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

Author: MyGinevra

Story: The Hog's Head

Part: 30: The Kiss Of The Stag

Rating: Teens

Status: Completed

Warning: Violence, extreme language, sexual situations

Reviews: 9

Words: 6,256

Updated: July 25, 2008, 7:57pm

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30: The Kiss Of The Stag

The three girls were transfixed by the silver stag, until they heard a moan from one of the first–years. Luna, who was still kneeling at their side, leaned down and put her hand on Abigail's forehead. "It's okay, you're safe. Madam Pomfrey will be here in a minute."

The girl tried to speak, even though her lips were puffy and bloody, but her mouth wouldn't work.

"I think her jaw is broken," Luna said as Ginny and Keesha both knelt next to her. Ginny felt for Abigail's hand, and she remembered, with a flash of rage, looking down on the wreck of Elizabeth Derby's face six months ago. She looked back at the four figures scattered on the floor and stood up. She walked to the nearest one and rolled him over on his back with her foot.

"Ginny!" Keesha said sharply. "What are you doing?"

Ginny swallowed; the wand in her hand trembled as she pointed it at Jace Kleinhead's face. "I want to kill him," she said between clenched teeth, "but I won't because that way he'll suffer more."

They heard running footsteps and looked down the corridor toward the kitchens. A figure was racing toward them, its lit wand jogging up and down. In a moment Madam Pomfrey stood before them, surveying the scene. "What happened," she gasped as she caught her breath. "Whose Patronus was that?" She squatted next to Keesha and Luna and grimaced when she saw the faces of the students lying on the ground. "Merlin's beard! Who did this?"

"The same ones who tried to do this to us a couple of months ago," Keesha told her. Pomfrey swept the corridor with her eyes, taking in the four bodies lying motionless.

She waved her wand and Abigail's moans stopped. The girl's face relaxed, and she looked gratefully at the nurse. "You'll be fine, dear," Pomfrey said. She ran her fingers over the girl's face, and her expression hardened when she felt Abigail's jaw; she looked over at the Stunned Slytherins again. "I told Minerva to expel them," she muttered.

She moved to Sean and waved her wand over his face, which looked worse than Abigail's; he was still unconscious and had not moved. "Looks like they gave him some special treatment. Bastards!"

Keesha stared down at Sean, and when Ginny put her arm around her friend's shoulders she could feel her shaking. Keesha wiped a tear from her cheek. "If they don't end up in Azkaban, I'm going to kill them," she said hoarsely.

Ginny squeezed her shoulder, then looked up at the sound of more footsteps; she knew that it was Harry. As a lit wand appeared around the corner, the stag tossed its antlers, and vanished. Harry was there a few seconds later. "I got here as fast as I could," he puffed. "Are the kids okay?"

Ginny shook her head. "They're alive, but they got beat up."

There were more voices, and another lit wand came toward them; Professor McGonagall arrived, trailed by Professors Sprout and Slughorn. A moment later another wand appeared, lower to the ground, and Professor Flitwick came running up, wheezing, his short legs wobbling; he wiped his brow with a handkerchief and leaned against the wall.

"We need to get these three upstairs, Minerva," Madam Pomfrey said, glaring at the Headmistress. "And it wouldn't hurt to call for a Healer."

"Do whatever you have to," McGonagall looked around, and walked over to the body of Jace Kleinhead. She looked at Ginny. "There are four of them?"

Ginny nodded. "The same ones who jumped us. Except this time they had easier prey."

McGonagall glanced at Ginny, but dropped her eyes from Ginny's unblinking gaze. She walked back to stand next to Madam Pomfrey. "Miss Weasley, can you and your friends and Mr. Potter help Poppy and Pomona get these three up to the hospital wing? Myself and the professors will take care of those," she nodded to the still forms of the four boys.

