Harry Potter and the Warring of the Prophets

HARRY POTTER AND THE WARRING OF THE PROPHETS

A Sixth-Year Adventure

Chapter Five: Hero

Ginny's brown eyes flicked over Harry's green ones, her cheeks still flushed crimson behind her freckles. Harry felt a hot blush in his own cheeks as well; the little Ginny in the photo pointing up at him and bouncing on the balls of her feet, the real Ginny sitting so close beside him, her red hair brushing his shoulder and her pretty face only inches away from his.

Her hero.

"Ginny--" Harry began, but his voice caught in his throat and only a squeak came out.

He didn't attempt to speak again.

Slowly Harry began to tip his face toward Ginny's. Her eyes continued to search Harry as she surreptitiously wet her lips.

Harry's palms felt sweaty. Although he had kissed other girls - Cho, of course, and Alicia, Angelina, and Katie upon winning the Quidditch Cup third year - he had never been so nervous.

Harry realized that his lips were now only an inch from Ginny's pink ones, and their eyes were still wide open and staring into each others'.

Harry watched, transfixed, as Ginny closed her eyes, then tremulously shut his own.

It seemed a hundred years before their lips met.

The initial kiss was feather-light, but began to build. Ginny's small hands guided her arms around Harry's shoulders and came up to cradle the back of his head. Harry pressed his own hands to the small of her back, bringing her closer to him.

The kiss deepened, and - just for an instant, as he ran the tip of his tongue over the smooth internal curve of Ginny's lower lip - Harry thought that the little Ginny in the photograph must have been beside herself with excitement.

Harry's right hand slowly dipped below the thin, white material of Ginny's tank top and rested on the silky, warm skin of her back.

"Hey, you guys, have y - oh!"

Hastily and startled, Harry and Ginny broke apart to see Hermione standing embarrassedly in the door, her hand over her mouth and her eyes wide.

"Um..." Ginny wavered, pulling back from Harry, her face red once again, smoothing her rumpled hair. "Hermione..."

"It's not important," Hermione said quickly. "I just wanted to let you guys know that I have the gem and herb books; I heard that you were looking for them... but, er... it's not important."

Quick as a flash, Hermione disappeared from the doorway and the heavy door slammed shut.

Harry and Ginny were alone once more.

"Ginny--"

"Harry," Ginny interrupted, "don't apologize. That's something I've wanted to - I've needed to do for... for as long as I can remember." She stood up. "So I won't accept an apology. And I won't make one, either."

"Ginny!" Harry said, scrambling to his feet and fleetingly touching her elbow. "Ginny - I wasn't going to apologize."

Ginny turned to face him, her cheeks still retaining a pink blush.

"I - I was going... to... never mind."

"What?"

"I was going to - ask - but you just broke it off with Dean --"

"Because you were coming!" Ginny cried. "Harry, I broke it off with Dean because - of you."

Harry just stared at her.

"I have to go," Ginny mumbled miserably, turning to leave.

"Ginny--"

"What?"

"Ginny, do you - want to - er, go out with me?"

Ginny smiled mischievously. "Seeing as you're a good kisser... yes!"

* * *

In another part of London, the Seer convulsed in her chains.

Far away, in the Forbidden Forest, the centaurs raised their faces skyward as one.

The Seer's glittering eyes rolled back in her head as she croaked her prophecy:

"The greatest gift must be taken before it can be given - when the wolf moon rises to meet the dog star, the resurrected one will serve him, and he will be invincible."

Under the shade of an ancient elm tree, the snow-white centaur spoke. "Mars has paralleled Venus."

Magorian nodded gravely. "Which is brighter? I cannot see."

The alabaster centaur reared onto his hind legs and seemed to attempt to part the stars with hands and hooves. "Nor I. They are in battle."

"As we are?"

"As they are."

* * *

For the first time in years, the weather was bright and pleasant for the journey to Hogwarts. Harry felt a tug on his heartstrings as he remembered Snuffles bounding alongside the train the year before, but Ginny squeezed his hand and he realized that he was not the only one.

Mrs. Weasley gathered each of the leaving students into her arms in turn and hugged them hard. She repeated the same mantra to them all: "Be safe, keep in touch, be smart - be safe."

"Be safe" - how Harry wished that it could be so simple. That it could be a compliable request. He had tried to be safe last year, but even his own brain, his own thoughts, had not been safe. Dumbledore felt certain that Voldemort would no longer be able to peruse Harry's thoughts, as Harry's body had rejected the Dark Lord's possession, but Harry still worried that everyone in the Order, their actions and their plans, were in plain view to the enemy.

"Harry!" Hermione called, startling him into realizing he was the only student still standing on the platform. "Get on the train!"

Harry clambered onto the train, smiling gratefully at his friend.

"How are you?" he asked suddenly.

Hermione smiled, bemused. "You've been with me all day."

"I know. And I saw you rubbing your back after we got out of the Ministry cars. I heard you coughing in your room before breakfast. How are you?"

