Iuga Sortis III: The Beginning

Eleven

"Ginny-love . . . what's on your mind?"

The redhead smiled at Draco's endearment but did not answer, merely snuggling closer to him as they cuddled together. Though they saw each other almost everyday, it was rare they could just be together as a couple, rather than training or patrolling partners. Their time together at school was growing shorter with each passing day, and unlike Ron and Hermione, she would not be leaving Hogwarts when they did.

She still had a year left.

Draco kissed the top of her head softly and tucked stray locks of hair behind her ear. "Ginny?"

She sighed and shook her head. "Just thinking."

Draco snorted. "I know that, love . . . about what?"

Ginny shrugged. "About Ron and Hermione."

He sighed as well. "Tough break with that one, eh?"

Ginny frowned, pulling back slightly to meet his eyes. "What do you mean by that?"

He smirked, and Ginny knew something unkind was about to come from his mouth. "She's going to be your new sister-in-law, isn't she? In America, I think that would be called 'cruel and unusual punishment.'"

"Oh, you!" she chastised, pinching his side before reclining against him again. Personally, Ginny was happy with the latest development between Ron and Hermione. Hermione gushed about the proposal the day after it happened, citing how Ron tricked her into going to the Room of Requirement under the guise of a couple sneaking in there for more than a New Year's kiss.

Ginny snorted. There was more than a New Year's kiss going on in that Room, that was for sure, and, by the blush on Hermione's face as she recounted the proposal, a whole lot more.

"Got a cold, love?" Draco asked, half sarcastically.

Ginny shook her head, threading their fingers together as they lay across her stomach. "Just thinking about how my proposal may go."

Draco began to cough violently, and Ginny controlled the urge to giggle. "Why are you thinking about that, Ginger?" he asked, once he regained control of himself.

She shrugged. "I was thinking of Ron's proposal to Hermione. He tricked her into the Room of Requirement, and when she went inside, he'd recreated the Room to how it looked when he first told her he loved her . . then, apparently, asked her in the same fashion as well. Isn't it romantic?"

"I sincerely hope that's a rhetorical question," he deadpanned.

She elbowed him gently in the stomach. "If you're going to be with me, Draco, you're gonna have to be nice to her."

"I sincerely hope you mean only to her face."

Ginny elbowed him again, but a little laugh sounded. "You're incorrigible!"

"And sexy to match," he said, bending his head to place a kiss behind her ear.

She smiled and leaned into his kiss. Ever since that magical night that Christmas--a little over a month ago--any touch Draco gave her was full of peace and contentment, instead of anxiousness and heat. Their magic was now under control as well, and the sessions became shorter--which is why they had the opportunity to just sit and hold each other as they were then.

"I love you," she said softly.

His cool fingers touched her cheek, drawing her face to his. His gray eyes were calm and contented, and he smiled, bringing his lips to hers. "I love you too, Ginger."

She closed her eyes to sleep a while, but no sooner had she done so than the door slammed open.

"Who do you think you ARE?!"

Ginny's eyes snapped open in alarm as she saw a clearly irate Nia Roberts stomp in the room, followed by an equally put out Harry Potter.

"You can't honestly tell me you thought he was only 'helping you pick up your books,'" Harry said, placing the phrase in air quotes. "He was practically staring at your bum!"

Nia's golden eyes flashed menacingly. "Yeah? And how would you know that if you weren't lookin' either?"

Harry blushed, and Draco chuckled in Ginny's ear. "He's in for it, now."

Ginny bit her lip in thought. While she and Draco were on very good terms, Harry and Nia seemed to get shorter with each other, needing only the smallest slight for one of them to go into a frenzy.

Almost the same as Ron and Hermione in the early part of their relationship . . .

Ginny smirked at that revelation, anxious to see how this scene would unfold.

"And besides, what's it to you? Ain't like we datin' or nothin'!"

It became deadly quiet, and Ginny thought they'd hit the million-galleon question. She watched how Harry would respond to that, and was disappointed and put out when he spun on his heel and left the room.

Nia growled.

"So much for that Gryffindor courage," Draco muttered sarcastically.

Ginny rolled her eyes and huffed, throwing his arms from around her and standing. She approached the younger girl and put a hand on her shoulder. "Nia--"

"I don't wanna hear it, Ginny. He's just a punk! I don't even know why I bother," Nia said, shrugging Ginny's hand off her shoulder. She looked around the room and sighed exasperatedly. "Where's Grandma?"

Ginny shrugged. "I think she had to meet Dumbledore about something."

Nia rolled her eyes and crossed her arms before her. "Dang! Guess it's gonna wait until the session . . . with that PUNK!"

Ginny jumped at the yell and stole a glance at Draco, who was busy trying to hide his amused grin.

"I know you ain't laughin' at me, Malfoy!"

That caused Draco to affect a look of seriousness, and Ginny grinned. It would not do well to get an angry Nia on your case. "I'm not laughing at you, Little One . . . I'm laughing at Potter's obvious denial of what he feels for you," Draco said smoothly . . . so smoothly Ginny almost believed him.

Clearly, however, Nia was less than convinced. "Right. And I'm Cleopatra."

"Why be her when you're Isis anyway?"

Nia snorted at his attempt to make her feel better. "And that gets me what? Two maniacal gods after me? I'd rather just have the whole of Rome, thank you!"

