PhoenixSong.net :: A Harry/Ginny Fanfic and Fanart Archive

Author: MyGinevra

Story: The Hog's Head

Part: 27: Repairs

Rating: Teens

Setting: Post-DH

Status: WIP

Warning: Extreme Language, Explicit Sexual Situations

Reviews: 6

Words: 6,389

Progress Notes: I just wanted to let you all know that the current hiatus in posting chapters is because my excellent beta, Pascal, is on vacation. As soon as he returns I hope we can get the next few chapters up quickly.

Thanks for hanging in there with The Hog's Head.

Updated: July 8, 2008, 10:49am

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27: Repairs

Author's Note:
There are scenes of a sexual nature in this chapter. They are not overly specific, but they are there, in case that makes any difference to you as a reader.

Harry awoke at first light in a tangle of arms and legs. When he opened his eyes Ginny's face was only inches in front of him; she was still asleep, with her mouth slightly open, breathing quietly. He did not move; he wanted to feel her skin and her body for as long as possible to assure himself that this wasn't a dream and his nightmare still a reality.

He remembered so vividly the horror of awakening every morning for the past week, often with the taste of the red rug in his mouth. He had not wanted to get up and look at himself in the mirror, but something compelled him to go downstairs and sit in the dining room all day; it was almost as if he needed to put himself on display. He was punishing himself, forcing himself to become an object of hatred, exactly what he felt for himself. For long, dark, excruciating hours people watched him and whispered; some of them didn't bother to whisper, and he heard rumors from Hogwarts about Ginny's suffering. But he could do nothing about it; fear had utterly paralyzed him, fear that he had lost her, fear of hurting her again, fear of staying alive with this black terror eating his soul.

The world had closed itself against him. Customers who normally spoke to him had avoided him, and though he knew that Stan had made a half–hearted effort to defend him, his barkeep seemed to find excuses not to look at him whenever they spoke. And McPherson remained angry, pecking and nipping aggressively whenever Harry came near.

But now he was lying in bed with Ginny, watching her breathe, seeing her eyes move under her lids; maybe she was dreaming. His hand moved down her side, but he stopped; he was desperate for her, but he didn't want to awaken her. With an effort, he got out of bed and covered her up. She turned on her back; her hair was splayed on the pillow and Harry could not take his eyes from her. He stood like a statue for a full ten minutes, speared by her beauty, wanting her more with each passing second. He finally sighed and turned away.

He went into the bathroom and started washing — and thinking. He needed to talk to Stan and Rosmerta right away to warn them about the Potio Vitae, and he needed to think about this personal attack on himself. It should not have been unexpected, even if he disregarded all the other attacks on the inn. He had enemies and he always would; it had been foolish to the point of stupidity to think that they would leave him alone. It did not matter where he was, someone would always be after him; it didn't have to be a Death Eater bent on revenge, it could be some crazed wizard trying to prove that he was better than "The Chosen One." And he could never eliminate the possibility that someone would find out about the Elder Wand. If he had learned one thing in those cold, dark watches outside that tent last year, or in the Great Hall at the end of the battle, it was that he needed his friends. He needed Ginny, and he needed something more substantial than this fantasy in a couple of rooms over The Hog's Head.

He finally looked directly into the mirror over the washbasin and smiled at his reflection. Then he looked past it out the door into the bedroom; he could see the edge of the bed and Ginny's hand lying outstretched on the pillow. He knew now what he was going to do.

But not right now. As he finished up, it occurred to him with somewhat of a sinking feeling that dozens of people, including Hogwarts students, had drunk poisoned Potio Vitae in either The Hog's Head or The Three Broomsticks. He and Rosmerta usually split the shipments that came into Hogsmeade, and also traded cases if one or the other of them ran short. It had the makings of an unpleasant blowup. There was going to be trouble, and if Harry was any judge of wizarding public opinion, he was not going to be as popular in the coming days as he had been, especially in Hogsmeade.

