Harry Potter and Unexpected Beginnings

Chapter twenty-nine

"Go to your room," Harry snapped, the moment they entered Grimmauld Place. Ginny turned and saw the angry glare in his eyes, and for the first real time since knowing him, she felt afraid of what he might do.

"But Harry, please," she began, hoping to dissipate some of his anger.

"Now, Virginia," he ordered in a soft growl. "I don't want you near me right now. Go to your room, and stay there." Ginny turned and ran up the stairs, tears streaking down her cheeks and anguished sobs echoing down the hall. Harry ignored the eyes that stared at him, as he pushed past them, going into the kitchen. Mrs. Weasley was there making dinner, and looked up as he entered. The expression on his face made even her cringe, and she remained silent until the others joined them. Mr. Weasley went to his wife, placing a reassuring arm around her shoulders.

"Ginny's fine," he assured her. "She's upstairs."

"Did you catch him?" she asked, wiping the tears from her face.

"Yes," Mr. Weasley began, glancing to Harry as he took a cup of tea and sat down at the table.

"Who was it?" she asked, staring from one face to the other.

"It was Cornelius Fudge," Bill said, his voice was still filled with shock.

"The Minister?" Mrs. Weasley asked, sitting at the table.

"I still can't believe it," Percy said. "I knew he had it out against Dumbledore, but I would never have imagined he would do something like this."

"It makes sense," Charlie said. "You were investigating the Ministry, so he figured you were investigating him. In order to stop you, he decided to sick the Dementors on you. Who better than the Minister of Magic himself to order a Dementor to attack someone."

"I thought the Dementors were with Voldemort?" Ron asked, from where he sat next to Harry and speaking the Dark Lord's name openly without hesitation.

"There's no proof of that," Lupin said. "But it's likely they are, or at least most of them."

"The Ministry has their own Dementors," Percy said. "There is always a need for additional support for the prison, so when needed, the Ministry calls in reinforcements. I can only assume that's where the two who tried to attack me came from."

"Bloody hell," Ron said softly.

"You should have let me kill him," Harry said softly, causing the room to become silent.

"I couldn't," Ron told him. "You would have gone to prison if you'd have used an Unforgivable Curse, especially on the Minister himself."

"It wouldn't have mattered," Harry said in words barely audible. "If I'd have lost Ginny..."

"You didn't mate," Ron said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You saved her, just like you saved Percy."

"Why did she leave the house?" he whispered again.

"Because she's stubborn, just like the rest of us," Bill said, drinking his tea. "She hates to be told what to do, especially by the people she loves." Just then the door to the kitchen opened and Professor Dumbledore walked in, followed by Moody, Tonks and Lupin. Dumbledore sat in his usual seat and accepted the tea Mrs. Weasley offered him, before turning his attention to the room.

"What's happened with Fudge?" Charlie asked.

"He's been placed under arrest, and will be transferred to our allies in Russia."

"Did he say why he did it?" Mr. Weasley asked.

"He thought I was after his job, and when he found Percy snooping around his files, he figured I was trying to find something on him to force his resignation. He's been extremely paranoid since learning of Lord Voldemort's return. His popularity has slipped, and he's lost a great deal of supporters after learning that he was warned of this two years ago."

"I should have been more careful," Percy said, running his hand through his hair.

"There wasn't anything you could have done," Dumbledore insisted. "He placed charms around every corner of the Ministry, in order to locate the spies against him. What he didn't count on was his spells helping us filter out Voldemort's spies."

"You caught them?" Bill asked in astonishment.

"No, but at least we now know who they are. It's only a matter of time."

"But that leaves us with the problem of no Minister," Percy commented. "Without a Minister of Magic, the Death Eaters will be able to get back into the Ministry and find the secrets to Hogwart's defenses as well as Gringott's security."

"We have a temporary Minister, but a permanent one will need to be in place before the end of next month. I've placed additional charms on the Ministry, but they will only last for sixty days. We'll have to have a new Minister by then."

"Any ideas who will be elected?" Bill asked.