Ginny snickered at Nia and turned to her. The anger was gone, replaced with resignation and disappointment.

"I shoulda never let my thoughts get ahead o' me," Nia said sadly.

The redhead was about to respond when Nia stalked out of the room, all the energy and passion she had before, spent. Ginny looked to Draco, and they shared a moment of silence.

"They are driving me nutters," he said flatly.

Ginny laughed a little, but she couldn't help sharing his sentiments. Ever since New Year's, Harry and Nia had been at each other's throats. She knew they shared a kiss--it was impossible not to know, especially when she all but blackmailed Nia into spilling the details. Ginny saw the happiness in her young friend's eyes and hoped along with Nia it meant Harry finally opened his eyes to the light.

Instead it seemed he squeezed them tighter than they ever had been.

"I don't see why she has to wait on Four Eyes to make a move. We all know how long it took for him to realize he liked you . . . oddly enough, after that realization, he moved right in, didn't he?"

Draco said the last part with a hint of resentment, and Ginny rolled his eyes. "And I moved him right back out," she reminded him.

He shrugged, seemingly indifferent. "Whatever."

She didn't realize he was still sore about that . . not after all that had happened since. She brushed his mood away, determining there were more pressing matters about which to care. "Well, shouldn't we help them?"

Draco made a face and rested his head against the wall, eyes closed. "It's their problem . . . let them work it out."

Ginny glared at him. "If they don't, then it will be our problem!"

Draco popped an eye open and shrugged. "Come here, love. I need to hold you while I think."

Ginny snorted even while she blushed. He'd been much more affectionate since his birthday--not the desperate kind of affection, but the sure, serene kind. His touches were no longer hurried and full of passion; instead, they were confident and easy, and Ginny liked it.

She walked to him, settling herself between his legs as she reclined against him. His arms locked around her waist, and he kissed her temple. Neither said a word; and as she looked at them in the mirrors on the opposite wall, Ginny half feared he was sleeping. "Are you awake?"

He sighed. "Yeah."

"Are you thinking?"

He sighed again. "Yeah."

She was growing annoyed by his short answers, and she frowned. "What are you thinking about, then?"

His fingers began to caress the bare skin of her abdomen, and her tummy contracted with each movement in response. "I'm thinking how I'd like to christen one of the prefects' bathtubs as a Pool of Love."

Ginny gasped, both at his statement and his lips hitting a sensitive spot just below her ear. "Draco!" she chastised, even as she leaned further into him.

He chuckled and grasped a lobe with his teeth, running his tongue along the curve of it. "You know you wanna," he whispered before kissing the upper curve of her ear.

She shook her head, moving it out of his reach. "We have a problem here!"

"I fully agree, love. You're all sweaty, and you're not naked and screaming my name in ecstasy! We need to remedy that right now. I'll race you to the tubs--"

She shut him up with a hard kiss before grasping his chin in a firm hand. "Stop thinking with your southern head and start using the northern one!"

"But all the blood's down there at moment," he said, wagging his eyebrows suggestively.

She rubbed her bum, blushing as she felt him, and he groaned. "Don't do that if you don't want me using my southern head," he warned. "Its mouth may just speak out of turn."

Ginny's jaw dropped open, and she smacked his arm twice before standing. "You're such a randy bastard."

He shrugged, clearly unashamed. "With a girlfriend like you, who wouldn't be? Do you know how incredibly sexy you are? Especially now . . . your training gear ought to be banned!"

She was wearing a Muggle sports bra and track trousers--hardly what she would call sexy, but Draco on the other hand . . . a shirtless Draco was definitely sexy to her! "You just don't have any self-control," she muttered.

He grinned at her, and Ginny was close to melting. "I don't think that's a fair thing to say. If I didn't, you and I would've been naked making sweet love when Nia and Potter barged in here."

Ginny pursed her lips and glared at him, angry he caused her to blush yet again. "Unbelievable."

"Precisely. I should be given a medal for my tremendous self-control."

She snorted and began to pace. Was it really too hard for two people to admit their feelings for one another? Granted it took Ron and Hermione the better part of five years, but Nia and Harry didn't have that luxury. Though she hadn't dreamed in a while, Ginny felt danger, and it concerned the two resistant potential lovebirds. Set and Voldemort were close to something--she could feel it--and she knew, somehow, that Harry and Nia's being together would stop it.

"There's more to this than a mere meeting of hearts, isn't there, love?"

She looked at him, noticing his eyes were narrowed. She didn't answer him and continued to pace, placing her thumbnail between her teeth. She heard him rise but still ignored him, her mind working overtime.

"What do you know, Ginny?"

She threw up her hands in exasperation. "I don't know anything! All I have are theories."

He put his hands on her shoulders and squeezed gently. "Theories are better than nothing, love."

Ginny sighed and leaned against him. "Harry's in danger."

He snorted. "What's so new about that?"

She bit her lip and frowned. "What's new is that he won't be able to save himself this time . . I think it'll be up to Nia and, oddly enough, you."

Draco inhaled a sharp breath and stepped away from her. She looked at him in concern. "What is it?"

"Lily's warning . . . she told me of Voldemort's new attack--I completely forgot about it!"

She peered at him though narrowed eyes. "What did she say?"

"Harry would be attacked through his mind, some sort of brain disease . . ."

"And how could you help?"

He gave a tiny scowl, and she lifted a warning eyebrow. "I have to be his friend."