He dressed quickly, then went into the parlor, quietly closing the bedroom door, and walked over to McPherson. The owl had come back from his night hunt and was preening on his perch near the window. "Good morning, old boy," Harry stroked his head. "Ginny's back, and she forgave me. Are you as happy as I am?"

McPherson clucked once, gave his hand a gentle peck, and went back to his tail feathers. Harry smiled; today everything was making him smile. He went into the kitchen and picked up the tray with Ginny's unfinished dinner and went downstairs to the inn's kitchen. Winky was well along with the day's menu, but paused and looked up with a particularly broad smile on her face.

"Ginny Pott— Ginny Weasley is still asleep?" she asked. "Winky has made her favorite breakfast." The elf shook her head. "Ginny Weasley should not stop eating like we knows she did."

Some of the stories that Harry had heard about Ginny last week had come from Winky's not very well concealed muttering whenever Harry was nearby; she somehow knew about every meal and every class that Ginny had missed. Harry knew that only the magical inhibition of house–elves kept her from saying anything directly. It had only made Harry feel worse, but since he believed that he deserved it, he had just turned away from Winky's accusatory frowns and gone back to his table in the dining room.

This morning, though, Harry smiled and nodded. "You're right, Winky," he said. "Where's Stan? Is he back from Rosmerta's yet?"

"No, Harry Potter," replied Winky, who had climbed onto a stool and was applying a tall mountain of whipped cream to the top of a large bowl of strawberries; they were also drenched with strawberry syrup. "Stanley Shunpike has gone to see Harriet Smythe."

Harry looked at the strawberries. "This is for Ginny?"

Winky smiled and batted her huge, brown eyes. "Yes, Harry Potter. You takes it up to her when she wakes up. This is for Harry Potter." She hopped down from her stool and took a plate full of eggs and bacon from the stove. Harry, who had realized he was starving when he saw the strawberries, took the plate and a loaf of bread from a breadbox, and sat next to Winky's stool. The elf busied herself around the kitchen while Harry wolfed down his breakfast.

"Thanks, Winky." He got up and belched. "'Scuse me. I've got to talk to Madame Rosmerta. If Ginny comes down, tell her I'll be back soon."

"Harry Potter should take breakfast to Ginny Weasley!" scolded Winky. "Poor girl."

"As soon as I come back, I promise." Harry grinned and left the kitchen. The dining room was empty, the chairs still up on tables and the shutters still closed. He went outside into a crisp and sunny fall morning; the weather was matching his mood as though it knew that Ginny was asleep in his bed and would be there when he returned. He waved at the Auror standing at the corner of the building and went down the High Street. He glanced at the Post Office on his way; it was closed, but he peered up at the windows on the second floor — he didn't know if it was a room or a flat since, thankfully, he had never been up there.

Stan was sitting at a table near the bar when Harry entered The Three Broomsticks. Rosmerta and Harriet Smythe were with him, and Rosmerta was reading a parchment of orders. She looked up and grinned as Harry walked in. "Morning, Harry. Had a good night's sleep?"

"Best I've had in a long time. But, um, something's come up." He went behind the bar and took an empty bottle of Potio Vitae from the bin where they were kept for return; he placed it on the counter. "Someone's been slipping poison into the bottles before they get to Hogsmeade."

The others stared with varied expressions of shock and disbelief. "Who?" asked Rosmerta. "And why?"

"To kill me. And I don't know who. My guess would be Death Eaters out for revenge, probably the same crew who did the Dark Marks."

"My goodness," Harriet said indignantly, "we've been serving it to everyone!"

"How do you know all this," Rosmerta asked grimly.

"After you left yesterday, Ginny slept for a few hours, and when she woke up, she told me. I don't know yet how she found out. She's still asleep. But that's not all." He came around from behind the bar and sat at the table. "Ginny said the poison changes you before it kills you, it makes you hate what you love." He lifted his right hand and looked at it. "That explains..." His voice faltered, and he put his hand down on the table.

