Reign O'er Me

Chapter 2 - Pure and Easy

Ginny Weasley stood in her room in The Burrow, wrapped in a towel, having just showered and was sorting through her chest of drawers deciding on what to wear. She settled on a pair of cutoffs and a Gryffindor t-shirt, tossed them on her bed, and then reached into the top drawer for her usual undergarments. Pulling them from the drawer, she started the motion of throwing them on the bed as well; then hesitated, looking thoughtfully at one of the garments. She glanced at the t-shirt, and reached a decision and quickly returned one of the garments to the drawer.

She dressed, dried her hair with a spell, and then carefully arranged it in a fashion she hoped would look unarranged. She glanced at the clock, then picked up a letter from her bedside table and read it for at least the 20^th time since Remus Lupin had given it to her at Kings Cross station.

Dear Ginny,

If you're reading this, it either means I've managed to get myself killed, or if I'm lucky we're all sitting around laughing at the things I did to stay occupied at Grimmauld Place before Voldemort was dealt with. While I hope it's the latter, the other possibility seems rather likely, given that both the Ministry and the Death Eaters are looking for me, and I've growing increasingly frustrated sitting here doing nothing while everyone else is free to come and go and able to actually do something worthwhile.

I enjoyed the times we spent getting to know each other last summer in Grimmauld Place; while I wouldn't wish being stuck there on anyone (myself included), it was good having your company. In some ways, we were both the odd ones out, with Ron and Hermione spending most of their time fencing around each other and everyone else occupied with Order business; if nothing else, that left us a quite a bit of time to talk; enough that I feel I know you well enough to presume to ask for your help should something happen to me.

This is one of five letters I keep writing and updating; the others are to Remus Lupin, your brother Ron, Hermione and of course Harry. There're mostly about Harry; I'm quite worried about him and where his head is right now, and if something does happen to me, I want to make sure he's ok. Remus is like a brother to me, and would honor my wishes even if he were not concerned as much as I am about Harry's welfare; however, Harry seems to be rather alienated from any adult input at the moment, which comes naturally enough for anyone his age, even without the abuse he's taken from many of the adults in his life.

You may be aware that I have a certain degree of skill with the enchantment of parchments; this letter will be visible only to you in it's true form, and should you choose at some point to share it with him, to Harry. Anyone else will see nothing other than a bit of meaningless chatter unless you unlock it; Harry will be able figure this out quickly should the need arise.

It seems that most of the people in the wizarding world expect Albus Dumbledore to deal with Voldemort; however, that does not seem to be how things must play out. There was a prophecy made before Harry was born, that given subsequent events, leave no doubt that Harry is the only one who can defeat Voldemort. The prophecy says, "The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches... born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies... and the Dark Lord will mark him as equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not... and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives... the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies...." There is essentially no doubt this is Harry; while there was another boy born at the right time, Voldemort removed all doubt when he left the scar on Harry's forehead. I know the details only because James told me before he and Lily were killed; I'm not sure if anyone else other than Albus Dumbledore is aware of the prophecy; even though Professor Trelawney gave it, she has no memory of it. I have pushed Dumbledore to tell Harry the whole truth, and in my letter to Harry I've told him to that Dumbledore needs to lay his cards on the table but no more.

I hate to dump this burden on you, but you're my fallback to make sure Harry knows the truth. I love Remus like a brother and would trust him with my life a thousand times over, but he's also agreed with Dumbledore about trying to protect Harry from the truth until he's older. Hermione likewise may try to shield him if she sees he's feeling badly, and Ron will follow her lead. So I'm putting it all on you; if Dumbledore has not come clean by the end of the school year, make sure Harry knows the truth. I wouldn't be surprised if you're wondering, "Why me?" on reading this; there are several reasons; one is that if nothing else, I've found you to be honest; brutally at times, and perhaps of all of Harry's friends, the least tolerant of anything other knowing the truth. Another it is clear to me just how deeply you care about him, and if necessary you will be able to find the right time and place and have the best chance of being able to reach him.