Ginny rolled his eyes. "Oh! What a sacrifice that is!"

"You try making nice to someone who's been an enemy for almost as long as you've known him!"

She walked to him saucily, wrapping her arms around his neck. "You mean like this?" Ginny kissed his lips lingeringly, waiting until his hands gripped her waist before pulling back.

He smirked at her. "Well, maybe not that way, but I've been nicer to the bloke . . . he's not so bad when he doesn't talk for extended periods of time."

She giggled and kissed him again before giving him a hug. "You're so good."

"I told you I'd make it good for you," he whispered in her ear.

She shivered involuntarily, those words arousing her. Draco had promised to "make it good for her" the first time they made love--and boy, did he ever! They'd taken each other to indescribable heights, and the few times afterwards didn't disappoint, either.

As it was, his lips were making their way to hers, and she gladly accepted them, running her tongue on them before slipping it into his mouth. The passion was quickly escalating between them, and she wondered if Draco's previous suggestion of the prefects' bathroom still stood.

"Hey, you two! This was supposed to be a trainin' session, not a make out session!"

Draco's mouth muffled Ginny's squeal as she pulled away from him, the heat rising in her cheeks. Draco merely smirked at his best friend's grandmother and cousin as they walked in with knowing smiles on their faces. "And where have you been? You've been gone long enough," he said as he wrapped his arms around Ginny's waist, placing his chin on her shoulder.

Sirius and Jamilah shared a look before he answered. "Snape was giving us a Set update--the wanker's totally lost his mind."

Ginny's heart rate increased. "He doesn't know about Draco, does he?"

Jamilah snorted and rolled his eyes. "Of course he knows about Draco! What he doesn't know is how he did it. Severus can't last much more in the position he's in, that's for sure."

"Jamilah, Nia needs to be revealed and soon. Professor Snape is in too deep as it is. Forcing him to lie will push him closer to death. I don't think Nia could deal with that kind of blow," Draco said wisely.

Jamilah plopped in the chair behind her desk and sighed; the chair creaked in protest. She scowled at it before throwing her forearm over her eyes, obviously perturbed about something. "While I know that intellectually, Draco, my gut tells me no. She is not prepared."

The blonde snorted. "How much more prepared does she need to be after bringing me back from the dead!?"

Jamilah shot him a warning look, and he promptly closed his mouth. "Don't get fresh, Draco."

Sirius winked at Ginny, and she raised a curious eyebrow. "Jamilah just doesn't want her 'grandbaby' going into the field yet."

"Ya damn skippy I don't want her goin' yet!" Jamilah exclaimed, dropping her arm from her eyes and sitting up quickly.

Sirius gave her a soft smile. "I'm with Draco, love. I think she's more than capable of handling herself in battle."

Ginny took slight pause at the endearment, but brushed it off as Sirius being his usual flirtatious self. Even with Jamilah's age, she was easily one of the most beautiful people Ginny had ever seen. She stole a glance at Draco and noticed him giving the older two knowing looks. She'd talk to him about that later.

Jamilah regarded Sirius and crossed her arms before her. "Oh really. Where you been durin' these past trainin' sessions? The chile's all over the place!"

Draco snorted. "That's because Harry's in denial, and she's frustrated. I'm surprised he hasn't lost any body parts yet."

"Not as if she hasn't tried," Sirius said on a chuckle.

Jamilah glared at him before looking at the younger man. "Since you're so knowledgeable, got any ideas on how to fix this impendin' problem?"

Draco shrugged. "Give them time alone where they can't leave? They could use another fight like the one last year where they can beat the truth out of each other."

Both Ginny and Jamilah rolled their eyes while Sirius threw his head back and guffawed. "I've got twenty on Nia," he said, crow's feet appearing at his eyes.

"You would, you old goat!" Jamilah muttered.

"You should be honored and proud I'd choose your granddaughter over the Boy Who Lived--my one and only godson!"

"She did beat him the last time as well," Draco reminded them.

Jamilah shook her head and put her hands in a surrender position. "I give up."

"Good. Maybe we'll get somewhere now," Sirius said, flashing a disarming smile.

Jamilah was not amused and wagged a finger at him. "You know, you ain't too old to go 'cross my knee!"

"Kinky."

Jamilah growled, and Ginny couldn't help but sense the similarity between hers and Nia's.

"That's just disturbing. I think I'll go shower now," Draco said with a mild expression of horror on his face.

Ginny smothered a laugh at Draco's reaction, but had to agree with him. "I don't think I'm old enough to hear this line of conversation."

Jamilah looked at them with raised eyebrows. "But you are old enough to act upon it?"

Ginny rivaled a tomato at that moment and glanced at Draco. He was slightly pink himself, but he was much calmer than she.

"If I remember correctly, you said they had to," Sirius said smugly.

Jamilah glared at him again and pointed her finger to the door. "Out, Black! All you doin' is causin' ruckus!"

He affected a look of innocence and shrugged helplessly. "Who knew you could get in trouble for telling the truth?"

Jamilah stood and walked from the desk, seemingly ready to throttle Sirius. "You got five seconds to get yo' ass outta this room, befo' I kick it out!"

"What about the rest of me?" Sirius said with a wink.

Jamilah's eyes widened in surprise before they narrowed, and she walked to him slowly. They stood a foot apart, and she placed her hands on her hips. "Just fo' the record--you in the doghouse, hon."