Hermione's tan face looked sad, yet appreciative. "I'm OK. I actually have an appointment with Madam Pomfrey for a chiropractic examination when we arrive at school. I guess one of her friends is an Experimental Mediwitch at St. Mungo's, and she thinks she's developed a spell that will suck the jelly back into the disks in my back - oh, I know it sounds gross, but don't have that look on your face, it's not really jelly. And Madam Pomfrey thinks she can also replace my chipped vertebrae with artificial ones."

"I'm sorry, Hermione," Harry said very softly, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Don't be. It's not your fault. I'm tough. And... I hate Death Eaters."

Harry laughed. "Me, too."

"Let's find the others, I'm sure they've gotten a compartment by now."

Harry offered his elbow, and, grinning, Hermione linked her arm through it. The pair quickly found Ron, Ginny, and Neville in the train's end compartment. With them was -

"Hi, Luna," Harry said cautiously.

Luna looked up at them, her dinner-plate eyes deep in thought. "Hello, Harry. Hello, Hermione."

"How was Sweden?" Hermione asked kindly, going over to sit by Ron, who had just pulled on his Prefect robes.

Luna's face flushed with excitement. "Lovely!" she cried, rummaging through her bag. "I've brought my own jar of Lingonberries home to bring to school!" She calmed down again. "Sweden was lovely."

Ginny and Hermione both smiled politely at Luna as Harry and Ron snickered behind their hands and Neville just looked frightened. Ginny and Hermione had also slipped into their Prefect robes and, along with Ron, bid them adieu to run to the Prefects' compartment for instructions.

Harry, Neville, and Luna sat awkwardly together for a few minutes. Then, the compartment door flew open, and Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnigan appeared.

"Neville! Harry! Come quick! You've got to see the Patil twins!"

Neville jumped up eagerly, sweeping his hair - which had grown out to the length of Harry's, though was not as messy - out of his eyes. Neville had grown taller over the summer, and lost a lot of his baby fat. His victory over the Death Eaters seemed to have given him confidence... and the escape of Bellatrix Lestrange had given him something to fight for.

The four boys trotted out of the compartment and down the aisle.

Harry could see that the twins' compartment was very full of people, both goggling boys and fawning girls. Dean pushed open the door and Harry heard the chattering die down.

Parvati and Padma were standing in the center of the compartment. They were very pretty indeed.

"Harry! Darling!" Parvati cried, swooping over to him and air-kissing both of his cheeks. She was wearing black robes that fit like a bustier around her torso - swelling her coffee-with-cream-colored bosom to amazing heights over the neckline - with bell sleeves and an asymmetrical, flowing skirt-like bottom. Harry assumed it to be a Gladrags creation. A bright purple cloud of smoke wafted over the crowd gathered in the compartment, and Harry saw that Bobo - Rita Skeeter's old photographer - was clicking away at his camera as the Patil twins gushed over Harry.

Harry scowled. "Bobo, no photographs, please."

Bobo scowled right back. "Sorry, Potter, on assignment. 'Patil Twins' Return to Hogwarts.'"

Harry's lips pursed. "I don't want--"

"Harry, darling," Padma simpered, "you're fantastically hot in the media. Everyone loves you!"

"For now," Harry said bitterly. "Excuse me."

He worked his way out of their compartment and back to his own, distinctly annoyed.

Ron, Hermione, and Ginny had also returned; Ginny's scowl matched Harry's.

"What happened?" they asked each other simultaneously as Harry loudly shut the compartment door.

"The Patil twins are using me as a marketing tool," Harry griped. "How about you?"

"Draco Malfoy," Ginny growled.

"What did he say now?"

"He was--" Ginny seemed to be searching for the right words to describe his heinous act. "He was hitting on me!"

Harry stared at her, slack-jawed. Ron had turned away from Pigwidgeon's cage and had a matching expression on his face as he surveyed his sister.

"He was what!?" Harry and Ron exploded unanimously.

Ginny blushed sheepishly and took Harry's hands. "It was nothing. He's just a slimeball."

Harry snorted and squeezed Ginny's hands. "You sure?"

Ginny's eyes sparkled and she left a light kiss on Harry's lips. "Yes."

Ron looked pained. "My baby sister is snogging my best friend. That is so..." He shuddered. "Eurgh."

* * *

The train arrived long after sunset, the stars and moon bright as candle flames over the treetops of the Forbidden Forest and the turrets of the castle. The dark, shiny thestrals tossed their heads as they stared up at the sky.

Harry bit his lip as one of the thestrals nuzzled his hand.

Ginny squeezed his other hand and he looked over at her. She pointed heavenward. "Look... the dog star." She met his eyes. "Sirius."

Harry looked at her, his emerald eyes wide. Then he smiled sadly. "The dog star."

A derisive laugh sounded behind them. "Oh, how sweet... mourning the prisoner of Azkaban, are we?"

Harry turned around and glared at the pale, pointed face of Draco Malfoy. "No, I don't feel bad about your dad or any of his chums."

