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Author: melkior Story: Meddle Rating: Teens Setting: AU Status: WIP Warning: Violence, extreme language Reviews: 10 Words: 24,182
Author's Notes: Here's the first chapter of the story. Edited by moshpit and Ilovecats. Thanks guys! When a child is conceived, be it magical or Muggle, a mark is made in the Record of Souls. It is not accessible by humans, for the power available to one who can control the Record is nearly limitless. However, several Beings of a higher order did, in fact, have access to the Record, with full rights and the privileges which that entailed. In different cultures these Beings have different names: Gods, Spirits, Greater Forces. It does not really matter what label is used to refer to these Adults. Nomenclature even on our level has its limits. What matters is the fact that even if we tried, we cannot possibly notice or understand them. Philosophers, Shamans, Wise Men and other intellectuals have long tried to explain the origin and motives of the Adults. But how could they have succeeded? Can an ant understand a human being, or a paramecium a slug? The smaller lacks the experience, perception, and brainpower to understand the greater. However, humans are much closer to these Beings than their animal counterparts are to each other, because they have the gift of insight. Most astounding even in moments of insanity, it gives us some small degree of experience with being a 'greater' Being. Still, even if we certainly do not lack brainpower when we are focused, the matter of perspective remains. Whether it is through pure instinct or a complex thought process, the emotion is the driving force behind everything that is alive, including humans. In that way we are no different from those ants that fail to understand us. It is difficult to put things in perspective when emotions constantly interfere, so even trying to divulge the motives and actions of the Adults is utterly futile. Love, Fate, and Death have the requisite perspective, but They also have different understandings of existence. They all lack emotions completely. To humans, love is an emotion, but Love the Adult guides it without possessing it. She can be happy, pleased, or even disappointed, but those are simply words used to describe our experiences which pale in comparison to Hers. All of this allows Her to see the 'big picture.' She can alter it, add new layers, change colours, and add new elements. She also has the power to remove them, or simply substitute them. To an observer, it does not look different from what Fate does, but Love has an agenda. And this agenda is why two marks in the Record of Souls, after being unusually close, finally overlapped. Love closed the Record, to return in a year. Harry Potter was dreaming. His dreams for the past two years had almost always started the same way. He would find himself on a large meadow and a red-haired girl would be waiting for him under a large tree near a pond. After he approached her, she would take his hand and then they would play. But this time it was different. As he walked towards the girl, she opened her mouth and he heard her voice for the first time. "Hello, Harry," she greeted shyly. Harry stared at her in shock, his face a rather impressive imitation of a goldfish. "Now, now, is that a proper way to greet a girl?" she teased lightly, a blush still staining her cheeks. "You — I — we can talk here? How? I- And how did you know my name?" Ginny blinked in surprise. "Harry... everyone knows your name." "What in the world are you talking about?" Harry asked, confused. "Do you really not know anything? What about your parents?" she tentatively questioned. "Well, they died in a car crash when I was one. That's how I got this scar," he answered, moving the fringe with his free hand so she could see the identifying mark. "Who told you that?!" she demanded. "Your parents did not die in a car crash! They died as heroes, protecting you from He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named!" Ginny continued furiously. Harry stared at her. He felt a tide of confusion, anger, and hurt threatening to overwhelm him. "What do you mean? You know what happened to my parents?" Harry asked, his eyes begging her to explain. "Oh, um... how to explain this..." Ginny trailed off uncertainly before, in a flash of insight, she thought of her favourite story, ‘Harry Potter, Our Saviour,’ and brought the book into existence. "Come here Harry," she ordered calmly. Harry gave a start at the display of ability they had only used previously to change their clothing before he walked over to sit down to the left and slightly behind Ginny. He sat in silence as she read the story of Voldemort, his parents, and himself. He interrupted on occasion to ask for clarification or the explanation of a term he was unfamiliar with, but otherwise listened to his only friend tell him what he should have already known. By early morning, Harry had learned everything Ginny knew and could explain about the magical world. She even told him stories about her family and the pranks she had pulled on her brothers. He was feeling happier than he ever remembered being before. "I just realised that I still don't know your name," he said after a moment of silence. "Oh! And I teased you earlier for having bad manners... sorry about that, Harry. I’m Ginny. Ginny Weasley," she replied, her face a brilliant pink. "I-I was wondering... err, are you, uh, real?" Harry asked hopefully. She started laughing. "Of course I'm real, you prat. What did you think I was? You know as well as I do that these dreams aren't ordinary dreams." "Well, yeah... But I needed to make sure. Is this… this dreaming thing normal for your world?" "Well, I've never heard about something like it, but I know that I like it," she said after a moment with only a slight blush. "I like it too," he replied quickly. "But… but I think we should keep it a secret. At least for now." "I agree, Harry. But I'll still try to find out if dreams like this happen to other people." "Okay, but be careful. Please?" "You too, Harry. Don't tell anyone you're a wizard. That has to be a secret since everyone thinks that you don't know about magic. When you’re supposed to go to Hogwarts, someone will probably come for you. Don't let anything slip." "I won't, Ginny. Don't worry, I can keep a secret. Anyway, that’s three years away, right?" "Yes, it is. I think I'll wake up soon. Bye, Harry!" She quickly pecked him on his right cheek, blushed furiously, and ran away. He just