Draco snickered, and Ginny placed her hand over her mouth to hide the smile forming.

Sirius seemed half-embarrassed and half-amused. "I'll be a good boy," he said, his blue eyes darkening into something Ginny could only name as . . . lust? She sneaked a glance at Draco and saw him highly amused at the scene before him. They were definitely having a discussion about this later.

Jamilah closed her eyes and bowed her head, rubbing her temples with her fingers. "I'm too old for this . . ."

~I'll say!~

Ginny's eyes widened, and she looked at Draco with reproach. ~That was mean!~

He didn't answer her. Instead, he walked to her and grabbed her hand, leading her out of the room.

"Where you two goin'?"

"It seemed a private moment, Professor, so we were leaving to give you privacy." Draco shrugged.

Jamilah clearly did not believe him, but seemed too worn to broach the subject further. "Whatever. Just find Harry and Nia and bring their behinds in here. They about to be late!"

Draco smirked and walked out the room. Ginny planted her feet before she could go any further. "What, Ginger?"

"Your clothes! As much as I enjoy the view, I don't want anyone else to!"

He grinned and kissed her lips briefly. "And what about you? You don't have your robes, either!"

"At least I'm not half-naked!"

Draco grinned. "Jealous, are we?"

She lifted an eyebrow at him as she walked back to the room. "You're not the only possessive one in this relationship, love."

Ginny heard him chuckle as she entered the room.

Only to see Jamilah and Sirius locked in a passionate embrace.

"I'm sorry!" she gasped, turning her back to the couple. Jamilah screeched, and Sirius laughed.

"Let go of me, you oaf!"

"Unlike my godson, I know a good thing when I see it, and I don't let it go." Ginny turned to them at the comment, surprised by the tenderness she heard in his voice. Jamilah was looking at Ginny, but Sirius only had eyes for the woman in his arms.

"Sirius," she whispered, patting his shoulder. "Ginny's starin' at us."

He peered over his shoulder. Ginny gave a small wave. "Hi."

He smiled. "Try not to tell anyone about this, love. It would be a hard blow to the ladies to know I'm unavailable now."

Jamilah scowled and slapped his arm. "Hush, you!"

He grinned. "Okay." Sirius kissed her again, and it took a while for Jamilah to regain her wits. She pushed away from him, her breathing slightly heavy.

Personally Ginny thought it was sweet. "I'll just grab our things and be out of your way," she said sheepishly. Jamilah opened her mouth, but Ginny shook her head. "I won't tell anyone--especially Nia and Harry."

"Thank you, chile . . I just don't know how they'd react if--"

"If they're anything like me, then they'd be happy for you."

Sirius smiled and kissed Jamilah's temple. Almost automatically the older woman leaned into him, closing her eyes at the contact of his lips.

Ginny looked away, blushing, as she gathered their clothes. She had no right to witness such a tender moment, but she wanted to indulge her romantic side. She went to the door and, with one last glance at the embracing couple, left. Draco was sitting on the opposite wall from the door, a little to the left of it in a shadowed spot. His knees were bent, and his head leaned back against the wall with his eyes closed.

"Thought you got lost," he said, a corner of his mouth lifting.

Ginny didn't respond, dropping his clothes by his feet. She kneeled before him and gave him a chaste kiss on the lips.

His eyes held an amused yet curious light. "What was that for?"

She shrugged and smiled. "For being the love of my life."

Draco smiled as well, cupping her neck to bring her mouth to his and kiss her more thoroughly. Ginny's hands framed his face, and her mouth opened wider to accept his tongue. She was getting warm, which meant she was getting aroused. If she wasn't careful, she'd let him shag her in the corridor!

"Dragon," she whispered as she pulled away. He sneaked in light kisses, and she smiled even as she glared at him. "We need to stop."

He kissed her harder before finally ending it. "No. We need to get to the prefects' bathroom . . . there's only so much a bloke can take!"

She rolled her eyes and smirked, grabbing her own attire and donning it. Draco followed suit, though slowly and far less enthusiastically. "I'll make it up to you soon; I promise."

His eyebrows rose. "Prefects' bathroom . . . say, midnight?"

She shrugged coyly and began walking towards the Tower. "We shall see if I'm there at midnight, Mr. Malfoy." He grinned and shook his head, and she blew him a kiss.

Ginny made her way to the Tower with a smile on her face, blissfully happy despite the current state of the world. She loved being in love, and she loved being in love with Draco. Basically, she loved Draco, and she wished everyone could be as happy as she.

She thought about Ron and Hermione, who were now engaged to be married. Ron bought a ring for her, but Hermione made him keep it until they finished school so as not to draw any unnecessary attention to them. Personally Ginny thought that was a brilliant idea; besides, a ring didn't mean anything but a symbol of a promise. Ron and Hermione were loyal to one another--they didn't need the ring or any other trinket to be engaged.

That was not to say the ring was not beautiful--Ron took great care in choosing it and even got Jamilah to place a charm on it. Ron would not tell her what, but Ginny was sure it was a powerful one. She wondered if it was the same charm on Fred's ring for Angelina, for they were now engaged as well. She smiled; Angelina was all but an older sister to her anyway--much like Hermione was--so she approved of the match.