"Harry." Rosmerta patted the hand.

"Sounds like Turntongue," Stan declared, and they all looked at him.

"Turntongue?" Harry said. "What's that? I never heard of it."

"You hear about a lot of things on the Knight Bus. We picked up plenty of blokes who had plenty to hide, and some of them were probably already on the run by the time they caught the Bus."

"Well," said Rosmerta, frowning, "we'll have to spread the word. It's not going to be fun, either. We had the Hogsmeade weekend — what was it, two weeks ago? — and there's gonna be some angry parents."

"I know," agreed Harry, "but I don't think any students were affected too much. We would have heard something. Someone would have gone to McGonagall or reported it to the Ministry. And besides, only people with Muggle grandparents or Muggle–borns drank it." He tapped his finger on the table. "That's very interesting," he mused, but then he turned pale. "Oh, Merlin, Hermione!"

"Harry!" Rosmerta grabbed his hand before he could get up. "I'm sure she's okay! Lot's of people drank it, but only you were affected so badly. We would have heard if someone else had... I mean, if something really bad had happened."

"Well, yeah, I suppose. But I've got to tell her."

"We've got to tell everyone. And we've got to inform the Ministry right away."

They batted it around for another ten minutes, and decided that Rosmerta would go see Professor McGonagall immediately, but she would first send an owl to the Ministry of Magic. She went into the back room, and soon they heard an owl hooting away into the distance. Harry and Rosmerta departed, leaving Stan and Harriet to sort out the news about the Potio Vitae. Rosmerta turned toward the school and Harry walked briskly back to The Hog's Head.

Something was urging him on, and as he came in sight of the inn he knew what it was. Ginny was leaning out the upstairs parlor window in her nightgown, and Harry noticed for the first time how pretty the neckline was. His pace and his pulse quickened and he waved to her; she smiled back. When he got below the window she leaned farther, and Harry looked quickly around.

"What are you doing?" he said in a loud whisper. He pulled at his shirt front and looked around again; no one was in the lane.

"I'm waiting for you," she answered. "I woke up and I was all alone."

"I'll be right there, don't go away, I'll be right there."

Ginny laughed. "Don't take long."

Harry ran inside — nodding to the Auror sitting at a table eating breakfast — grabbed the bowl of strawberries and platter of bacon and sausages, and tore up the stairs. He put it down on the kitchen table, wiped the sweat from his brow, and walked into the bedroom.

Ginny was sitting on the edge of the bed, holding in front of her the vase of roses Harry had conjured the night before. Rosmerta's nightgown was folded on the chair next to the bed. Ginny put her nose into the flowers and took a deep breath, then put the vase on the night stand and leaned back on the pillows; she was wearing nothing except her locket. Harry stared with his mouth open; his breathing became heavier. Ginny giggled, then pushed the covers back. Harry walked to the bed and stood over her. "I brought you breakfast. Do you want something to eat?"

Ginny nodded. "I've never been this hungry before."

His eyes went up and down her body. "Me neither."

She suddenly stood up and threw him down on the bed, then leaped on top of him. "Enough talk," she said breathlessly, her mouth on his. "You're wearing way too many clothes." Buttons popped, zippers tore, fabric ripped, shoes and socks flew across the room, and then they were locked together, rolling on the bed, and neither one wanted it to end, ever.

* * * *

Later in the morning they sat at the kitchen table as Ginny devoured the strawberries; Winky had managed a complicated spell that kept the whipped cream cool and the meat hot. Ginny ate lustily, and Harry sat with his elbows on the table and his chin cupped in his hands, watching her with a satisfied smile. After a few minutes he got up and poured a glass of pumpkin juice. He gave her the glass, then sat down and resumed gazing at her. Ginny looked up and smiled. "What?" she said through a mouthful of whipped cream.