stared after her with his hand where her lips were a few seconds ago, a shocked yet pleased grin on his face. Soon he felt himself start to wake up. "Wow!" he murmured quietly. But he didn't have too much time to think about what happened during the night. "BOY! GET IN HERE! IT'S TIME FOR YOU MAKE BREAKFAST!" a voice bellowed from the kitchen. "Coming, Uncle Vernon!" he replied. Harry slipped on some clothes and quickly went to the bathroom. As soon as he could, he entered the kitchen to find his uncle sitting at the table and reading the morning paper. "You're late this morning. Go prepare the breakfast, and no funny business," the beefy man threatened. "Yes, sir!" Harry replied a little too cheerfully, still happy with what had happened before waking. "What are you smiling for, boy?! If this is such fun, then I want the shed repainted before I return from work. Do you hear me, boy?" "Yes, sir!" he replied, carefully reigning in his temper. But even that couldn't keep Harry Potter from being happy at his latest good fortune. Love looked at the ledger briefly. Yes, the marks had merged. Weeks and months passed much faster than Harry expected. His ninth birthday would be tomorrow. He wasn't looking forward to it in the slightest. After all, living with the Dursleys had taught him that his birthday was a day like any other, if slightly more unpleasant than usual. He knew not to expect any present, kind word, or gesture. The only thing he was looking forward to was his regular nightly talk with Ginny. He couldn't help but smile at the thought of her. Their talks had continued each night, and they had become closer than either of them had believed possible. She was his best, and only, friend. He knew everything about her, and she knew him the same way. Their relationship had deepened far more than other relationships between children their age. They were best friends, but both of them knew that it was only a matter of time before they became more, and there was nothing that could stop them. Harry lay in his bed thinking about what a great present it would be to have Ginny with him. With that wonderful thought sleep overtook him. "Harry!" Ginny shouted as she ran towards him. She jumped on him and they landed on the grass hugging fiercely. She kissed him on his cheek and he returned the favour gleefully. Neither of them made any movement to break the hug. "Happy birthday!" "It's not my birthday yet." "I know, but I wanted to be the first to congratulate you," she replied cheerfully. "You're the only one who has ever said those words to me, Gin," he pointed out, even as he revelled in his exclusive right to that nickname. "I know... I just... forget sometimes. I'm sorry," she confessed, pulling back from him. "Hey, where do you think you’re going?" he demanded lightly even as he sat up and pulled her into his lap. "There's nothing to be sorry about." "I hate it that you don't get any presents. And I couldn't get you one because Mum would freak out if she found out. However, I am saving each one up to give you when we meet for the first time." "Oh, so you think these dreams haven't counted?" he asked her playfully. "Merlin, no! I can't wait to hug you for real, though," she said and impulsively kissed his cheek again. "Me too," he answered with a faint blush. "Wow, Mr Potter. Did little me cause you to blush?" "Yes, but I bet I could make you blush even better, Miss Weasley," Harry countered playfully. "In your dreams, Potter!" "We are in my dreams," he retorted. "I'll let you win this time, but only 'cause it's your birthday. Want to go for a swim in the pond?" "No, I actually like this better," he said, tightening his hug. They sat like that for some time, simply enjoying their closeness, before Ginny spoke again. "Well, since you can't get any presents, you could at least make a birthday wish." "I already did. I wished for you to be with me for my birthday." "I'd like that, too," she admitted. "Who knows? Maybe it'll come true. Let's go for that swim you mentioned." She sat up and pulled his hand towards the lake, their clothes instinctively changing to their swimwear. They spent their remaining time swimming in the water until Harry was rudely awoken. "BOY! GET UP NOW!" thundered through Number Four, Privet Drive. Harry jumped in his bed, absolutely furious to have been ripped from Ginny on his birthday. But there was little he could do now. He quickly left his cupboard and entered the kitchen, desperately working to control his temper before he met his relatives. His cousin Dudley was eating a piece of bacon almost the size of his head, Vernon was drinking his morning coffee, and Petunia was absently looking through the window. "I'm here, Uncle Vernon," Harry said timidly. "Good. Now listen to me, boy. We're going for a picnic. You can't stay with Mrs. Figg today, so take this piece of toast and return to your room. I’ll lock you in until we come back." Harry nodded, resigned to spending the rest of the day in his little room. As soon as he sat down he could hear the sound of the locks on the cupboard door. Just a few minutes later he heard the car leaving the driveway. Well, I guess I'm on my own, he thought sadly. I wish I could talk to Ginny. Harry? a voice asked in his head. "Ginny!" he whispered. "Is it really you?" Yes Harry. But how is this possible? I don't know Gin. What are you doing, anyway? I just finished breakfast so I'm in my room. We can talk freely. That's great. I guess since the dreams we're having aren't normal, this isn't normal either? Harry, to tell you the truth, I've never heard of anything like this happening before. Does it bother you? he asked with some trepidation. Not at all. It'll be fun to be able talk to you whenever I can. I hope it lasts. Good. Me too. I was afraid you wouldn't like it. But how are we- We'll handle it Harry. It is strange, but it feels right. Ginny? Hmm? This is our secret too? Of course, Harry. Who would believe me that I can hear The Boy Who Lived in my head, anyway? Funny. I thought so too. I'm going to the lake for a quick swim. We can talk more when I get there, okay? Sure. Ginny? Yeah? This the best present ever. Agreed. But now I can't get a better present for my birthday. Gin, your birthday is in eleven days. Can't we consider this our present? Yes, I'd like that. Mum is coming, so I will talk to you later. Bye! Bye! Harry Potter was ecstatic. For the first time, his wish had been granted. As far as he was concerned, this was the best birthday ever.
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