Both you and Harry are at an age where relationships are uncomfortable and uncertain territory; while matters of the heart are notoriously complex, I would tell you to follow yours, do not be discouraged, and keep in mind Harry has lacked both role models and has suffered at the hands of those who should have nurtured and cared for him. I guess what I'm saying is that in Harry's case, some of the tried and true approaches may not work; particularly since Harry has apparently decided that the best thing he can do for his friends is to push them as far away as possible, so there is no chance of them getting hurt. Whether you and Harry are close friends, or perhaps more, I beg you and Ron and Hermione not to allow him to push you away. I would not ask such a thing if each of you had not made it clear beyond all doubt that you intended to be there with him, with or without his blessing. What you may not know is that what Dumbledore believes will give Harry the power to defeat Voldemort is his love... and that virtue needs to be nurtured and grown as much, or perhaps even more than his magic. The prophecy does not say that Harry will defeat Voldemort; it says that one will defeat the other. I want Harry to have every advantage, and he won't have a chance isolated and angry. Again, I find I am unfairly placing the greatest share of the burden you, Ginny, and in perfect honesty, I'm not sure entirely why, other than this, and nothing else, feels right. Perhaps James has been whispering in my dreams; I surely miss him.

Again, I'm sorry for the burden I'm laying on you in this letter; but I cannot fully trust Albus Dumbledore to properly balance the needs of the wizarding world and the needs of Harry with each other. I hope you won't think too unkindly of an old dog, who's greatest fear is leaving his task undone, and having to explain to James and Lily the mess he's made of things.

Take care of my godson, Ginny, and of yourself as well. You have a wonderful family, and mere words cannot express my appreciation for all that all of you have done for Harry. I hope to one day see you again on the other side; and I hope that's a long, long, long time from now.

Love,

Sirius

"Ginny!" Molly Weasley called from the Kitchen.

"Coming, Mum!" Ginny quickly folded the letter twice, and placed it in a pocket; she left her room, lightly padded down the stairs and joined her mother in the kitchen.

Molly turned to her youngest as she covered a basket with a cloth. "I've got everything packed up; it's almost time for you to floo to Mrs. Figg's and meet Harry. I've fixed several of his favorites; try to encourage him to eat well and do what you can cheer him a bit and get his mind off what happened last term...."

Molly's eyes narrowed as she noticed the unusual omission in her daughter's apparel; she started to make a scathing remark, but stopped herself, thinking back to the meeting that had occurred around her kitchen table when Albus Dumbledore, Nicholas Flamel and Remus Lupin had arrived at The Burrow following Dumbledore and Flamel's meeting with Cornelius Fudge. Arthur and her oldest son, Bill had been present as well; Molly had been shocked to hear Dumbledore's admission of error; she had thought the old wizard practically infallible. She became increasingly concerned about Harry as Dumbledore described his mental state and their last encounter, and was devastated upon learning about the prophecy. Flamel had turned to Dumbledore and said, "You must tell them all of it, Brian."

"Brian?" Molly Weasley had asked.

Dumbledore had given a slight smile. "Brian was the name by which I was called as a child; when I came to Hogwarts, I became known as Albus as that is the name that appeared on the roles. Nicholas was headmaster then, and had met me prior to my enrollment, and has always called me thus. He and his wife Pernelle are the only ones to do so now for over a century".

"The prophecy, Albus," Flamel prompted.

Dumbledore had earlier cast silencing spells; however, he cast several additional spells that Molly did not recognize, and recounted how the prophecy had been given years ago. At first, all of the Weaselys expressed doubt, particularly after hearing who had given the prophecy; however, Dumbledore explained why he believed it to be valid, and also related the second prophecy made by Trelawney that had already come to pass. Then they had talked at length about Harry's needs and plans for the summer.

Ginny had not failed to notice her mother's glance, and was surprised when her mother had become lost in thought, and asked, "Ok, anything else, Mum?"

Molly smiled at her daughter, "No, dear, run along and have a good time, and give my love to Harry," thinking to herself that under the circumstances, she'd have likely have let Ginny go wearing a muggle swimsuit, if it were a chance it would help Harry or catch his eye. While she loved Harry dearly, he was even denser than her own son Ron when it came to relating to the opposite gender.

"Ok, Mum." Ginny, not wanting to press her luck by lingering, picked up the basket, took a pinch of floo powder, threw it onto the fire, said "Arabella Figg's" and disappeared into the green flame. She spun through the network, the basket bumping against her side, and stumbled out a few seconds later in Mrs. Figgs living room. Harry, seated in an overstuffed chair nearby, stood as she stumbled out and grasping the arm holding the basket, steadied her until she had regained her balance. Ginny said, "Hi, Harry. How's your summer so far?"