"When I woke up and saw you next to me, it was the best morning of my life. Your face was right next to mine, and —"

"Harry," Ginny interrupted, and put her fork down. "I'm sorry, but that reminds me of something I need to ask you. Did you see anything on my face yesterday, like a..." She trailed off, suddenly realizing that this would be painful to him. But she needed to ask; what she had seen in the mirror had been a shock.

"Like a what?" Harry said, puzzled.

She took a breath, and reached across the table for his hand. "Something strange happened. I had a bruise on my face —"

Harry looked aghast, and he started to speak.

"No," Ginny cut across him. "Love, it's okay. When I looked in the mirror this morning it was gone. I had it all week, but... it's gone."

Harry looked down. "No, I'm sure I didn't see anything. If I had, I would have... I don't know what I would have done." He looked at her. "You had no bruises when we brought you upstairs. I'm sure Rosmerta would have said something if she had seen any."

Ginny stared at him. "I'm positive that ten minutes before I got here there was still a bad bruise on my face."

"What happened ten minutes before you got here?"

"That's when I found out about the poison." Ginny told him about being accosted outside the Great Hall, and all the details of the conversation that the first–year Slytherins had overheard. "And they all looked at me," she touched her cheek under her left eye. "Something had to be there."

Harry put his hand over his own face. "I'm sorry, Gin." He turned away, and Ginny could see tears in his eyes.

"Harry, no!" She jumped up and came around the table; she sat in his lap and took his face in her hands. "It's all right, it's all right," she whispered. "I'm fine, it wasn't your fault."

"I know," he finally managed to get out, "but when I think of you like that, I just... I can't..."

"Shush," she began kissing his face. "Put your arms around me. Oh, I didn't mean under the nightgown, but..."

They returned to the kitchen a half–hour later and Ginny resumed her breakfast; the hot cakes were still warm. Harry took a fork and cut off a bite for himself. "Can't understand why I'm so hungry," he grinned.

"You're insatiable," Ginny said with her mouth stuffed, then giggled. "You know what I mean."

Harry sat back and watched her eat; he felt completely at peace; there was absolutely nothing in the world that bothered him right now, not even the mystery of the poison. He was going to find out who had done this to Ginny — through him — and he was going to make them pay for it. He was certain beyond a sliver of a doubt that he would get to the bottom of it. He hadn't felt this confident about anything since he had faced Tom Riddle in the Great Hall.

"So let me get this straight," he began, "Zoroaster, Sean, and Abigail overhead those three pissed gits talking about Turntongue, but they didn't say where they heard it. From what you've told me and from what I remember about Jace Kleinhead, there's no way he could have planned and pulled it off himself."

Ginny frowned. "Right. But since they're seventh–years, they could have heard about it someplace outside of school, maybe in Knockturn Alley if they went there on a weekend."

"Which means that someone out there is blabbing or boasting."

"But who?"

At that moment there was a soft knock on the door to the stairs, and they heard Hermione's tentative voice. "Harry? Ginny? Are you in there?"

They looked at each other, then at the nightgown Ginny was wearing and the underwear that Harry was in. Harry got up and called as he went into the bedroom, "Wait a sec, we'll be right there!" He put on the jeans he had been wearing, then had to find his wand so he could repair the zipper, then he grabbed his shirt from the floor, but threw it back down when he saw that there were no buttons left on it. He hurriedly found a tee shirt in his dresser and pulled it over his head as he stumbled back into the parlor. Ginny was pulling her hair back and fixing it with a barrette that she had stashed someplace or conjured. They grinned at each other, and Harry opened the door.

Hermione and Ron stood there, and on the stairs behind them were George, Percy, Bill, Fleur and — to Harry and Ginny's shock — Charlie. They all had worried looks on their faces, except Fleur who, as soon as she saw Harry and Ginny, burst out laughing.

"You see?" she pushed past everyone and walked triumphantly into the parlor, "I was right! Whatever trouble zere was is fixed." She spread her hands and looked at Ginny, then Harry. "I have never seen two lovers so 'appy in my life, and believe me, I 'ave seen plenty of young lovers in my time."

