed Ginny, as she and Harry rushed into the room. "We don't know! Let's go see!" Hermione took off towards the stairs, with Ron, Harry, and Ginny following. What greeted their eyes in the Weasleys' bedroom was something no child should see. "Mum!" shouted Ginny in horror, as Mrs Weasley was lying on the floor, a lone figure standing above her, pointing a wand at her twitching body. It was the Cruciatus Curse. "No!" screamed Ron. He advanced on the figure, brandishing his wand from his jeans pocket. He had just raised it when the hooded figure turned to face him. Mrs Weasley now lay motionless on the floor, though twitching, as the figure revealed his face. Hermione screamed. Ginny turned white. Ron froze in his tracks. Those slit-like red eyes stared at them all from a face pale as a ghost. Harry couldn't move or speak for fear and hatred. Then, all of a sudden, just as it had happened five minutes ago, his scar exploded in a pain so unbearable that he fell to the floor, screaming in agony. Ron watched Harry fall to the floor. He knew there was nothing he could do. He couldn't move, in any case. Fear held him to the spot. You-Know-Who raised his wand at Ron. He brought it down to perform what was undoubtedly a deadly curse. "Stupefy!" As abruptly as Harry had fallen to the ground a moment before, Voldemort slumped and lay motionless, landing with a dull thud. Ron looked around. "Dumbledore!" Dumbledore came striding into the room with an angry look on his face. He quickly put Harry on a stretcher and floated him to Ron's room, where he laid him on the bed. When he looked around, he noticed that Ron, Ginny, and Hermione had followed him. A few rooms over, he heard Tonks and Lupin taking care of Voldemort. "What happened?" His voice was flat, and there was no twinkle in his eyes. Ginny was the first to speak, and quickly she explained what happened outside, when the lone figure was flying overhead. She excluded the parts about Harry and her snogging, but she secretly thought he knew all this, anyway. Tonks walked into the room just as Ginny finished explaining. Tonks had black hair that was spiked and in a mohawk. "The rest of the Order just arrived, and they agree on taking Voldemort"—no one flinched for once—"to the location you mentioned before." The last part she said very quickly and looking Dumbledore straight in the eye. Dumbledore nodded, apparently understanding what she meant. And she left, her hair growing out as she walked out the door. "Well, I think some changes should be made. St. Mungo's should be here soon to help your mother, Ron and Ginny. If you wish, you two can go and stay with her. If something happens while we transfer Voldemort, I will send Fawkes. But just be careful. I want to take Harry back to Hogwarts now." When he said that, he looked straight at Ginny, as if daring her to disagree. "Back to Hogwarts?" she asked tentatively. "I'm afraid so, Miss Weasley," said Dumbledore solemnly, looking at Ginny down his long, crooked nose. "In any case," he continued, "I have a few very important matters to discuss with him. "Mobilicorpus," he said, pointing his wand at Ron's mother, who was breathing heavily from the floor, though otherwise entirely motionless. At Dumbledore's spell, however, her body was lifted into the air, and Dumbledore spoke again. "Right now, I plan to deliver Molly to St. Mungo's. I shall return in a matter of minutes, during which I expect you will give your consolation to Harry and prepare him for his departure to Hogwarts." Ron nodded and put his arm around Hermione's waist, as she was still shaking from fear. "Well, then," said Dumbledore, "I shall see you again shortly." And with that, he and Ron's mother disappeared with a nearly inaudible pop!
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