Ginny told the Fat Lady the password, and the portrait swung open. There were students milling about, and she scanned the room. She didn't see Harry in the common room, and she hoped that meant he was downstairs at the training session.

But Hermione and Ron were there, cuddled together at the foot of the couch. She was snuggled in his arms while cradled between his legs. They were reading a book, and from the looks of it, it wasn't academic.

"Hi," Ginny called.

They glanced at her and smiled before going back to the book. Ginny went closer and looked at the page they were reading. The running heads read: So You Want To Get Married--A Witch's and Wizard's Guide.

Ginny lifted an eyebrow. "So much for keeping it secret."

Hermione huffed. "If you check the jacket, it says The Other 375 Wonders of the World--the Magical World, That Is."

"Like Ron would ever care about that!"

He gave her an indignant look. "I do care about the wonders of the world! Especially when one of them is in my arms at the moment."

Ron kissed the top of Hermione's head, and Ginny rolled her eyes. Now she understood how Nia felt when Draco was so affectionate. Well, as soon as Harry wakes up, she can join the love fest!

Draco had a point--why did Nia have to wait? It was the nineties, after all, and women were more assertive nowadays. Of course, there were mitigating factors, the main of which being Harry was a celebrity and the entire point of keeping Nia under wraps was so the Dark Forces wouldn't see her. The minute Harry attached himself to Nia, she'd be exposed. However, Ginny got the impression that was the least of Harry's concerns. She figured he was scared, especially since he'd be leaving for three years for Auror training. As a matter of fact, so was Ron.

"Ron?"

He rested his chin on Hermione's head and turned his blue eyes to his sister. "What?"

Ginny sat beside him and leaned her head against his shoulder. "What are you and Hermione going to do when you go off for Auror training?"

Ginny watched Hermione shift, yet the brunette's eyes remained trained on the pages before her. Ron sighed deeply and shrugged. "I guess we'll deal with that when the time comes . . . besides, I may not do so well on my N.E.W.T.s, and I won't even have to worry about that."

Hermione turned and gave him a sharp look. "You be quiet, Ronald Weasley! You have excellent marks in DADA!"

He smirked at Ginny. "Perhaps it's because my fiancée's influence is finally rubbing off on me."

Hermione's sharp look melted into a grin. "I like it when you call me that . . but I'll like it even better when you call me wife."

"Me, too, love." He kissed Hermione's nose, and her face scrunched up happily.

Ginny rolled her eyes and shook her head. It was much more fun to watch when she had someone with whom to cuddle herself. "Have you seen Harry recently?" she asked, trying to steer the conversation to less sappy things. Ron snickered, and Hermione frowned. "What?"

"He came through here muttering something about 'beautiful Slytherins' . . . I take it he's had yet another run-in with Miss Roberts." Ron smirked.

"You should really be more sensitive about this. Remember how we used to be?" Hermione said with a raised eyebrow.

"You mean how we are, love?" Hermione turned back around and returned to her book. Ron shook his head and looked at Ginny. "Of course I remember--that's what's so amusing about it all. In about three years' time, they'll be professing their undying love for each other!"

"We don't have three years! It needs to be done now!"

Hermione separated from Ron and turned her body, so she could see Ginny's face. "I don't understand . . ."

Ginny shook her head and sat up straight. "I don't understand, either, but I think the only way Harry will defeat Voldemort is if he tells her!" Ron closed his eyes, and Hermione pursed her lips. Their reactions did not sit well with Ginny. "What is it?"

Hermione closed her book, placing her index finger inside it to act as a bookmark. "He's not going to do that, Ginny, and you know it."

She was aghast. "Why the hell not?"

Ron smiled a little at her declaration. "You know how he is, Ginny--too damn noble for his own happiness. He won't tell her that until he's ready to commit fully to her. With You-Know-Who hanging over his head, that may not be for a while . . "

Ginny groaned, resting her head against the couch. "Well that effectively defeats the purpose!"

Ron shrugged. "That may be, but until things are stable, he's going to fight it tooth and nail . . besides, she's only gonna hurt him anyway."

Ginny took great offense to that, and she scowled. "That's unfair! Just because she's a Slytherin--"

"It has nothing to do with being a Slytherin, Ginny. It has to do with protecting Harry. You know how he is--never one to let someone else take the fall for him. I have a feeling she's going to do it anyway and, in the process, hurt him."

Ginny regarded him for a long while, and her eyes narrowed. "She told you this, didn't she?"

Ron licked his lips and looked to Hermione . . . doing that telepathic thing she'd seen her own parents do over the course of time. "I accused her of planning to hurt Harry, and she didn't deny it. She's not going to want to do it, but something tells me it will have to be done--for the benefit of all of us."

"What will have to be done?"

The three of them snapped their heads to Harry, who looked at them with a curious expression. Ginny wondered how much he heard.

"Well?" he asked, a corner of his mouth lifting. "I hope you don't mean extra Quidditch practice, Ron. Keep it up and you'll be worse than Oliver and Angelina!"

Ron smirked while Ginny breathed a sigh of relief. The last thing she needed was a defensive Harry. "Not like you couldn't use it, mate. Your reflexes have slowed--what about that?"

The mirth in Harry's eyes subdued somewhat. "Got a lot on my mind."

Hermione frowned. "What is it? Training sessions getting too much?"

A brief flash of disappointment and frustration crossed Harry's face before it became unreadable. "Nothing I can't handle," he muttered before sitting next to Hermione.