Harry grinned at her, then pulled Hermione into the room. "Come on in, everyone. Charlie, it's great to see you. We don't have anything to eat or anyplace to sit, but —"

"Wait, Harry," said Bill; he glanced at Ginny for a moment, then smiled. "We didn't mean to crash in on you two. If you were busy..."

"No, no. Ginny was eating breakfast, but —"

"I can finish downstairs," Ginny said. "You all go and let me get dressed. I'll be down in a jiff."

"Yes, zat is a good idea," Fleur started shepherding them out the door. "You and 'Arry take your time, we will wait in ze dining room, yes?"

Ron was the last one to leave, and Harry held him back as Ginny went into the bedroom and closed the door. "You all heard about it?" Harry asked.

Ron nodded. "McGonagall sent an owl to Mum and Dad yesterday, and Dad told Bill and he told the rest of us." He frowned. "What happened? Ginny had a big bruise on her face?"

Harry pressed his lips together. "Did you ever hear of Turntongue?"

Ron shook his head. "No. What is it? It doesn't sound like anything nice."

"It's a poison. It was being put into the Potio Vitae and that's why I was so... different. I... I hit Ginny."

Ron's face froze for an instant, and for that instant Harry was not sure how his best mate was going to react. Then Ron's jaw clenched and his face turned red; he took Harry's arm. "Who did it, Harry, who were the bastards? I'll kill them!"

"I don't know. But go wait downstairs. We'll be right down and fill you all in. Make sure Hermione doesn't drink any."

Ron sucked in a breath, then nodded and quickly left. Harry went into the bedroom and heard Ginny in the shower. He paused for a moment, as though torn between two conflicting thoughts, then he undressed and went into the bathroom.

Ginny was humming to herself in the shower when Harry pulled the curtain back. She was rinsing her hair, and Harry watched the stream of shampoo bubbles run from her bright red hair, cascade down her back and over her oh so attractive and dimpled cheeks. Ginny turned her head and smiled; water ran into her eyes and she blinked. "Hello. Don't we have to go downstairs?"

"Eventually."

Ginny took his hand and Harry stepped into the shower. He pulled the curtain closed and pressed against her and kissed her, squeezing the dimples with his hands. "Here," she handed him a bar of soap, "There are places I couldn't reach." She closed her eyes and raised her face to the ceiling, then lifted her arms into the air above her head as Harry slowly soaped her front. He put the bar down and ran his hands over everything he had washed.

"This side is nice and clean," he said, a little hoarsely. "I think I should do your back." Ginny slowly turned and Harry repeated the process.

"Now it's my turn," Ginny's voice was unnaturally high–pitched. "Back first, love." She soaped that side, then moved against him and washed his front with her arms around him. Harry turned to face her and they kissed deeply under the stream of warm water. Harry picked her up so that she was at the right height, and Ginny wrapped her legs around him. Down in the dining room the Weasleys waited a little longer.

When Harry and Ginny — squeaky clean — finally went downstairs, the family were all sitting around tables in the back near the Dumbledore's Army plaques. Standing near the front door, however, was Saliyah Ushujaa in her Head Auror robes and pointed hat. She was talking to the same assistant who had been with her at the Burrow and in Kingsley Shacklebolt's office. She intercepted Harry and took his arm.

"I know you want to see your family," she said quietly, "but can I ask you to spare an hour? It's very important, in fact it's urgent."

Harry smiled. "It's Ginny's family, but that's okay. I assume it's about Turntongue."

The Auror nodded. "I promise it will be an hour at most."

"I'll be waiting," Ginny said, and started to walk away, but Saliyah stopped her.

"Ginny, I'd like you to come, too. If you don't mind."

Ginny went to tell her family that she and Harry would be back in an hour, and then they walked outside with the two Aurors. They went across the field and into the back door of the Post Office. The building was closed, but Saliyah led them into a small room with a table, around which were seated Professors McGonagall and Slughorn, the Auror Sagittaria Slocum, and Madame Rosmerta.