"No, but I have made my suggestions. Time will only tell." Dumbledore turned his attention to the young man at the end of the table, who was sitting silently, his own attention on the cup of tea in front of him. "How did you know she had left the house, Harry?" Dumbledore asked, the tone of his voice indicating that he already knew without hearing the answer.

"I don't know for sure," Harry said honestly, his tone still slightly shaky. "I was upstairs and I just...felt it. I knew something was wrong."

"Your connection with her has grown, much deeper than I would have anticipated. That is a good thing."

"How is it a good thing?" Harry asked, his tone bitter but his voice soft. "She was nearly killed today, and I wasn't there."

"But you were there, Harry," Dumbledore clarified. "She was never in any real danger, you knew where she was and you stopped her from being injured. Your powers are growing much faster than I would ever have predicted."

"I don't want them," Harry said, placing the heels of his palms against his eyes, to stop the tears that threatened to flow freely. "I'm only sixteen, I don't want all these powers. I want the dreams to stop, and I just want to be a normal teenager. I didn't ask for any of this. I just want to be normal."

"I'm sorry Harry," Dumbledore said, sympathy etching his voice. "I wish I could take all of this away and give you back everything that has been taken from you. But you can't run away from who you are. You can't run from your destiny."

"I can't do this," Harry said, his voice shaking with his grief. "I can't lose anyone else. I can't lose her, she's my whole life."

"Harry," a soft voice said from the doorway, causing Harry to look up, his eyes red with unshed tears. Ginny stood like a little girl, her delicate face streaked with tears, her nose and eyes swollen and red. She held her hands together, a tissue twisted between her fingers, her shoulders shaking with the sobs that raked her insides.

"Harry, please don't hate me. I'm sorry I made you mad." Harry couldn't bare the sight of her grief, and went to her, pulling her into his embrace. He couldn't stay angry with her, he loved her so much, and having her in his arms was the greatest form of medicine he could ever have asked for.

"I can't lose you, Ginny," he whispered in her hair, as he held her tight. "Without you, I have no reason to go on. You're the only thing in my life that makes sense."

"I'm so sorry," she sobbed. "I didn't mean to disobey you, I was just so angry and I couldn't bare another minute of being watched. I thought I could get there and back before three o'clock. I figured the twins were there, I'd be all right."

"Ginny, don't ever do anything like that again, please. You have to listen to me. I know things you'll never understand."

"Why don't you two go upstairs," Mrs. Weasley said, blowing her nose in her handkerchief. "We'll let you know when supper is ready." Harry turned and walked out the door, his arms wrapped around Ginny. The door closed behind them, leaving the others to wipe away their tears.

"Why does all this have to happen to Harry?" Mrs. Weasley grumbled, wiping her eyes on the old cloth in her hands.

"We have no choice, Molly," Dumbledore said. "Voldemort chose Harry, and because of that he has to be the one to face him. We'll all be there to support him and back him up, but the final battle has to be between Harry and Lord Voldemort." Silence fell across the room for several moments; the only sound was that from the pots on the stove and ticking of the clock.

"Has Voldemort learned of the rest of the prophecy?" Bill asked, breaking the silence.

"Not yet, but there is the threat he will discover it," Dumbledore said. "He is still very interested in knowing the meaning of it. I only hope I can figure it out by the time he does learn of it."

"Why do so many people know of the prophecy, Professor?" Hermione asked. She knew of it, because Ron told her everything, and she knew Ginny knew about it, because Harry told her, who in turn also told her best friend. But she couldn't understand how so many others knew. "Isn't it dangerous for so many to know about it?"

"Only those who are closest to Harry know of the prophecy," Dumbledore explained. "Select members of the Order have been chosen, in order to help prepare him and protect him, but there are things that have yet to be revealed. Things that still need exploring. Lord Voldemort will never know of the fullest meaning of the prophecy."

"Will Harry?" the girl asked again, aware that the old wizard had still not relayed the entire prophecy to the one it was meant for.

"Perhaps when the time is right," the Headmaster said softly.