They used levitating spells to move Sean, Zoroaster, and Abigail down the corridor, up several flights of stairs, and into the hospital wing. Madam Pomfrey went ahead to prepare beds, and then Professor Sprout Floo'd to St. Mungo's to fetch a Healer. Ginny watched with Harry, Keesha, and Luna as the nurse tended the three young Slytherins, but they left when Pomfrey told them there was nothing for them to do, and the three would be fine as soon as their broken bones healed.

"They used the Cruciatus on them, Harry," Ginny growled as they walked downstairs. "They tortured them because they told me about the Turntongue."

Harry nodded. "McGonagall screwed up, and she knows it. She should have expelled them."

They walked Luna back to the spiral staircase, and then took Keesha down to the Hufflepuff entrance. Ginny hugged her before Keesha went inside. "Sean will be okay," Ginny assured her. "He's tough. They all are."

Keesha nodded grimly. "I meant what I said. Kleinhead's dead meat if I ever see him again."

Ginny gave Harry the cloak and they went back up to the Gryffindor common room. About a dozen students were up, all in their pajamas. Somehow word had gotten out about the attack.

"Harry, what happened?" Dennis Creevey asked. "We heard some Slytherin first–years got taken to the hospital wing."

"That's right, but you'll have to ask Ginny. I didn't see any of it."

They all turned their heads to Ginny. "I was outside the Hufflepuff common room with Luna and Keesha, and —"

"What were you doing there so late at night?" Jimmy Peakes interrupted.

Ginny shrugged. "We were studying late in the library. We heard —"

"In the library?" Jimmy gave her a skeptical look. "I saw you go upstairs with the twins at nine–thirty."

"Jimmy, do you want to know what happened or not? If you do, then shut up."

Jimmy looked around for support, but everyone ignored him. "Go on, Ginny," said Dennis.

"Well, we heard noises coming from past the kitchen, and when we got there, four seventh–years were torturing Sean, Zoro, and Abigail. They had beaten them up first. We Stunned them, and then we got Madam Pomfrey. Then Professor McGonagall came, and we helped take them up to the hospital wing. That's all I know."

"Who were the seventh–years," Jimmy asked.

Ginny named them, and everyone shook their heads. "They should expel those wankers," Dennis said. "Last year they used to try to push Colin around, too."

An animated conversation started up about what should be done with the perpetrators, and Ginny pulled Harry away. They pushed two chairs together and sat in a corner away from the crowd.

"You were watching on the Map?" Ginny asked in a low voice, glancing up to make sure no one was within earshot.

Harry nodded. "As soon as I saw you move down the corridor I noticed the others. I was pretty sure what was happening, so I sent my stag to McGonagall and I ran for the castle."

"To the rescue again," Ginny smiled. "Your stag is getting to know the dungeons pretty well."

"You didn't seem to need much rescuing." Harry grinned back. "Oh, and I did one other thing. Before I left the inn I told the Auror on duty that students were being attacked in the castle. I don't know what McGonagall is planning to do, but the Ministry knows about it."

"Excellent." Ginny's eyes gleamed. "Well, you were a busy lad tonight." She leaned back and stared at him. "I want you," she whispered. "I'm going to be extremely frustrated."

Harry took a breath. "So am I." He looked around. "There's always the Room of Requirement."

Ginny closed her eyes and thought about the curtained chambers and the hammocks; she gave a deep sigh. "I think we'd better not. Besides, I haven't heard that it's still there."

"At least I can say good night again." He leaned forward to kiss her, but Ginny put her hand up.

"I have to tell you something. Your stag touched my ring and made the rubies light up. I thought they were on fire."

"Touched the ring? How?"

"It was standing in front of me and I reached for it. It put its nose on the ring and it felt almost like a shock. Was there supposed to be anything special about the rubies?"

"Not that I know of." Harry took her hand and looked closely at the ring; he ran his finger over the stones, then looked at Ginny. "A magical ring?"

Ginny put her arms around him. "Of course it's magical. You gave it to me, and everything you do is magical." She looked at him teasingly. "You told me yourself you are a wizard of prodigious powers."

