Harry Potter and the Old Believers

Chapter 12

Ginny Weasley was in heaven. It was hard for her to imagine how much her life had changed in the last year, especially the last six months. As she danced in Harry's arms, she felt lighter than air. It had helped that Harry had volunteered to take some dancing lessons (much to Ron's dismay), and so had so far failed to trod on her feet once.

She wouldn't have cared (much) if he had. Harry was handsome, especially in his dark green robes, with even darker green velvet trim. She felt attractive in her classical Roman-cut light cream gown. Harry had given her a single pearl and platinium pendent to wear (which matched the pearl earrings he'd given her from his mother's jewelry box), and a single white rose, which she wore in her long French braid. They had danced every dance, embraced.

The last dance was long and especially slow, and Ginny had her head firmly against Harry's shoulder, her arms tightly around his waist, and Harry cuddling her just as tightly. She knew life wasn't safe; Riddle (as she preferred to think of Him) was still out there. There had been three more terror attacks over the last two weeks, and these had succeeded. Three single aurors had been caught coming home at night. So there was still the strong possibility Harry would once again have to face Him.

But tonight, she didn't care. Harry was holding her; Harry loved her; she and Harry had made love several times over the last two weeks. She only wished they could sleep together tonight.

The next day, they would be leaving for Doc Pwy's valley. They would be returning to the Burrow for Christmas Day itself. Her father had moved up fast in the Ministry these last six month; she actually had a nice little allowance. Harry had also started giving her a galleon a week since the previous summer, despite her protests. For once, Ginny could actually buy her family presents. It was a minor point, but it made Ginny feel freer.

Harry wasn't as satisfied with life as Ginny was, although he was as happy and in love with Ginny as she was with him. For one thing, Harry was busier than Hermione, even if she was taking one class more than he was. Studying for the O.W.L.s was taking ever more time -- he would have to devote a good three full days of his vacation writing essays. His exercise routines were easier to do, but they still took up a huge amount of time. And of course, in the back of his mind, Voldemort still loomed over his shoulder.

But tonight, Harry held Ginny, and smiled. Work, school, Voldemort, his abusive childhood; everything faded from Harry's awareness, except his love for Ginny. There had been stolen moments like this before, but never an entire evening quite like this. Harry couldn't know it, of course, but from now on, these moments would become more common. He was loved: as a lover and friend by Ginny; as a best friend and brother by Ron and Hermione; almost as a son by Molly and Arthur Weasley, Remus, Sirius and even somewhat by Hagrid; as a protege by Dumbledore, Pwy, Hagrid, and Remus -- and more importantly, Harry truly felt similar feelings for them all. The one thing Harry had truly lacked was love; he finally realized this night how much love he now truly had in his life.

The quartet and other guests arrived in Titus' valley while it was still dark, due to the time difference. They decided to take a quick nap. Ron gave Harry an extremely displeased look, but he followed Hermione into one of the two large guest rooms without actually saying anything. Harry and Ginny went into the other.

Upstairs, three of the guest rooms were occupied. Sirius took the first room, while Remus and Uhura Sinistra took the two furthest ones. Lupin and Sinistra had been friendly two years before, but now had become more intimate. All took the time adjusting potions.

After their morning run, Ron asked Harry to continue on for a while. Harry sighed, and complied.

As they jogged slowly over the snow-covered paths, Ron looked at Harry and simply said, "Harry, I know, or at least have a good idea, of what you and Ginny are doing."

Harry had been waiting for this, and knew he had to nip the discussion quickly. "You should," Harry retorted, "since I'm know you're doing even more of the same thing with Hermione. In fact, Ginny got a box of condoms the same time Hermione first did. You're starting what, your third box of thirty-six while we're still on the first?" Harry didn't mention that he and Ginny preferred other forms of contact, since he was determined not to get her pregnant, and that there were only three condoms left. Ron preferred traditional missionary; not that Ron would ever say anything let alone give details, but Hermione talked to Ginny who talked to Harry.

Ron turned red, but resisted the impulse to punch his best friend. Partly because it was true, partly because if he called his sister names Ginny and Hermione would be after him as well as Harry, partly because they were best friends, but mostly because while Harry was still over four inches shorter than he was, he was a much more proficient fighter.

"I love Hermione. I know we're still at least three years from deciding for certain to get married, but I want to be with her. You're four years from being able to marry Ginny. Do you even hope to?"

"Ron, you know how many 'ifs' that really means -- if I'm alive, if we've defeated Voldemort -- if, if, and if. But yes, I hope we stay together and make a family."

"Alright, just checking."

At lunch that day, Titus brought up a sensitive topic. "Harry, have you ever read the Warlocks' Weekly Record?"

"No," Harry replied. "Never heard of it."

"Hermione?"