"You all know why I've asked you here," Saliyah said as they sat. "Someone tried to murder Harry with Turntongue, a particularly nasty substance. You could justly argue that Ginny's life was also in danger because the poison attacks the victim's most strongly held feeling." She looked around the table grimly. "There was a case about five years ago where a woman was poisoned by it and killed her own child. And about a week later, she killed herself." Rosmerta gasped, and Ginny took Harry's hand.

"I can understand that," Harry murmured.

"I'm sure you can," Saliyah said. "Now, the present case has some strange angles, and that's where I'm hoping you can help, Professor Slughorn. And," she turned to the Headmistress, "I do want to see those students who were overheard in the Slytherin common room. They could give us very important information."

"I will insist on being present when you question them," McGonagall said. "They are under my care, and as far as I can tell they have not committed a crime."

"That remains to be seen," Saliyah replied. "I'd like to see them this afternoon, if I may. And of course you and Professor Slughorn may attend. Well," she leaned forward, "Kingsley asked me to gather as much information as I can. It's urgent. A lot of people may be in danger. My first question is for Professor Slughorn. Why hasn't anyone other than Harry been affected so dramatically? Forgive me, Harry," she turned to him, "Lots of people noticed how it changed you, but it doesn't appear that anyone else became violent. I asked Professor Slughorn to take a few bottles from your stock and from The Three Broomsticks and analyze them. Professor?" she turned to Slughorn.

Slughorn cleared his throat and pulled a parchment from his robes. "Well, the Ministry —" he nodded to Saliyah "— asked me to analyze a few bottle of the drink, and I found something very interesting." He paused and looked around the circle of faces.

"Yes?" Saliyah prompted.

The Professor bowed his head to her, then glanced down at the parchment. "As I was saying, it's quite interesting. There are three foreign ingredients in the bottles I examined. One is a mild version of Turntongue. By itself, I don't believe it was strong enough to cause anyone to become violent. The second is a substance that is commonly used in my profession to enhance the activity of other ingredients. It's called Crescerio, and when it's used in conjunction with another herb or, as in this case, a poison, it multiplies the effect of the first substance. There's your answer," he beamed at Saliyah, then sat back looking satisfied with himself.

The Auror looked puzzled. "I don't see how that explains anything, Professor. Dozens of people in Hogsmeade drank the stuff. If it affected all of them the same way it affected Harry, we would have seen duels in the streets."

"Didn't I mention?" Slughorn was sweating slightly in the closed room, and he took out a large green handkerchief with silver filigrees threaded through it and wiped his brow. "The Crescerio itself has to be activated by a spell. It's ingenious, actually. You can put attenuated Turntongue into the drink so no one will notice it, then add Crescerio, which is harmless by itself, then activate the Crescerio by casting a Crescendum spell, and the Turntongue becomes lethal!" He beamed again. "The only disadvantage is that the spell works only within a few yards of the Crescerio."

There was silence, then Harry looked at Ginny. "I know who it was," he said, and all eyes went to him. "Turquoise Southeby. She was always there, except on weekends because she was afraid of Ginny, and by the end of the weekend I always felt better, not as angry. Find her and test her wand for that spell."

"I wish I could find her," Saliyah said, "but no one's seen her for four days."

"What about the third ingredient?" Harry asked Slughorn. "You said there were three."

Slughorn frowned. "It's something I've never seen before. Perhaps someone at the Ministry can identify it."

"I'll ask them," Saliyah nodded to her assistant who took out a quill and parchment and wrote on it.

"I have some questions," Rosmerta said. "How did Turntongue get into the drink in the first place? And is it only in the shipments sent to Hogsmeade?"

"We're talking to the bottler and to Jack Sipper about that," Saliyah answered, "but it's only been a few hours since you warned us, so I don't have any answers yet."

"I have a question," Ginny spoke. "Why is it that only people with Muggle grandparents like it? Is that part of a plot against people like Harry?"