"How long has Potter and the girl been lovers?" Moody asked boldly, his magical eye staring at the ceiling above him, where Sirius's old bedroom stood.

"What?" Percy snapped, glaring at the old deformed man.

"Well, from what I can tell, it's not their first time."

"I knew he couldn't be trusted," Percy said, heading toward the door, followed close behind by Bill and Charlie.

"Sit down all of you," Dumbledore said gently, catching the three from leaving the room.

"But Albus," Bill began. "He's upstairs with our sister."

"Do you know what he's doing to her?" Percy growled angrily.

"I'm very much aware of what they are doing. I am very much aware of what all my students do, and where they do it," Dumbledore said, glancing briefly to Ron and Hermione, causing both to blush openly. "Now come sit down and have a nice cup of tea."

The three boys reluctantly returned to their seats, as silence fell around the room again. It took several moments before Percy felt eager enough to clear his throat and speak.

"What did you mean, you know everything your students do?" he asked, shifting slightly in his seat. Dumbledore laughed, making his features seem a lot younger than he truly was.

"I have known everything my students do, for many years. The stories I could tell you."

"Can you tell us any about Harry and our sister?" Bill argued.

"Nothing you'd care to hear."

"I can't believe we're just sitting down here, while they're doing...God knows what upstairs!" Charlie barked.

"They look like they know what they're doing," Moody answered, his magical eye still trained on the ceiling.

"Alastar Moody, take that eye off that ceiling, this instant," Mrs. Weasley snapped, watching as the man jumped in his seat, looking at the woman with both eyes.

"I think it's disgusting, that we're down here allowing this to take place, in this very house." Percy was beginning to get angry again, forgetting the concern of his former Headmaster knowing what his students did while in school.

"It's Harry's house," Ron said, issuing the only thing that came to mind in support of his friend and sister.

"What difference does that make?" Percy snapped.

"Percy Weasley, you are a hypocrite," Penelope snapped, slapping her husband's shoulder.

"Penny, please, this isn't the time for that."

"Time for what? As I recall, you and I were about their age when we first..."

"Penelope Clearwater Weasley, do hold your tongue," Percy commanded, his face turning nearly as red as the apples sitting on the table.

"Let me tell you something, Percy Ignatius Weasley, if the walls of the Astronomy Tower could speak, they'd have many tales to tell," Penelope said, her anger matching that of her husband's. "Every young couple who goes there, since the beginning of time, has carved their names among the rafters and stones. And what stories do you think they would tell, William, or Charles? What about you Arthur? Not to mention stories I'm sure George and Fred would be eager to hear?" The room was silent, the occupant's faces red and their eyes cast down. Dumbledore hid his smile at the astonished look on Ron's face as he inspected each of his siblings - and parents.

"Yes, well," the Headmaster said. "As much as I would love to stay, I do have work to do. There's a lot that must be done, in order to arrange a new Minister of Magic."

"But Professor," Percy said, glancing to his wife. "What about Harry and our sister?"

"Why do you think their bond is so strong, Mr. Weasley?" Dumbledore asked, rising from his seat. "Why do you think Harry knew she was missing, and in which direction to look for her? Why do you think he has put his own life on the line for her, since she was held in the Chamber of Secrets? They are destined for each other. Their souls are one. Since their...union, shall we say, that bond has grown deeper than any I've ever seen. You do not have to worry about either of them. Harry will never hurt her, no matter how angry she makes him, and she will never lead him astray. They complete each other. I know you love your sister and you care for her, but there is no need. Harry will never let harm come to her, I know that. Especially after today." Dumbledore stepped to the door and glanced back, looking over his shoulder.

"If you love your sister, you will give her this chance. She and Harry are destined to be together, but if you continually interfere, you will drive them apart. Is that really what you want for your sister? For her to be unhappy the rest of her life? Together they are strong, apart they will never survive." With that said, the old wizard left the room, and left the occupants to consider what he had said. As much as they loved and wanted the best for their sister, they all had to admit, it could never compare to what Harry felt for her, or how much Harry was willing to sacrifice to keep her safe. In his arms, Ginny was whole, and together there may be a chance for a future for both of them, as well as for the wizarding world.