Draco smirked. "No... I must have misspoken. I meant the dead prisoner of Azkaban. Your dead godfather. You remember - the one who died to save your pathetic little self?"

Harry's teeth were clenched so hard he thought they might start sparking. "Shut it, Malfoy," he hissed, plunging his hand into his robes for his wand.

"Harry!" Ginny exclaimed, grabbing his wand hand, but glaring at Malfoy all the same. "He's not worth your time."

With effort, Harry replaced his wand in his pocket and he and Ginny turned away from Malfoy's smug face.

"Oh, Ginny," Draco said silkily, "I may not be worth Harry's time..." He reached over and cupped his hand over Ginny's bottom. "But you'll find I'm certainly worth yours."

Ginny wheeled around, smacked Draco hard across the face, and climbed angrily into one of the thestrals' carriages.

* * *

The feast was glorious. Gryffindor gained seven boy- and five girl first-years, all of whom ogled Harry's scar as they joined the table. The food was sumptuous: roast beef with mushroom ragout, broasted chicken, mashed potatoes, rosemary lamb chops, mint jelly, cider-soaked ham, sausages, bacon, parmesan spinach, tarragon-buttered steak, maple and marshmallow sweet potatoes, Bookbinder soup, and - as every year, and still with no apparent explanation - peppermint humbugs.

Harry say between Ron and Ginny, savoring every bite of delicious food and every word of the delicious conversation. Hermione had gotten deep into discussion with Katie Bell about either or not a Head Girl could be unbiased is she was also a Quidditch player - Katie had been bypassed for Head Girlship as had Cho Chang, and they had been the two favorites for the position - which of course Ginny got into, because it was a vested interest of hers, as a Prefect and Quidditch player herself. Soon, the three girls were almost shouting out of enthusiasm over the heads of Harry and Ron, who were in turn conversing with Neville about the food.

When at long last the rich, savory foods disappeared from the golden plates, Dumbledore stood at the high table.

"Before we begin dessert, I would like to welcome you all to a new year at Hogwarts. I also have a few announcements."

"Hang on," Hermione whispered to Ron, Harry, and Ginny, "there's no new teacher up at the table. What about Defense Against the Dark Arts."

"I have no idea," Harry whispered back. "He wouldn't have cut it, not with the war..."

"Surely the Ministry hasn't upheld its ban on practical DADA?"

Harry shrugged and shushed Hermione, eyeing Dumbledore intently. What was going on?

"Firstly, I would like to proudly announce two new programs beginning this year at Hogwarts. I think you will all enjoy them very much... but enjoyment is not their key purpose.

"It has come to my attention that there is much discord between the four Houses. This is intolerable in our current conditions of war. We are only as strong as we are united, weak as we are divided... a Muggle said that, incidentally. As such, we are going to be requiring every student to participate in at least one inter-House activity this year, excluding Quidditch. A list of these clubs and groups has been tacked up on each common room noticeboard for your convenience.

"It has likewise come to my attention that this discord is not held only within the school, but within the entire wizarding community. We must foster understanding with cultures outside of our own. Thus I have arranged for a Cultural Appreciation banquet twice a month, beginning with an Indian gala in two weeks. If you would like to submit a cultural tradition for Appreciation, please speak to your Head of House."

A mixed bag of buzzing had broken out at this last piece of news: Some excited, some seemingly indifferent, some disgusted (mostly from the Slytherins).

Dumbledore held up his hands, requesting silence. He had a small smile on his face.

"The third and final announcement is the name of the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."

"Oh, good," sighed Hermione.

"Shh!" hissed Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Neville.

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled behind his half-moon spectacles. "Your new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher will be - Albus Dumbledore."

Harry's jaw dropped. "Dumbledore?"

Then the hall erupted.

The Gryffindors leapt to their feet, except Harry, screaming, stamping, and whistling, and soon the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs followed suit. The Slytherins were on their feet too, jeering and protesting - but at a glare from Snape, they halted.

Dumbledore waved for silence again, but his eyes were glowing. "Thank you, all. Now, for a little dessert, then bed!"

Instantly the tables were filled with dishes of ice cream (vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, pistachio, cherry, mint, treacle, and black raspberry), treacle puddings, sponge cakes, chocolate gateaus, tarts (strawberry, treacle, cherry, mincemeat, and peach), bowls of fresh fruit and pitchers of cream, milkshakes, and malts.

Once everyone was stuffed to the gills, Dumbledore again stood, called for silence, and dismissed everyone to their dormitories.

Harry stood with the rest of the Gryffindors and turned to leave the hall when the sound of hoofbeats reached his ears.

"Harry Potter!"

Harry, Ginny, Ron, Hermione, Neville, and assorted others turned to see Firenze cantering towards him. He looked frightening and impressive as the starlight from the ceiling played off his palomino hindquarters and strong, scarred torso.

"Harry Potter," Firenze said again as he reached him. "I must speak to you. Alone. And immediately."