"Yes, I did say that." He pulled her into his chair and started a snog. When they stopped, Ginny rested her head on his chest.

"You're not making this any less frustrating," she murmured.

"I know." Harry took her left hand and looked at her ring. "In less than ten months you'll be my wife."

Ginny lifted her head, and suddenly there were tears in her eyes. "Harry, that's... Oh, Merlin," she put her head back on his chest, "I won't be able to sleep at all tonight, damn you." Harry ran his hands down and up her back, and then started to run his fingers through her hair. Ginny moaned softly, and did something that made Harry moan. They suddenly both looked around, but the common room was empty.

Ginny heaved another sigh and stood up; she pulled him out of the chair and gave him a quick kiss. "We have to stop, or I'll never survive." She pushed him toward the portrait hole, but before he opened it, he paused.

"Let me know how the kids in the hospital are," he said, "and let me know what happens to the four gits." He kissed her one last time, then left, and Ginny went up to her dorm. Her roommates were asleep, and Bailey was alone on her perch; apparently she had decided to stay in Ginny's room tonight. Ginny fell into bed and was soon asleep.

* * * *

The next morning at breakfast the Great Hall was abuzz about the events of last night. The four seventh–year Slytherins were not there, and the rest of the students at that table ate with their heads down, except for a dozen first– and second–years who seemed to be sitting with their heads held higher than usual. Professor McGonagall and the rest of the staff ate with grim expressions. Professor Slughorn was absent, and Dennis Creevey told Ginny that he was up in the hospital wing with the injured students.

Emma and Claire were distraught; they were both close to tears, and Ginny sat next to them and tried to console them. She told them what had happened without sparing any details; better to tell the complete truth, she thought, since they would learn it soon enough. When she described Sean's battered face, Emma broke down and clung to her, sobbing hysterically.

At the end of the meal, Professor McGonagall stood, and all conversations immediately stopped. Ginny could tell that Emma was not the only one who had been crying; the Headmistress waited until only sniffling could be heard, then she spoke loudly but calmly.

"Last night in the dungeons three first–year students were attacked, beaten, and tortured by four seventh–years. All seven of them were from the House of Slytherin. The three are in the hospital wing and will completely recover in a few days. The four have been removed from school and will not return." She sighed and her eyes looked down. "Fortunately, three other students, Ginny Weasley, Keesha Baker, and Luna Lovegood happened to be nearby and were able to stop the attack and subdue the attackers." There was a stir in the room, and Ginny felt many eyes on her.

McGonagall walked from behind the staff table to the Slytherin table and gazed down it. All of the students sitting there looked at her, even the older ones at the far end. She spoke directly to them. "At the beginning of this year, I offered my hand to the ancient House of Slytherin. Some of you did not accept it, and as a result three children, members of your own House, are now in hospital, seriously injured. I implore you to look into your hearts and into the faces of your House–mates and reflect on what has happened. I also promise you that expressions of hatred and intolerance will no longer be tolerated at Hogwarts. Your thoughts and your feelings are your own, but your behavior belongs to everyone. Actions and speech that I deem unacceptable will result in immediate probation and discipline. A repetition will result in instant expulsion."

She sighed again and walked back to her high–backed chair. She stood for a moment, then sat. Ginny thought she looked very tired, and older.

The Hall was quiet as it emptied. Luna beckoned to Ginny in the entrance hall. "Where's Keesha," Luna said, looking around. "I have something to tell you." They found her and the three of them ducked back into the Hall; they sat at the Ravenclaw table. Ginny had never seen Luna so animated. "I saw the Aurors take them away last night," she whispered dramatically, even though the entire Great Hall was empty. "One of the windows in my room faces the drive. They were all tied up — the boys, I mean — and when they got outside the gates, they all Disapparated."

Ginny nodded. "Good. How many Aurors were there?"