Saliyah turned to Professor Slughorn. "Any ideas about that? What about that third ingredient?"

He wiped his forehead again. "I'll have to look into that. I have to say that I never tried the stuff myself. But for someone to do that..." He shook his head. "It would take a very high level of skill."

Saliyah's assistant leaned over and whispered into her ear. She nodded, then said to Slughorn, "I'd appreciate it if you would look into that, Professor. The Office of Magical Law Enforcement is also investigating it, but your skill and knowledge would be a great help."

He nodded modestly and wiped his forehead.

Saliyah stood. "If no one has anything else, I need to talk to some of your students," she turned to McGonagall. "May we go now?"

The Headmistress gave a short nod. "As long as I am present, as I said."

"It's your right as Head of the school," said Saliyah. She nodded to Harry.

They went out the back door, but when Professor McGonagall and the others started around the side of the building, Ginny left Harry and ran after them. Harry watched as Ginny spoke to the Headmistress; they both smiled and Ginny came back. She took his arm as they walked across the field to the inn. "What was that about?" Harry asked.

Ginny looked at him mischievously. "I asked her if I could stay out of school tomorrow. She said yes."

"Ah," said Harry; he put his arm around her. "And what were you planning to do on your new day off?"

"Wear you out."

"You can try, witch, but I warn you, I'm a wizard of prodigious power. My wand is known far and wide."

"Oh, really? By whom?" she grinned.

He stopped; they were a few yards from the lane and the front door of the inn. Harry lifted up her chin and Ginny put her arms around him. "Only you," he whispered, "forever," and he kissed her.

"Oi, lovers!" came George's voice from the door, "can't it wait? We're all starving."

Charlie was also at the door, and when Harry and Ginny walked in he stopped them. "Harry," he looked at him earnestly, "late last night I got a message from Bill. All anyone knew was that Ginny was hurt. You do understand why we came, don't you?"

Harry nodded. "I do, and I'm glad you came."

"Whoever did it, Harry, find them, find them and put them away."

"I intend to."

Charlie put an arm around each of their shoulders and escorted them back to the rest of the Weasleys. Ron had told everyone what Harry had told him, and Stan had filled in some more details. When Harry reported what Saliyah and Professor Slughorn had said, heads shook and people muttered to each other. "I remember that case of the witch who killed her own child," Bill said. "It was done by a jealous wizard. He must have been deranged."

"But what 'appened to 'Arry is not derangement," Fleur declared hotly. "It was vengeance. Someone tried to kill 'Arry because 'e 'as destroyed ze Deat' Eaters and zere leader. I 'ate to say even 'is real name," her eyes flashed.

"Don't you think it was Tangerine Southeby?" Percy asked.

"Turquoise, Perce, Turquoise," George snickered. "But there had to be others. She couldn't have done it alone."

"Pansy Parkinson," said Ron, and Hermione rolled her eyes.

"What is it with you and Pansy," Ginny asked. "I didn't know you liked short girls." Hermione guffawed.

Charlie banged his mug on the table. "Listen, brothers and sisters, I love spending time with the family, but Hagrid is holding my transportation for me inside a pen in the Forbidden Forest, and I'd like to start back while there's enough daylight for the beast to land. The Carpathian Mountains can get pretty dark at night."

Harry spoke to Stan and soon food started issuing from the kitchen. They began eating the first course of French onion soup smothered in melted cheese, but then Bill stood and raised his bottle of butterbeer; everyone looked at him and silence fell. "Before we eat his food," he said solemnly, "we owe Harry an explanation."

"No, you don't!" Harry tried to stand, but Ron pulled him down.

"Shut up, mate," he growled. "No one asked you." Harry sat, looking grumpy. "Go on, you can ignore him," Ron said to Bill.