Ginny gave him a look. "Don't you have training now?"

Harry scowled even as he reclined on his elbows. "I can't deal with her while she's mad at me."

Ginny couldn't be sympathetic to his plight the way she wanted to be. "Stop being an arse, and you could have pleasant training sessions."

Harry just rolled his eyes. "You don't understand, Ginny."

"Speaking as someone you used to fancy, I think I do. You're scared."

Harry's mouth dropped open in mock surprise. "You should be in Ravenclaw for your show of cleverness, Gin."

Ron glared at his best friend. "No call to get snippy! You're just upset she called your bluff!"

"Yeah, well, whenever I want her advice on how to deal with that girl, I'll ask."

Ginny thought Harry's comment was odd, but she brushed it aside as him being sore.

"What are you two doing for today anyway?"

The black-haired boy shrugged and crossed his legs at the ankles. For someone who had training at that very moment, he seemed quite calm.

"Harry! What are you doing?! You've got training with N--"

"I don't feel like going today . . . the sight of her makes me gag."

Now that definitely was not true, and the siblings shared incredulous looks.

Hermione studied Harry with a bit of skepticism. "Something's wrong."

Harry quirked an eyebrow. "Oh?"

The brunette crossed her arms and quizzed him. "What is the name of your training partner?"

Harry opened his mouth, but no sound came out. Ginny and Ron shared looks of alarm.

"Her name is--"

Hermione shook her head imperceptibly, stilling Ginny's words. "Harry?"

Then Ginny saw it--the extreme strain Harry exerted seeping from his scar in red and green ooze. She remembered Draco's warning and gasped. "Voldemort!"

Suddenly the entire common room went completely quiet, and she smacked her hand over her mouth. Ginny didn't mean to be so loud, but she couldn't take the words back. Harry's green eyes locked with hers, and she saw a flash of relief and anger all at once. "Nice going, Ginny. Now the entire Tower knows."

His tone was flat, if a little breathless, and she looked at him in awe. How was he so calm whilst this was happening?

Hermione put down the book and grasped Harry's head on either side to check his scar. "It looks like blood and some sort of venom . . . how is this happening, Ginny?"

The redheaded girl was desperately trying not to panic, and she forced herself to calm down. Suddenly Harry collapsed to the ground and began convulsing. Some of the younger students in the room began screaming while the older ones looked on in fascination and horror. Ginny was a bit annoyed by this--why wasn't anyone trying to help them? Ron stood and began to leave. "Where are you going?"

"To get Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Madam Pomfrey! Harry's sick, and he needs help!"

"I'll get Pomfrey," Colin offered. He was the prefect for the sixth years and a friend of Ginny's. She nodded, and he and Ron left to find the adults.

Ginny crawled to Harry's other side and shook her head. She called upon her magic, but without knowing what was happening, she felt at a loss.

"Maybe we should get Professors Snape and Roberts as well," Hermione said dully. Ginny knew Hermione was terrified, but being Head Girl, she had a responsibility to remain calm for the younger students. What a strain it must be to watch the supposed savior of the wizarding world writhe grotesquely on the common room floor. It was then Harry became a normal boy--something he always hoped to be--but not in a manner that would give anyone ease.

"May I have a closer look?" she asked Hermione, even as she moved closer to Harry. His eyes were rolled in the back of his head, and his mouth hung open in a disturbing manner. Sweat dripped from his brow, and the scar looked red and angry at it seeped. Ginny figured it was Nagini's venom and even bits of the Avada Kedavra curse which was cast on him almost seventeen years ago.

Apparently now it's decided to work.

"Someone go get Professor Roberts and Snape--now!" Ginny barked.

"Everyone else go upstairs to your rooms!" Hermione ordered.

Their tones left no room for negotiations, and students rushed to follow the directives. Ginny lifted her head to see Dean and Seamus leaving through the portrait hole and hoped they'd get back in time.

Harry began to wheeze, and he clutched his head, pulling at his hair in a most dangerous manner.

"Can we put a Body-Bind on him?" Ginny asked Hermione.

The older girl seemed to consider this course of action, then brandished her wand. "Petrificus Totalus!"

Harry's limbs snapped together, and he lay on the floor, straight as a board. His scar continued to weep, and Ginny shook her head. That needed to stop and fast, or there was no telling what would happen to Harry.

"How was he able to remember all that he did, but not N--her?" Hermione asked as she stared at the prone young man.

Ginny shrugged, but gave her theory. "You know how strong Harry's mind is. Perhaps he found a way to block her out, so that whoever's inside his head can't find out who 'she' is. He loves her, Hermione; top on his list is her safety."

"But at the cost of him? At the cost of the wizarding world? Surely she's not that special!"

Ginny bit her lip and gave Hermione a sad grin. "Think of Harry's importance, then multiply it by a thousand. She is that important--and yet she doesn't know it. I don't even know half of it, but it will take both of them to make the world safe."

That statement did not comfort Hermione, Ginny could tell, but the Head Girl sucked it up and thought of another course of action. "Can't you heal him?"

Ginny had been watching his scar, trying to see if she could. "I don't know definitely, but I can try." She touched a finger to the scar, and it burned. She yanked her finger from him, seeing a red angry mark on the pad of her left index finger.

Hermione's eyes were wide at the sight of it; she began to tremble. "Ginny, this is bad!"