"Hi, Ginny," Harry replied, perhaps a little distractedly, he took in the long, slender legs emerging from her cutoffs. Ginny was almost his height, he realized - when had her legs grown so incredibly long? "So far, it's been really different. After Moody and Lupin and your parents warned off the Dursleys, they said nothing on the way home; I fell asleep not long after we got home, slept good until I woke up, then this morning I found I had permission to use Magic, found breakfast on the table and the Dursleys had left for the day, but left me something for lunch. And I saw Professor Lupin this afternoon, and he'll be back at Hogwarts next year, and we're all to have some defense training, and best of all, even if I'm stuck here, it looks like you and Ron and Hermione will be able to come here..."

Harry was interrupted by Ginny's laughter, "You're gushing, Harry."

Coloring slightly, Harry nodded, "I guess that means it's a better than average start, eh?"

"It sounds like it," Ginny agreed. "You also look a lot better than you did on the train. Hey, are you hungry? I think Mum packed enough that Ron could get two full meals from what's in the basket."

"Then there must be enough in there to last the two of us a week. I'm ready whenever you are. I had sandwiches for lunch, but that was hours ago," he said, motioning for her to follow as he led the way back to the kitchen. "Professor Lupin offered to tell your Mom the Dursleys were feeding me, but I told him not too. I'd much rather have your Mum's cooking."

"How about some company?" she asked slyly.

"That's the same thing Lupin said," Harry answered, "and to be honest, if I had to pick between the two, the company would win hands down. Though I'm a little surprised Ron didn't come along." They entered the kitchen, and Ginny began unpacking the basket, setting out meat pies, two bottles of butterbeer, and several other charmed bowls that kept their contents warm. Harry found plates and silverware, and set the table. They sat, and Harry flicked his wand, lighting a pair of candles.

"Oh, I'm sure he would have wanted to, but Fred and George woke him up very early this morning to help them set up something in their shop in Diagon Alley. That reminds me; Mum found out a few days ago about the investor they've been dropping hints about; seems one of them left some parchment on the kitchen table where they were working their sums, and it showed 1,000 galleons coming from a Mr. Harry Potter." She looked at him expectantly.

Harry swallowed, and asked, "Is she really mad?"

"Was it really you?"

Harry sighed, "Yes, the 1,000 galleons were the prize from the Tri-Wizard tournament a year ago. I didn't want it; I didn't feel like I had deserved it. Was your Mum really upset?"

"Well, I expect you're going to hear about it sooner or later, though later would be my guess. Right now, Mum's pretty worried about you. But I guess it was a good thing you weren't at The Burrow when she found it."

Harry frowned, and Ginny hoped she hadn't said the wrong thing. Harry looked down for a moment, and finally said, "I guess she and everyone else has pretty good reason to be worried. It's a wonder I wasn't expelled; I get kicked off the team, I just about get the lot of you...."

"Harry, nobody takes anything that Umbridge cow did seriously. Dad said the paperwork is already working its way through the ministry unraveling all of the educational decrees, and Dumbledore will overturn the ban, you'll see," Ginny interrupted.

Harry continued, "I lead all of you on a fool's errand, where Sirius gets killed, all of you get hurt, Dumbledore saves the day, then I go back and trash his office."

"Harry, that's not your fault...."

Something changed in Harry's expression then; the guilt that had been building in his eyes suddenly vanished, and he broke in, "You know, that's what Sirius said. He left me a letter; that Remus gave me a few hours ago; he made it clear that the last thing he was ever asking me to not to consider any of this my fault, but to get my act together and get on with things. That whether or not I liked it, I was stuck dealing with Voldemort, so I might as well stop feeling sorry for myself and get on with it."

Ginny looked at him carefully. Did he know? Had Dumbledore told him? "He was right, you know. Did he say anything else?"

"Well, he to stop pushing everyone away; that this was a war and everyone had their part; that when I was trying to push you and Ron and Hermione away; he said even through I was trying to protect you, I was actually putting all of you in harms way because you'd just follow anyway, and that I needed your friendship, because that was the source of whatever it is that would let me take on Voldemort." Ginny nodded for him to continue.

"He told me that Dumbledore had been holding out on me, that that I should tell him to sod off if he didn't come clean. But he already had. Dumbledore told me the whole thing, Ginny, after I'd trashed his office."

Ginny hesitated, then unable to hold back, asked, "You trashed...He told you about... Trelawney... the prophecy she made... a real one, before... before you were born?"

Harry looked at her, stunned. "How... how could you possibly have known that? Dumbledore said after the record was destroyed in the ministry, no one else knew."

