Awakening the Power Within

***Chapter 3***

The Old Owl and the Young Fox

Ginny had not said a word since they left the old house in the village. They were almost back to the wall of trees now, when Dumbledore turned to her and said, "Want to race the rest of the way home?" He tapped the trees in the opposite order he tapped them earlier and they walked through. The trees closed up behind them.

"Excuse me?" she said looking at him like he was insane.

"Oh just a little race mind you. You can probably beat me as fast as you will be, not to mention the youth on your side," he said smiling at her.

Ginny looked at him in like he was crazy, what on earth was he talking about now. As if this whole day had not been weird enough, now he was talking about racing. "But professor why would I race you home," she said looking at him in total dismay.

"Well I would like to see if an Old Owl can out run a Young Fox," he said still smiling at her.

What was Dumbledore saying, that he thought she was a fox? Ooh yuck, but that was out of line for him, Ginny stood there thinking a minute. It hit her; she wasn't an animagus, was she?

"Well I don't think that is going to happen seeing as I am not an animagus?" She said to him coolly, knowing Dumbledore could transform into many animals. She had seen him turn into an owl before.

"Don't think you are. Know you are," he said as he lifted an eyebrow.

Ginny looked at his eyes, he was very serious. Ginny closed her eyes and all of a sudden she could hear breathing, she could hear the river over the mountain, she could smell the water. She smelled the earth. She looked around and saw Dumbledore's feet. She looked up at him he said to her, "Very nice Miss Weasley, now let's go," with a blink of an eye he was circling above her.

Ginny took off through the woods, she had never been this way but somehow her instinct told her where to go. She could hear the leaves crunch under her feet. All here senses were ten times stronger than they had ever been. She could hear Dumbledore's wings above her, she was beating him, and she was ahead. They went on for at least thirty minutes. They burst out into an open field and Ginny could see The Burrow, it was at least a mile away. She could hear her brother Charlie out in the garden she also heard the voice of her father and mother. She could smell her owl, Prince Humperdinck. She sped up, Dumbledore was gaining on her. Bolting from the clearing as fast as she could, she jumped over the garden wall landing on her father, knocking him down. Dumbledore lit on the on the stone wall, he hooted loudly.

Mr. Weasley looked at the little fox panting on top of him. "Where did you come from?" he said as Ginny backed off his chest and sat at his feet. Mr. Weasley sat up and looked at the Owl on the wall. He recognized this owl at once. "Dumbledore," he said greeting the owl. Dumbledore flew off the wall as he turned back to his human form.

"Arthur that little fox gave me a run for my wand," he said as he walked towards them.

Mrs. Weasley and Charlie came over to check out the commotion. Charlie bent down and called the fox to him.

"Careful Charlie, foxes can be sneaky," Mrs. Weasley said cautioning Charlie.

Ginny jumped into his arms and began to lick his face. "I have never seen a wild one this friendly," he continued to stroke Ginny on her head.

Prince Humperdinck flew over to Charlie and lit on his shoulder. He nibbled the fox on its ear. Ginny pawed at her owl. Charlie sat Ginny back on the ground she walked towards Mrs. Weasley.

"Oh! You look thirsty, I will get you some water," she took out her wand and held out her hand, "Auquious." A small bowl of water appeared in her hand. She sat it down on the ground in front of Ginny.

Mrs. Weasley looked up at Dumbledore, "Where is Ginny? I thought she would be coming back with you. Oh well she must have decided to visit Hermione. She has been helping her with the wedding arrangements and all." Mrs. Weasley was beaming at the mention of the wedding.

Ginny stopped drinking and looked up at Dumbledore; he nodded his head to her, as if to tell her it was okay to change back to her human form now. Ginny backed away from her mother and Charlie and regained her human form. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were very much in shock by what they just saw.

"Bloody-Hell!" Charlie exclaimed looking at her in amazement. "That was brilliant when did you master this?" Charlie seemed to be the only one able to find his words at the moment, smiling at Ginny like he couldn't be prouder if she were a Dragon.

Mrs. Weasley walked to Ginny, touched her on the face and gave her hair a smoothing down. She never did say anything just looked at her with a wide smile and tears in her eyes. Ginny just clasped her mom's hand.

"But how Dumbledore? We haven't had an animagi in the family for more than a century, my great-great Aunt Vulpesi was one I think, a fox to be matter of fact," Mr. Weasley now understood the dynamic of what he had just said.

"Whew! Professor you nearly beat me there at the end," still feeling exhilarated from the experience she just had.

"Oh, Ginny I may be old but I am not dead," he said looking at her smiling with that twinkle in her eyes.

"How did you know?" she asked him.

"Ginny as I am sure you have heard my times before, for every action there is a reaction. Well your reaction was the consequence of my action towards you," he said looking at her. "You will know more in."

"I know, in time." she interrupted him.

"Precisely, Miss Weasley, Precisely." Speaking very serious now, placing her hands in his, "Now I think it wise that you discuss this matter with your family. They will be able to help you in many ways. Remember if you need me I am just a thought away." He turned to her father and spoke a few words and then disapperated.

Ginny sat down with her parents and Charlie at the picnic table in the garden. Prince Humperdinck flew over to where they were. He was a large brown and white speckled owl with great yellow eyes; his eyebrows looked like that had always been brushed towards the sky. Ginny caressed him on the head he was a beautiful owl to her, mainly because Harry had given him to her as a graduation present. They sat and talked about her day and what she had found out, nobody said anything until she finished.

"Well Ginny, are you going to tell Harry?" Charlie asked her in a benevolent voice. "Cause if were me I would want to know."

"Yes, I am and soon, I just hope he takes it well," Ginny said with an unsettled tone.

"Ginny dear, Harry is an understanding young man. He will be okay," her mother patted her on the hand.

"I know. I just have to get the courage to do it. I feel like there is more to this," Ginny lifted her eyes to her father.

"Well you have had a long day dear. You really should get some rest," Mr. Weasley kissed Ginny on her cheek. Ginny could smell the heavy sent of Wintergreen in his tobacco.

They got up and walked towards the house. Ginny was taking in all the sounds and smells of home. It was a wonderful way to end her day. She walked into the front door and saw none other than Dobby standing in the kitchen.

"Dobby, what are you doing here?" Ginny asked very surprised to see the orb eyed elf in their kitchen.

"Dumbledore has been sent Dobby to look after Ginny Weasley, ma'am," he said with a great smile on his face bowing to her.

They all stood there speechless gaping at Dobby.