"I don't know, maybe six or seven. Did you see how angry the older Slytherins were at breakfast?"

"Yeah, well they can kiss my ass," Keesha said angrily. "Frankly, it's about time someone did something about that House. The Malfoys used to run the Board of Governors, but no more. I just wish someone with more guts than Slughorn was Head."

Luna stared at Keesha. "You're quite angry about it."

"Luna, they're racist pigs. Why do you think they beat up Sean so badly?"

"I didn't say they weren't. I just said you were very angry."

Keesha looked at Ginny and shrugged. "At least they're gone, and McGonagall's cracking down. I was hoping she would, but I sent my uncle an owl telling him about the whole thing, just in case."

"Good," Ginny said. "And Harry told the Aurors at the inn last night. I suppose McGonagall would have done the same thing without the Ministry knowing, but he wanted to be sure."

Keesha cocked her head at Ginny. "Harry always seems to know what's happening over here. How does he do that?"

Ginny chewed on her lip for a moment. "He has a magical map that shows where everybody is in the castle. He doesn't want people to know about it, though, so please don't tell anyone. He got it from Fred and George. They nicked it from Filch's office a while ago. What's really cool about it is that Harry's dad used it when he was here."

"Sounds brilliant," Keesha said. "I wish I had something like that."

"It is rather convenient," Ginny grinned. "Well," she glanced around the empty Hall, "back to reality. We have Potions in fifteen minutes and I want to send an owl to Harry. It'll be interesting with Jace off in jail." She and Keesha chuckled and Luna looked thoughtfully into space.

They left the Great Hall. Keesha and Luna went down to the Potions classroom, and Ginny ran upstairs to her room and shot off a quick note to Harry, bringing him up to date. She arrived back down in the classroom just in front of an exhausted Professor Slughorn; he nodded to her, and Ginny took her seat next to Ruth Madison. The Professor wiped his face with his large, elegant handkerchief, and sat down.

"I didn't sleep last night," he said quietly. "Professor McGonagall requested the staff to begin each class this morning by asking if you have any questions. Please feel free to speak." He looked around.

Ginny folded her arms and said nothing. Ruth glanced at her; Salvador Chambers and Hector Freeman shifted in their seats, then Hector raised his hand. "Some of us saw Aurors taking students away last night."

Slughorn wiped his face again. "That's right. They were taken to the Ministry of Magic where they are being held while the, uh, events of last night are investigated. If it is determined that a crime was committed, they will be charged."

Keesha snorted and everyone looked at her. "If?" she said. "Who thinks there wasn't a crime?"

"Obviously there was a crime, Miss Baker." The handkerchief was becoming soaked. "I only meant that procedures must be followed. I have no doubt that they will be charged with serious offenses. They are all over the legal age, so there will be a formal trial." He visibly sagged when he said those words, and Ginny felt sorry for him. The man must have much on his conscience, going back to his revelations to Tom Riddle about Horcruxes. Last year his House was disgraced by its treachery before the battle, and now four of his students were in jail. But there was also hope, because three Slytherins had risked their lives for Harry. She raised her hand.

"Professor, Sean, Zoro, and Abigail were attacked because they tried to help Harry. And me."

Slughorn smiled at Ginny; Ruth, Salvador, and Hector all looked at her in surprise. "I see that some of you don't know the full circumstances," Slughorn continued to smile. "Yes, Miss Weasley is quite right. Harry Potter was being poisoned with Turntongue — I know everyone has heard about the Potio Vitae episode — and the three young students overheard Mr. Kleinhead and others talking about it. If they hadn't spoken up, Mr. Potter might not have survived."

He put away his handkerchief. "If no one else has anything to say, we should get on with our lesson."

As they were filing out of the dungeon an hour later, a first–year Hufflepuff girl approached Keesha and handed her a parchment. "It's for the three of you," she looked at Luna and Ginny.

Keesha read the note. "McGonagall wants us to have lunch in her office." She looked at the other two. "I'll bet it's Aurors."