Ginny looked down, troubled. "Harry, Sirius left a letter for me, too. In it, he said that your father had told him about the prophecy years ago. He had been pushing Dumbledore to tell you, and was afraid he wouldn't. He told me, in his letter, to make sure you knew the truth if Dumbledore had not told you by the end of the school year."

Harry sagged in his chair. "Sirius shouldn't have done that; knowing that makes you much more of a target." He looked up at her, capturing her brown eyes with his green. "But I'm glad you know. I didn't know how I could keep that from everyone, but how could I tell anyone when it put them in even more danger. If you and Ron and Hermione were smart, you'd stay as far away as possible from me."

"I'm a Gryffindor, Harry. I don't run away from my friends when the chips are down. Sirius said that he didn't tell Professor Lupin or Ron or Hermione; he wasn't sure they would tell you; he was afraid they'd try to shelter you. He said I'd been brutally honest with him..."

"Ginny...." Harry hesitated. "You know I have to kill Voldemort... doesn't that bother you? That I'll be no better than he...."

"NO!" she cut him off, "You are not in any way, shape or how like Voldemort, Harry! Not even slightly. You're protecting the wizarding world, Harry. What you have to do may not be pleasant, but all the other choices are much worse."

"Sirius said pretty much the same thing, that this wasn't murder, he said I it was like killing a mad dog before someone got bit." Looking in her eyes again, he asked, grinning, "Did Sirius tell you to go over all these things and pound them in until they took?"

"No, silly. Well, he did say it was important not to let you try and push us away, and that he'd written letters to Ron, Hermione, Remus, and you."

"His letter to me, Ginny.... I don't know how to describe it. I felt so different after reading it. There was closure; suddenly, it was like all the doubt was gone, all the guilt was gone... and he told me the one thing I been thinking I had to do, to distance myself from everyone I cared about to protect them was the worst thing I could do, and if I did it, I couldn't win against Voldemort."

"Harry, we've tried to tell you that for a long time", Ginny said softly. I've said it before. I will follow where you lead. If you leave me behind, I'll follow. This isn't your private little war. We're all in this together, and it's me, and my family, and my whole world that Voldemort's threatening."

"No, Ginny, that's not what I want," Harry said, then raised his hands as if to defend himself; Ginny's expression leaving no doubt that the Weasley temper was about to be unleashed. "Wait, Ginny, please hear me out. Please." She nodded tightly, fury barely held in check. "Ginny, I don't want you following me. There's no one else I'd rather have at my back... but not following me." Again, he looked into her eyes, and said, "not following me, Ginny, but at my side. Sirius was right; I can't do this alone." His voice breaking, Harry continued, "I can't possibly do this alone. I was a basket case all most of last year; there's no way that I can ever face Voldemort like that and win. And if I don't win, Voldemort does. Dumbledore saved the day at the Ministry, but all he did was buy time. I have to do this.... Otherwise, what Sirius did... won't matter." Harry's voice trailed off.

Ginny's face went through several rapid changes; first fury; then puzzlement, then as she heard "at my side", her expression changed to one of concern and tenderness. She spoke softly, taking Harry's hand into hers, "Harry... you have never had to do any of this alone. You may be fated to ultimately deal with Voldemort, but you won't do it alone. I will be there, with you, at your side, at your back, or anywhere else you need me to be." She hesitated a moment, then continued, "Ron and Hermione feel the same way. We've all told you that you're stuck with us."

Harry looked down, but did not release her hand, and said, "I've treated you all pretty shabbily, haven't I?" When Ginny didn't answer, he continued, "I'm sorry, Ginny. All of you have deserved better."

"That doesn't matter now, Harry. What matters is what we do from here." Trying to lighten the mood she said, "I was supposed to make sure you ate, and try to cheer you up. You know, if I take this much food back with me, Mum will be here to force feed you within the hour."

Harry laughed, and said, "Well we can't very well have that, can we?" The next few minutes were quiet, other than the sounds of knives and forks clicking against the plates, though during this time their eyes rarely left each other's. After finishing the meal, Ginny did return most of the food to the basket; but said laughingly that Molly might have to be reminded not to judge Harry by Ron's standards, but enough was gone so she wouldn't worry overly.

With a few flicks of their wands, the teens cleaned up, and moved back to the living room where they sat on opposite ends of the couch Remus and Harry had occupied earlier. Harry's letter was lying nearby; Ginny motioned to it, and Harry nodded; Ginny picked the letter and read. Several minutes passed; Ginny looked up and said to Harry, "Sirius said a lot of the things we've all tried to say, for a long time, Harry. He was right, you know. About everything."