Ginny wanted to strangle her for stating the obvious. "Where are they with the professors!? It hurts to touch him, and the spell won't last forever!"

"Try coating your finger with saliva. Maybe that'll protect you from the venom."

Though Ginny didn't fancy getting burned again, the welfare of her friend was far more important than a finger. She wet her thumb heavily before putting it to his scar. It didn't burn this time, and the scar's discharge slowed considerably. "Good thinking," Ginny commended. "But I don't think it's going to last. There needs to be something stronger!"

Hermione bit her lip and began to snap, looking at the portrait hole. "C'mon, Ron . . ."

No sooner had the words left her mouth than he appeared, Dumbledore and Fawkes in tow.

Ginny breathed a sigh of relief and moved, so Ron could sit. "Where's McGonagall?" she asked.

"Order business . . . I felt they should know about these latest developments . . ."

"What happened to him? Is he dead?" Ron asked, panic lacing his voice.

"I put a Body-Bind on him, Ron. His thrashing was getting uncontrollable," Hermione clarified.

Ginny studied Dumbledore, noting his blue eyes were no longer twinkling. "It is as I expected," the wizard said lowly as if to himself. "Go, Fawkes; see if you can make him well."

The phoenix obeyed his master's command, flying to Harry's head and shedding tears over the belligerent scar. As the tears fell, steam rose from the forehead, and Ginny prayed it was supposed to do that.

"That's not supposed to happen," Dumbledore murmured. Ginny's dread rose, and she wondered if he was beyond saving.

"We can't just sit here and do nothing!" Ron all but bellowed, jumping to his feet. He began to pace, and Ginny had half a mind to join his repetitive trek.

Dumbledore shrugged, something that disconcerted Ginny. "Fawkes' tears seem to have no effect; until Jamilah and Severus come, I'm afraid there's not much more I can do for Harry."

"Well, why the bloody hell not? You're the most powerful wizard of the age!" Ron snarled.

Dumbledore did not get angry at the outburst, clearly empathizing with the young man. "They are more knowledgeable than I in matters such as this--I fear this goes beyond modern magic."

The portrait door opened again, and Pomfrey rushed in, Colin right behind her. The older woman stopped dead at the sight of Harry. "Dear heavens, children, what's happened?"

Hermione shook her head and brushed a lock of hair from Harry's forehead. "I fear he's being attacked--in the one place where we cannot help him!"

Madame Pomfrey looked at the concoction in her hand dejectedly. "Colin said something about his head, so I brought a headache potion . . . I don't think I have anything in my stores to cure this!"

"Then what the hell are we supposed to do? I can't just stand here and watch my friend die!" Ron was close to tears at this point, and Hermione rushed over to calm him.

Ginny, not one to give up, moved back to Harry and placed her hands on either side of his head. He was burning, and it hurt to touch him, but Ginny refused to relinquish her hold. "Xrok tkas."

The pain was supposed to stop, but it was clear it didn't, for Harry's eyes lost more light as time passed. Without warning the Body-Bind ceased to work, and Harry jerked violently, throwing Ginny off him. She knocked her head hard on the leg of an armchair and groaned.

"Are you all right?" Ron asked, helping her rise from the floor. She leaned against him, and they watched Harry wage a battle inside his mind . . . a battle he seemed to be losing.

"The damn coward! Can't even fight like a man, face to face!" Ron said in a trembling voice. Ginny felt her own tears coming, but she refused to cry. To cry would admit defeat, and too much had happened for Harry to die then and in that way.

"OPEN THE DAMN DOOR!"

Ginny would've laughed at the exclamation if it weren't so laced with fear.

"YOU DON'T OPEN THIS DOOR, SO HELP ME GOD, YOU GONNA WISH YOU WAS A MUGGLE PAINTIN'!"

That seemingly did the trick, and the portrait door opened hastily, revealing a trembling Nia and a not-as-calm-as-he-seemed Draco.

"Where is he?" she snarled. Everyone in the room pointed to Harry's thrashing body. Nia held out a hand and narrowed her eyes. "Xrok."

Immediately Harry's movements ceased. Ginny's jaw dropped unwittingly, considering she'd just uttered a similar incantation mere moments before, but with vastly different results. Draco sat on the other side of her, opting to hold her hand instead of removing her from her brother's embrace.

"Where are Jamilah and Snape?"

"Brewing a potion as we speak--Nia knew about this long before Finnigan and Thomas came to the professors--she felt his distress; luckily she's unaffected, or we'd all be fucked."

Ginny didn't say anything, instead watching the scene between Harry and Nia unfold. It was a surreal and humbling act to witness, and Ginny's heart went out to the younger girl.

Nia frowned as she bent next to Harry, her eyes on the scar. "Fawkes . . may I borrow a feather?" she asked the phoenix. Fawkes bent his head and presented his wing. Nia smiled her thanks and plucked a large gold one from him. She began to mutter, holding the feather at her chest, and it began to glow. Ginny saw Harry's eyes widen, and she hoped that was because of surprise instead of the curse.

Nia kissed the feather and ran her tongue along both sides of it. Ginny couldn't help but grimace at the act, but she had faith it was necessary for whatever Nia was trying to do. Nia trailed the feather over the line of the scar, and Harry began to tremble, though not nearly as violently as before. She pressed the broad side of the feather on the scar and placed her hand on top of it.