She thanked the girl, and the three of them went up to the library. They all had homework, and Ginny and Keesha were a little behind because they had been away over the weekend. Ginny and Luna had Herbology next period, and Keesha had History of Magic; they agreed to meet in the entrance hall before lunch and go to the Headmistress's office together.

Just before noon they stood in front of the stone gargoyle and tried various Scottish–related phrases, but nothing worked. As the school clock was striking twelve, Harry walked up, and after he kissed Ginny he grinned and turned to the gargoyle. "Smoked salmon!" he cried, and the spiral stairs appeared. "She's branching out into food," Harry said as they went up. "Too many people were guessing the passwords."

"So how do you come to know it?" Ginny asked; she was holding his arm, delightfully surprised to see him.

"I'm special," Harry laughed. "Actually, Saliyah told me this morning. She's here now."

They knocked on the doors and entered when Professor McGonagall called them in. She was seated behind her desk, on which a sleeping gray tabby was stretched out. Saliyah Ushujaa and her assistant were there, as were Sagittaria Slocum — the Auror in charge of the detail guarding the inn — Professor Slughorn, Madam Pomfrey, and two older wizards wearing the plum–colored robes of the Wizengamot; Ginny recognized one as Tiberius Ogden, a friend of her father's who had resigned from the Wizengamot in protest when Fudge appointed Umbridge as High Inquisitor of Hogwarts. He had obviously been reinstated, and he nodded to Ginny as she sat. She did not know the other Warlock.

She noticed that Harry was gazing upward with a smile on his face; she followed his look and saw Professor Dumbledore sitting in a large chair in his portrait, his eyes twinkling and his hands folded in his lap. Ginny could swear that he winked at her.

The Headmistress cleared her throat. "Thank you all for coming. Luncheon will be up soon. For those of you who don't know them, these are Warlocks Tiberius Ogden and Franklin Farnsworth. Auror Ushujaa asked them to be here because of the seriousness of the crimes. And I wanted to hold this meeting during the lunch hour so that the students and professors would not miss class time, and so that it may end expeditiously." She proceeded to introduce everyone else, including Dumbledore. Then she nodded to Saliyah. "I turn this meeting over to you, Head Auror."

The assistant took out a roll of parchment and a quill. Saliyah looked at Luna. "Miss Lovegood, please tell us what you saw when you were down in that corridor."

Luna sat up with a start; she had been gazing at the cat, which had awakened and was cleaning its ears and face with a paw. Now Luna stared open–mouthed at the Auror. The assistant made a small grunting noise and rolled her eyes.

"Miss Lovegood? What did you see in the corridor?" Saliyah repeated.

"Four boys standing up and three bodies on the ground. That is, until we Stunned them, then there were seven bodies on the ground."

"I see." Saliyah paused. "What were the, um, the standing boys doing? I mean, when they were still standing?"

"They were directing spells at the ones on the ground. One of them, Serpens Lestrange, used the Cruciatus. It was awful, as I'm sure you can imagine."

"You said you fired spells. Did you hit any of them?"

"Damn right I did," Luna declared, and Ginny felt Harry's body start to shake next to her. She tried to contain her own laughter, but finally she had to cover it up with a fit of coughing. That caused both Harry and Keesha to break up, and soon all three were hacking away and pounding each other on the back. Luna watched them with a mildly amused smile, while the rest of the room stared with bemusement or, in the case of Professor McGonagall, irritation. Ginny finally got control of herself and wiped tears from her face. But then she looked at Luna and this time she burst out laughing.

"I'm — I'm s–sorry," she managed to get out. "It's not funny, I know. Ahem." She cleared her throat, put on as serious an expression as she could manage, and sat up straight. She knew that if she looked at anyone she would start laughing again, so she stared at the wall behind McGonagall's desk, and found her eyes locked with Professor Dumbledore's bright blue ones.