"That's what Remus said, too," Harry said slowly. "He said that Sirius was the biggest troublemaker there ever was, but somehow, when he needed to, he always came up with the right words."

"Are you going to do what he asked, Harry?" Ginny queried.

"I don't see a lot of other choices, actually."

"Not any other good ones. I think it's all good advice." She looked at him strangely, and continued, "All of it, Harry."

Harry looked at her, feeling there was something he was missing. He thought back over the letter, having been read and re-read several times since Remus' departure. Suddenly, the lines Sirius had written, "...if you feel even the slightest thing for her, say something," that the letter said was enchanted for his eyes only... would Sirius... could Sirius... as Harry thought about it, he became increasingly sure that there was a pretty good chance that more than one person could read those lines... would be exactly like something Sirius would do. He felt a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. Had Ginny seen those lines? Suddenly, a half remembered line from a muggle movie that had played on the TV he had repaired was floating through his mind; it was some American film about fighter pilots called Top Gun that Harry had trouble following, though the flying looked exciting. Some silly about do something or, "loose me forever." Ginny waited, silent, carefully keeping all expression from her face. Sirius' warning, "...if you wait too long, you may have the rest of your life... to regret it".

Harry took a deep breath, and looked at Ginny sitting across from him, her hair different somehow from her brothers; a deeper, more flame like red, looking casually windblown as it cascaded down her shoulders; deep expressive brown eyes, a slender figure, and legs that seemed to go on forever, now tucked beside her as she had curled up on the other side of the couch. "I'm a Gryffindor, dammit, why am I so hesitant?" he thought to himself, and then realized he already knew the answer.

Ginny still waited, though the disappointment was building. After reading Sirius letter to her, she had felt a hope rising that she had tried, unsuccessfully for the most part, to suppress for the last two years. Harry's words, of being at his side, had thrilled her very being, but then doubt had crept in; reading Sirius letter, she had indeed seen the hidden words, and now she waited.

Harry finally swore under his breath. "Bugger it, Sirius, you are a dog. A rotten, stinking, no good, flea-bitten, mangy cur."

Ginny responded, "What did you say, Harry?" trying unsuccessfully to keep the disappointment out of her voice.

"Ginny... there's one thing I've found that frightens me even more than loosing to Voldemort. Sirius said in his letter it was better to make a fool of yourself than spend the rest of your life wondering." She waited, frozen, still. Harry continued, "I'm not going to take that chance any longer; the only reason I would even hesitate is it risks one of the treasures I value more than anything else in the world, Ginny, and that's your friendship."

"Harry... there's nothing you could..." Ginny whispered softly.

Harry held up his hand, stopping her, "Ginny, I care for you very much... more than just friendship. When I said earlier I wanted you at my side, I meant that exactly. I need something to believe in, something to live for... something that makes the world worth saving... I need to know how you feel."

"Harry," she said, trilling his name; to Harry, it sounded like Phoenix song, "When I first saw you at Kings Cross when you and Ron left your first year, I felt something. You saved me my first year; I already owe you a life debt. But I thought you never noticed me; that you I was nothing more than Ron's annoying little sister. I dated other boys; a lot of them; most of them were ok but all of them were distractions because none of them were you. I was trying to prove to everybody that I was over you, but no matter what I did, there was at least one person who I never managed to convince: me."

"You carry the whole weight of the wizarding world on your shoulders, Harry...even more than I could have ever imagined before reading Sirius' letter", Ginny continued. "I couldn't drag you down; besides, how could someone like you be interested in a nobody like me? My family is so poor even a church mouse wouldn't look twice at The Burrow and my father is the laughing stock of the ministry. I'm loud and pushy and moody. I'm not pretty and curved like Lavender; I'm skinny and bony and flat. I'm a tomboy with scabs on my knees and elbows. What could you possibly see in me?"

Harry looked at her incredulously. "How can you...." Harry said, still trying process her words. "I love your family, and how your Mum has always made me feel like a part of it, and you're not shallow like Lavender at all; you're tall and slender and beautiful... wait... does this mean... you do still feel something for me?" Harry asked, as if afraid he had misunderstood.

"Yes, Harry. I fell for you the first time I saw you, and nothing has ever changed that, despite my best efforts."

He had to know. "Did you see... in Sirius' letter?"

"You mean the part that was supposed to be just to you? Yes." She smiled wickedly.

"I couldn't take the chance, Ginny. If you had seen it, and I'd said nothing...." His voice trailed off.