"Qou sooxe; talqo," Nia murmured, then repeated the incantation when she flipped the feather to the other side. Harry jerked once, then twice, before letting out a long hiss and becoming still.

Too still.

Nia threw down the feather, which was soaked with the discharges from the scar, and lay on top of him, holding his head by his temples. "Mare . . . Set, Thanatos, mare . . . mare Apedemak . . . mare . . ." Nia was pleading for Set and Thanatos to let Harry go, but Ginny half-feared that would only mean to kill him off.

"Mare . . ." Nia's tone was growing desperate because Harry hadn't moved since she removed the poison from his scar.

The portrait door swung open again, and Ginny turned to see Snape, Jamilah, and Padfoot enter with Dean and Seamus in tow.

"How is he?" Snape asked, his eyes trained on Nia and Harry.

"Nia muttered a spell which was supposed to remove the poison and heal Harry's scar, but since then, he's been very still--almost as if he were--"

"The boy's not dead, but if we don't snap him outta that trance, he will be. Nagini's poison and Voldemort's hold over the link they share was active for far too long, making Harry's mind very weak," Jamilah said lowly.

"What about the potion you have?" Ron asked, looking at the flask Snape held. "Why can't you give it to him?"

"He needs to be able to swallow, Mr. Weasley, and as you can see, he can't even blink, let alone swallow," Snape answered, though without the usual condescension.

"Besides, all the potion would do is strengthen his brain and restore it ten-fold. It won't save his life," Jamilah said with a hint of sadness.

So it's all up to Nia now . . . again . . . who would save her if she ever got into trouble? Ginny mused as she watched the young girl work with Harry.

Nia gritted her teeth and bowed her head briefly, as if recollecting herself and thinking of other options. She took in a deep breath and grasped Harry's cheeks. "A'ight, Harry. You determined to make me beg . . and normally I wouldn't, but these are, as they say, extenuating circumstances," she began, her thumbs caressing his skin. Harry's eyes were dull and slowly losing life, and Nia moved her face so her nose touched his and their eyes were level. "Wake the hell up, Harry Potter, right now! Do you know how many people need you? Ginny, Ron, Hermione, Draco, though he'd cut off a thumb before admitting it--"

"Make that a hand, love," Draco said. Ginny slapped his knee, but bit her lips to prevent a smirk.

Nia's voice got softer, but not too soft for Ginny to hear. "I need you, Harry Potter. You can't leave me now, godammit!" She moved her right hand into his hair, moving it away from his scar before speaking again. "I never even got a chance to tell you . . . you can't leave me without letting me tell you how much you mean to me! You can't! That's bloody unfair!"

Ginny could tell Nia was trying not to cry, but unfortunately she didn't have the same amount of control, and the tears ran down her cheeks. Nia's pleas sounded eerily like her own when Draco died, and she couldn't bear to relive that moment in any kind of fashion. She felt a kiss to her temple and realized it was Draco. They linked their hands together and squeezed.

"She'll get him back, Ginny," Draco promised. "She did it for me; she'll do it for him."

Ginny didn't respond and leaned closer to her brother. She heard him sniffle and knew he was crying as well.

"I love you, Harry . . . I do . . . I'm sorry I've been a coward punk and not told you, but I'm tellin' you now--don't that count for somethin'?" Nia said, her voice tight. "I know you probably don't love me in that way, but it's awfully wrong for you to leave the woman you supposed to be with before y'all even get together! God, please, don't let him leave her . . . me--us. So many people depend on him! All he's ever wanted was love and to have a family and be accepted for being Harry, not the bloody Boy Who Lived! I know we can't be together, but he can't leave me here!"

Ginny's sobs came harder then. Harry still hadn't given any sign of life, and the longer he remained still, the less likely it was he was alive.

Nia rested her forehead on his briefly before pulling back, murmuring something Ginny couldn't understand. Then Nia kissed his scar--cleaned since the feather absorbed its discharges--and muttered "mare, mare" as her lips grazed it.

Suddenly Ron gasped. "He moved!"

Ginny wiped her eyes and looked to Harry. He still hadn't done anything different, and she briefly wondered if Ron was hoping too hard, but then she saw it.

Harry's hand pulsed, and she gasped as well. Apparently Nia didn't register this, for her position didn't change. But Ginny was sure Nia knew Harry was moving again when his arms locked around her waist and flipped her to her back. Nia yelped in surprise, and her amber eyes grew wide. Draco brandished his wand, ready to throw a curse.

"Put that damn wand down!" Ron snarled, reaching across Ginny and snatching it from the pale-haired Slytherin.

Everyone was quiet after that, watching the scene between Harry and Nia on bated breath.

"Harry?" Nia asked quietly, her eyes never leaving his.

"Did you mean it?" he asked just as quietly, his green eyes piercing.

"Mean what?"

"What you said . . . what you said . . ."

Nia closed her eyes and bowed her head slightly. "Yeah."

Harry closed his own eyes. "You shouldn't have said it."

"I had to, Harry . . . it got you back here . . "

He moved one of his hands from behind her and cupped her cheek. "I'm not worth it."

A tear trailed down her cheek, and she smiled. "You are, Harry, much more, in fact."

Harry shook his head before kissing her cheek and hugging her to him. "We'll figure it out, love, okay?"

And as they hugged, Ginny knew they weren't only talking about a declaration of love.