He nodded to her, and this time he definitely winked; Ginny felt herself blush. She was only vaguely aware of the questions that Saliyah was asking Luna and Keesha, or their answers. Dumbledore started twisting his fingers together, and then Ginny realized that he was pointing to his ring finger. She smiled and held up her ring; Dumbledore beamed and nodded. Then he raised his hand and gave her a thumbs up.

Ginny suddenly became aware that the room was quiet and that everyone was looking at her. She blushed again — she knew that this time it was a deep, Weasley scarlet — and quickly lowered her hand to her lap. Dumbledore cleared his throat and leaned forward in his chair.

"I'm so sorry, Madam Auror," he said to Saliyah, "I didn't mean to interrupt your interrogation. I was just admiring Miss Weasley's ring. It's quite stunning." He folded his hands in his lap and sat back.

The Auror looked at the old Headmaster for a moment, then glared at Ginny. "If we may, Miss Weasley? There are four prisoners waiting in the dungeons of the Ministry, and I think that we all want to see justice proceed as quickly as possible."

"I'm sorry," Ginny was abashed; Harry patted her leg and she looked at him gratefully. "Please, go ahead."

"Thank you. Now, Miss Baker was telling us that you were standing in the corridor that runs past the kitchens, and you saw lit wands. What did you do then?"

Ginny described the fight and how she sent her Patronus to fetch Madam Pomfrey. Saliyah then asked her and Harry about Turntongue and how they had found out that Harry was being poisoned. Professor Slughorn recounted his explanation of how the poison had been activated. Finally Saliyah turned to the two Warlocks.

"That sums it up," she said. "I did not ask the two girls who were originally told about the Turntongue plot to be here. They are first–years and I would only question them if their parents were present, but they are Muggles, and I didn't feel comfortable about deciding on my own to involve them. As you know, I've asked Minister Shacklebolt to help me with that. Professor McGonagall," she turned to the Headmistress, "I would appreciate your own input."

Before McGonagall could respond, Ginny spoke, "I don't think that Emma and Claire should be involved at all. At breakfast this morning Emma broke down. They were very friendly with Sean and Zoro, and very upset. All they did was pass on what the boys and Abigail said to Luna and Keesha."

"I agree," said Professor McGonagall. "There is no need to question the Athair twins. Does anyone else wish to say or ask anything? I believe our lunch has arrived." She stood and gestured to a table behind them which had not been there before; it held platters of sandwiches, pitchers of pumpkin juice, and a large assortment of pastries.

While Ginny was wolfing down a corned beef sandwich, she noticed that Professor Dumbledore was watching her. She tugged on Harry's sleeve, but he was talking to the two Warlocks. She walked behind McGonagall's desk and smiled up at the portrait. Dumbledore's eyes were twinkling more than ever.

"Congratulations!" he said. "I apologize if I caused you embarrassment a few minutes ago, but I was delighted when I noticed your ring. It's magnificent! I'm so pleased for you and Harry. The wedding will be at the Burrow, I presume?"

"Oh, yes, of course. I wouldn't have it anyplace else."

"Ah," Dumbledore nodded. "I must ask a favor, then. Since I cannot be there, do you think you and Harry could stop by the castle after the wedding? I would dearly love to see you when you are married."

"Of course we will," Ginny smiled. "I know Harry will want to, also." She turned and saw Harry watching them; he started to walk over, but when she looked back at the portrait, Dumbledore had a distant, almost sad expression. He quickly smiled at her and leaned back in his chair. "Are you all right, Professor?" Ginny asked.

Dumbledore laughed. "Now that's an interesting question to ask of someone in my condition. Yes, Ginny, I'm fine. I was indulging in a silly regret, of which I think you and Harry here will have few."

Harry had come to stand next to Ginny with his arm around her. "Professor Dumbledore asked us to come see him after the wedding," Ginny said to Harry. "I'd like to do that."