"I told you I thought it was all good advice," she whispered, moving across the couch, and taking his hand. "You don't know how many times I've dreamed about you finally noticing me...wanting to be with me... and for it to finally come true...."

Harry grinned and asked, "Do I dare show my face at The Burrow?"

Ginny replied, "Well, Ron will want to kill you, until Hermione pounds it into him I'm hardly going to live alone and be an old maid aunt to their children, and of everyone I could be with, he'll eventually decide you're the least objectionable. The twins will be merciless with their teasing. Percy... well, Percy's not around. Charlie will be pleased, if anything Bill will ask what took so long, Dad will take a day or two get used to it his baby is growing up; it's Mum that will be the problem."

"She's going to be upset with me, eh?"

"Upset? Are you kidding? This has been what she's hoped for all along. She's going to be unbearable. She'll want to start planning the wedding." Her voice took on a seductive tone. "Harry, have you noticed anything different about what I'm wearing." Harry looked blank; Ginny sighed and continued, "Hermione is right; you and Ron are completely oblivious. Let me spell it out for you. Do you notice anything I'm NOT wearing?"

Harry looked puzzled for a moment; could she possibly mean? His hand traced down her back, and found no sign of an undergarment; unsure of what to say, he nodded. Ginny continued, "Mum noticed, too. I was expecting either a long lecture or a screaming match, but she said nothing but run along and have a good time." She grinned wickedly. "Now, the way I figure it, that means one of two things... either her concern for the wizarding world is so great, she's willing for her only daughter to do what ever is necessary to cheer up the Boy Who Lived for the good of the wizarding world, or she wanted us to get together bad enough that since what I had been doing wasn't working that she was willing for me to try something else, even something a little extreme. But my feelings are hurt that you didn't notice."

"Ginny...uh... I hadn't gotten that high... yet. Your legs... are incredible."

Ginny responded by moving closer, raising her lips to his.

Harry's mind reeled; time seemed to simultaneously stand still and flow rapidly past. At some point Ginny had broken away for a moment, but only to reposition herself on his lap and wrap her arms around him; then Harry fell back into the temporal vortex as time stood still and ages flowed past...

As the world, wizarding and muggle marks time, perhaps an hour had passed. No words were exchanged; later, both Harry and Ginny would remark separately that they would have believed moments or millennia had passed; their rapture was finally broken when the fireplace flared green and Nymphadora Tonks stumbled out. Harry and Ginny broke their kiss and looked toward the fireplace, but neither moved, Ginny sitting in Harry's lap, their arms wrapped around each other.

"Er... ah, wotcher Harry, Ginny, uh, sorry, sorry, didn't mean to interrupt, uh..."

Ginny gracefully untangled her arms from Harry and stood, then settled beside him on the couch; as she sat, their fingers intertwined. To Tonks surprise, neither teen showed the slightest sign of embarrassment; Ginny, Tonks could perhaps understand, given their ages weren't that far apart and she'd dated a number at Hogwarts, but Harry, who blushed when a girl as much as smiled at him...and how different he now looked from just a day ago, at Kings Cross station.

"Hi, Tonks. It's ok; I have to get back to The Burrow soon, anyway."

"Er, I hadn't heard...." Tonks searched for the right words. "Are you two an item now?"

Harry looked surprised at the question for a second or so; he and Ginny turned to each other, and both laughingly blurted out, "Yes!"

"Well, Harry, I have to say having a girlfriend seems to agree with you; you look a different person than you did getting off the train."

"A lot has happened since just this morning, Tonks. I'm not sure where to begin...."

"Don't worry about it now", Tonks replied. "I'm coming off shift, and would likely be asleep in minutes if I even got near one of those chairs. Why don't I just head on upstairs and let you lot get back to... er, actually, Bill will be staying here tonight, so you might want to...."

"Thanks, Tonks, but I've got to head home shortly, or more Weaselys may be coming through that fireplace than just Bill," Ginny said with a smile. She stood gracefully and walked toward the kitchen, and returned a moment later, the basket on her arm. She took a pinch of floo powered, then turned toward Harry. "Good night, Harry."

Harry stood, and took two steps toward her, then faltered, suddenly clutching his forehead, his hands covering the scar. He crumpled soundlessly to the floor, blood dripping through the hands clamped to his forehead. Ginny dropped the basket and started toward Harry, but Tonks grabbed her arm, and held her back. Her other hand was working some sort of small device, into which she shouted "Albus! Minerva! Bill! It's Harry; he's collapsed at Arabella's."