The next morning was less tense than the past few days had been, with the exception of Ron's emotions. He had spent the past two hours pleading with Hermione not to make him go to her house, to get to know her parents better. He was convinced her father was going to want to murder him the minute he looked at Hermione wrong.

Breakfast was eaten with amused smiles, as Ron continued to complain about what Mr. Granger would do to him over the next twenty-four hours. If he lived long enough to go back to school, he promised to be nicer to Snape and do all of his homework faithfully, before it was due. Nobody believed him of course, but it lent way to quite a bit of ribbing on his brothers' side. Harry and Ginny sat quietly listening to the argument, smiling occasionally to each other. They felt sympathetically for the boy, but couldn't help laughing at the jokes being thrown at him.

Harry was about to wish his friend good luck, when Hedwig came soaring through the window, from her daily hunt for winter rodents. Attached to her leg was a rolled parchment, with surprisingly familiar penmanship. He took the note and unrolled it, offering the owl a piece of sausage. He began reading it with a frown.

"What is it Harry?" Ron asked, watching the expression cross his friend's face.

"It's from St. Mungo's Hospital," he said. "Professor Lockhart has asked to speak with me. He said he has something of importance to tell me."

"Yeah, he's misplaced his mirror and wants to report it as stolen," Ron grumbled, receiving an angry glare from the girl at his side.

"I wander what he wants with you?" Percy said with a frown.

"I guess I'll find out this afternoon. He's arranged for me to visit him at two o'clock."

"That's very odd," Mrs. Weasley said. "From the last I heard, Gilderoy Lockhart could barely spell his name, much less remember individual people."

"Wasn't he a resident with Neville's parents?" Ginny asked, remembering what Ron had told her last year about seeing the Longbottoms in the same ward as the former DADA Professor.

"Yeah, he is."

"Very odd," Mr. Weasley said, echoing his wife's concern.

"I don't think you should go alone, Harry," Lupin said.

"I agree," Tonks chimed in. "I'll arrange for a member of the guard to go with you."

"Is that really necessary? It's just Gilderoy Lockhart. What harm could he do?"

"We can't take any chances Harry," Lupin said. "I can go with you if you'd like?"

"I really think it's unnecessary."

"Harry please," Ginny said suddenly. "I don't have a good feeling about this. You can't go alone." Harry stared at her with a frown, then nodded, seeing the concern on her young face.

"All right. I'll take Moony with me. It'll be all right, I promise," Harry said, leaning closer to her and kissing her cheek, then fell into her hug as she wrapped her arms around his neck. "Ginny take it easy, nothing's going to happen to me. I'd know if it were."

"I can't help it. I'm scared."

"I'll be careful, I promise. Besides, I'll have Moony with me. Who better than a Werewolf to protect me."

"We'll take Ron and Hermione to the station, and go to hospital from there," Lupin said with a smile, proud his young friend wanted him as a protector.

"I'm contacting Dumbledore," Mrs. Weasley said quickly. "If there's any problem, I think he should know about it."

"This is all silly," Harry said, and then saw the tears in Ginny's eyes. "All right. You can use Hedwig, she's the fastest owl alive and the most reliable."

"We'd better get ready, if we're going to make the train," Hermione told Ron, nudging his arm. The two left the room, followed by Harry who had to change and wash up before leaving. Once they were out of the room, Ginny turned to Tonks and Lupin, the tears she had forced to remain in her eyes, rolled down her cheeks.

"He's in danger," she warned them. "I know it. You have to protect him."

"Don't worry, Gin, we will," Tonks promised, stepping over to her and placing a warm hand on her shoulder. "He'll be all right, I promise."

Ginny smiled as she watched Lupin and Tonks leave the room. She couldn't help it, but she knew something was brewing, and she had a horrible feeling in the pit of her stomach, a feeling she didn't like and wanted to stop. Harry was walking into danger, and somehow she knew it. If only she could be with him, maybe she wouldn't have this feeling that he was about to...die.