"That's the first thing we'll do," Harry smiled. Dumbledore smiled back and then winked at Ginny again.

The students and Harry soon left, and on their way downstairs they talked about what had just happened. "Those two Warlocks didn't talk much," said Ginny, "but I guess if there's going to be a trial they have to be careful what they say."

"It was all very interesting," Luna said. "I wouldn't mind seeing the trial. I've never been to one."

"Just throw them in Azkaban," muttered Keesha. "What do they need a trial for?"

"Did you notice how fast McGonagall ended the meeting?" Harry said. "She's probably blaming herself for what happened."

"She could have handled it better," said Ginny, "but no one's to blame except those four prats, unless someone else put them up to it."

"I'm sure that's what happened," Luna said. "They're cowards, so someone threatened them with something worse than prison, and that's why they did it."

Ginny looked at Harry, who was frowning at Luna. He glanced at Ginny. "If someone's behind them, and if Turquoise Southeby wasn't working alone, then I'll bet the same person is behind everything."

"Or persons," said Luna.

Harry shrugged. "Whoever it is, the Ministry should be able to find them, now that they have those four in their hands."

Luna and Keesha turned into their Transfiguration classroom, but Ginny walked Harry down to the entrance hall. "That was a nice surprise to see you today," Ginny said between snogs. "Now it's just two days until I see you again."

"And it's only four weeks until your Christmas holiday. Maybe you can spend part of it at the inn."

"Hmm. That's an idea I hadn't thought of. Mum won't be happy, though."

"It's just a suggestion. I'll go wherever you want us to go."

"I love you, Harry," she gave him another kiss. "Write me lots of owls tonight." She skipped lightly away and waved at him as she ran up the marble staircase to her class.

The rest of the day passed, and when Ginny went to dinner that evening the major news event in the Great Hall was still the attack. Now several rumors were floating around: the seventh–years were already in Azkaban; the three first–years were dead; the three first–years had been sent to St. Mungo's; and the three first–years would make a grand appearance in the Great Hall during dinner. No one seemed to care that most of the rumors were self–contradictory.

Ginny realized during the meal that the events had driven her engagement to Harry off the front page, so to speak. She made this pleasant discovery when she handed Romilda Vane a pitcher of pumpkin juice and Romilda looked directly at the ring without batting an eye; she was in a rumor–induced fog, chatting away about the perfidy of the House of Slytherin. Ginny had no intention of hiding the ring, but she was certainly glad not to be pestered about it.

On Wednesday she met Harry in the entrance hall when he arrived for his Charms lesson, but this time she waited in the common room for it to end since she didn't want to distract him again — there was no telling what might happen to Professor Flitwick if Harry started thinking about snogging or worse. When Harry came back — she had given him the password — they curled up together on a sofa in a corner. After fifteen minutes of heavy snogging, Harry rolled on his side and took a breath; his shirt was pulled out of his jeans, his hair went in every direction, and his eyes were glassy. He picked up his eyeglasses from the floor and put them on.

"I won't make it until Friday," he groaned. "If you hear an explosion from Hogsmeade, it's me."

"I'll be listening closely," Ginny laughed; she was only slightly less disarranged than Harry. She sat up and looked around; the common room was empty. "I think we're missing lunch. Are you hungry? Whoops! Wrong question."

Harry had pulled her back down, but she fought him off. "You'll just have to risk an explosion, dear," she said as she got up and straightened her clothes. "I'm hungry for food."

"I guess I am, too. Trying to balance on that sofa was tricky, it took a lot out of me."

They joined Emma and Claire at the Gryffindor table; the twins were feeling much better, having been told personally by Professor McGonagall that their Slytherin friends would be out of the hospital wing today. Harry's presence with Ginny in the Great Hall ignited a bonfire of interest in their engagement, which was now well known. Girls especially seemed to find reasons to walk past them but slow down long enough to crane their necks to see Ginny's ring. The twins became indignant, and Emma told several younger ones to "bugger off." Harry and Ginny laughed, and eventually the parade petered out. They said goodbye in the entrance hall and Harry returned to Hogsmeade after promising Ginny he would try not to explode.