Bill smiled. "Harry, we all came here for one simple reason: we heard that Ginny was in trouble. So now you know what happens when a Weasley is in trouble. A mob descends, and whoever caused the trouble is in bigger trouble. But," he looked intently at Harry, "not a single one of us ever thought for a moment that you were the cause, and no one thinks it now. We came here for both of you, Harry. For Ginny and you. I never want you to doubt for an instant that the Weasleys will be here for you if you need us." He looked around the table. "I see two people whose lives you saved. You saved our father's life. And we all know what you wear around your neck, that little cylinder that Ginny gave you. You may not have been born into this family, Harry, but it is your family."

"Bravo!" Fleur clapped. She sprang up and ran around to Harry; she leaned over and, to applause and cheers, kissed him on his lips. Harry grinned at Ron. "You don't deserve one," he said smugly.

Fleur kissed Ginny, and then everyone started talking and eating. Charlie soon left, but not before giving Harry a rib–cracking hug; he then whispered something to Ginny who blushed a deep Weasley crimson. A half hour later they heard what sounded like a train passing overhead, and they knew that Charlie was on his way back to Romania. The rest of the family started leaving, but Fleur took Ginny's hand before she and Bill left.

"Can you come to stay wiz us next weekend?" she asked. "Maybe you would like to get away from all zis for a few days. We would love to 'ave you."

Harry squeezed his arm around Ginny's waist. "That would be brilliant," Ginny said happily.

"Thanks," Harry grinned.

"No, 'Arry, t'ank you." This time she kissed his cheek, then she and Ginny hugged. Bill pumped Harry's hand, then looked at him and gave him a hug only a little less vise–like than Charlie's. Soon only Ron and Hermione were left, and they all went up to the flat.

They sat on the rug in front of a warm fire. Hermione's head lay in Ron's lap, and Harry and Ginny sat side by side leaning against the love seat; Ginny ran her fingers slowly through Harry's hair. They were all quiet; the fire cracked and popped, and occasionally McPherson shifted on his perch and made soft clucking sounds.

Harry stared into the fire, then he cleared his throat. "Ron," he said, and both Ron and Hermione looked at him.

"What is it, mate?" Ron leaned back on his hands.

"Do you think I could start the Auror program after Christmas?"

Hermione sat up, and Ginny's hand stopped moving.

"Sure," Ron said, "that would be bloody fantastic! You won't have any problem with it, you'll do great!"

"I don't know about that, but I can't stay here. I mean, I can't run the inn. It's what started all... the bad things."

Ginny was looking at him with glistening eyes. She said nothing, but she put her fingers on her lips, then pressed them to his; she leaned her head on his shoulder.

"Don't say anything yet," Harry said. "Let me ask around Hogsmeade to see if anyone's available to manage this place. Who's running the program now?"

Ron grinned. "Percy. And he's doing a bang up job. He's not teaching, but he's got everything so organized and running so well that Aurors are knocking each other over to get on the staff. He'll bust when he hears you want to join."

Harry looked at Ginny. "What do you think?"

"What do I think?" Ginny now had tears running down her cheeks. "I think you just made the best decision in your life. Thank you." She took his face in her hands and kissed him.

Harry smiled. "The second best decision. The first was deciding to kiss you two years ago."

Ginny put her arms around him and leaned into him. As they started to snog, Ron and Hermione stood up together. "Well, I think it's time to be heading on home," Ron said. "Don't get up, we'll find the door ourselves."

Harry pointed. "It's over there," he mumbled, but Ginny put her mouth back on his and they rolled to the floor as Ron and Hermione left; their laughter could be heard until the door closed behind them.

Harry was on top of Ginny; he put his hand on her breast and her eyes closed and her mouth opened. "Alone at last," he said.

"If they hadn't left, I would have had to Stun them. Take me into the bedroom, instantly."

Harry picked her up and carried her to the bed. He started to light the candles, but Ginny pulled him back on top of her. "Not necessary," she said into his ear. She pulled his shirt out and more buttons popped off. "I want you, Harry, I've never wanted you so much. I want you, I want you now!"

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