At dinner there was a general atmosphere of anticipation, and when Sean, Zoroaster, and Abigail walked in, a huge cheer went up. Emma and Claire climbed on their bench and jumped up and down, waving their arms and shouting. The three students were smiling and very embarrassed. Their bruises were gone, as far as Ginny could see. They sat at the Slytherin table and were welcomed with hugs and slaps on the back from the group that sat at the front of the table; the older Slytherins at the other end looked at each other, and then some of them began to applaud, too. At the head table, Professor Slughorn smiled, then wiped his brow with his green and silver napkin; he looked very relieved.

When dinner was over, and Ginny was walking out of the Great Hall, Zoroaster stepped in front of her. Past him, Ginny saw, were Sean and Abigail as well as Luna, Keesha, Emma, and Claire. Ginny took Zoro's extended hand and they joined the others; a crowd of students surrounded them.

"It's so good to see you," Ginny squeezed Zoroaster's hand. "Are you all completely healed?" She looked him up and down.

"Yeah, we're fine," he looked down at his feet, then at Sean and Abigail. "We just wanted to thank you. I guess you saved our lives."

"I'm glad we were there," said Ginny. She hugged him and the students around them applauded. "Just returning the favor." Everyone laughed. "Have you been in your common room yet?"

Zoro shook his head. "No, but I'm not afraid. That lot was the worst, and I don't think anyone else will bother us. Besides," he grinned at Sean and Abigail, "they know who our friends are."

When they walked away toward the stairs to the Slytherin common room, everyone cheered again. Ginny went upstairs with Emma and Claire; Sean and Zoro had given each of them a self–conscious kiss on the cheek, and the twins were bubbling over. Ginny left them at their room and could hear them jabbering all the way up to the sixth level.

She got her books and went back to the library and studied for a few hours. McPherson was waiting with a note and a package of chocolates when she got back to her room, and for another hour the owls whizzed back and forth between Hogwarts and Hogsmeade, bearing love letters that grew hotter and hotter with each exchange. Ginny knew that the owl traffic was bothering her roommates but she didn't care. Finally, she and Harry bade each other goodnight and Ginny pulled her hangings shut and lay down in her bed.

She gave a big sigh. It was already an eventful week, and it was only half over. She rolled onto her stomach and hugged her pillow; her heart was full. Harry had never been more loving, and all of the decisions he had made in the last week — to give up the inn, to enroll in the Auror program, and to ask her to marry him — had helped to make her happy almost beyond belief. And the attack in the dungeon, as horrible as it was, had ended up by bringing all four Houses together in a way she hadn't seen in all her seven years at Hogwarts.

She raised herself on her elbows and opened her locket; Harry's emerald eyes gleamed at her. She closed it and held her ring next to it and compared the rubies. The ones in the ring were much larger and, ever since the stag had touched them, there was a glow deep inside them. She kissed the locket and then the ring.

She heard Sarah scream, then Christina. Ginny flung her hangings open, grabbed her wand from the night table, and looked around. Harry's stag stood in the middle of the room, gazing placidly at her. Ginny raised her left hand and stared at the ring, then at the stag. She lowered her hand and the stag vanished.

Sarah and Christina were clinging to each other, looking terrified. "It's okay," Ginny said, although her voice was not completely steady. "It won't come back." She gave them a quick smile, then jumped back into bed and closed the hangings. She sat there, staring at her trembling hand and her ring. The glow from the rubies had intensified, but as she watched, it dimmed.

She pulled the covers up and lay awake for a long time, unable to sleep, feeling awe and wonder, and a little bit of fright. She had never heard of anyone summoning another person's Patronus. But when she finally slept, the last thought that came into her mind was that Harry's Patronus was watching over her, and she didn't mind a bit.

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