"Of course. It's published every Saturday morning in Newton; it arrives at Hogwarts Sunday morning; probably Saturday night at Weston. It's a lot less biased than The Daily Prophet, although it doesn't have a lot of detailed news. It's mostly summaries of news from around the world. They even had a stop-press about the possibility of Voldemort's reanimation back in July. I wanted to order it, but they only allow institutions and warlocks to subscribe to it."

"Why do you ask?" Harry asked simply.

"They were wondering if you would answer some questions. Now, I have the questions here. You'd have to write your answers so that it looked like an interview, and they might ask some supplementary questions. You and they would discuss the final draft."

No one at the table looked overly enthusiastic.

"Can I see, Doc?" Ginny finally asked. Titus handed her the list. After reading it carefully, she nodded and handed it to Hermione.

Hermione read it, nodded and handed it to Harry.

Harry sighed, and read through the list. "Sirius? Remus?" Harry asked, holding out the list to them. They looked over the list, and agreed as well.

It was raining at the Burrow on Christmas Day. Titus brought everyone in at just after noon, Burrow time. The twins had driven their mother mad with their anticipation.

Before they started opening the presents, Charlie, who had arrived the previous afternoon, made an announcement. Hagrid, it turned out, was becoming so involved with Madam Maxime that he had decided to quit his position as Care of Magical Creatures teacher (but stay as grounds keeper). Charlie had agreed to take over, since the Romanian government was ready to take back responsibilities for the dragon camp. Charlie wasn't certain how long he would take the job for; he'd signed a contract for a year and a half.

"So, Percy," Fred piped up amid the congratulations for Charlie, "any chance of you taking over for Filch? That way we could all spend the rest of the year together!"

This was not well received by anyone, except for George.

They finally set to opening presents. Harry had damned the consequences, and gotten something for everyone -- Titus had taken him secretly shopping, once in Weston and twice in an American shopping mall on three Saturday nights in December. He bought Mr. Weasley, now an associate minister, a box of Muggle books on technology -- since most were 'Idiot Guides' and 'For Dummies,' everyone got a laugh at them, but Arthur really looked like he enjoyed getting them.

Ginny had told Harry how much her mother loved lavender. Harry had bought nearly every Muggle product he could find at two mall shops containing lavender. This caused even more teasing, and Molly Weasley had for once laughed herself off her old rocking chair, as she saw the different oils, bath salts, and other products.

Percy got three Muggle books on getting ahead in management. Titus had recommended a new Muggle book on Egyptian culture for Bill. The twins had gotten an assortment of Muggle tricks, which Harry told them they could try improving. Not knowing Charlie would be changing his job, Harry had found him a jumbo jar of magical burn ointment. "Can't have too much," Charlie had admitted. After all, he still had a fire crab to deal with. Harry had bought Sirius and Remus each a good work robe.

Ginny had created a design for Harry, which he'd had etched into large goblets. It had two stags, one looking a little younger, standing on a field of lilies. A large dog and a wolf stood guard on the sides. Harry had sets of four made for Dumbledore, McGonagall, Pwy, Hagrid, Sirius, Remus, Ginny, and Hermione; pairs for Sinistra, Flitwick, and Pomfrey, and sets of twelve for the Weasleys and himself.

Harry and Pwy together gave Hermione a set of books on the Old Believers. Of all the presents given, however, Ron's present from Harry was easily the most enthusiastically accepted. Harry gave Ron one owner's share (out of the 500 total) in the Chudley Cannons.

Harry's gift to Ginny, a set of emerald earrings, were admired by all the Weasleys, although not with great enthusiasm, other than by Molly and of course by Ginny and Hermione.

Titus had been impressed by some of Ginny's art. A group from the Magical Artist's Guild had evaluated her work, and sent her a letter stating that, should she achieve her N.E.W.T. in Charms, she'd be accepted to the Sefydliad's Magical art program. After Harry's presents, that was her favorite memory of the day.

Harry was quite happy with how his gifts were received; as much as he liked his own gifts, he had more fun giving. Still, the Weasleys adding him to the family clock meant a great deal to him. Ginny had designed a seal ring for Harry (the same stag that represented his father on the goblets) and Remus, Sirius, Hagrid, Dumbledore, and Pwy had purchased him one made out of his alloy from the shop in Diagon Alley. Ron had bought Harry some sealing wax and Hermione had used another of Ginny's stags/wolf/dog/lily designs for stationary. The twins had supplied the Christmas crackers, which called out Harry's name when they exploded. (This was a prototype for birthday crackers, which would then proclaim the honoree.) Charlie gave Harry his old Quidditch captain robe, while Bill gave Harry a fedora with a dragon-hide hat band. Percy's practical present had been a pamphlet called "Managing Your Gringotts Shares."

The quartet and their professors went back to Titus' in the late evening Burrow time, which made it about 4:00 at the valley. Titus showed Sinistra and Lupin to his cottage at Weston, Sirius to Hogwarts, and then took himself to visit his old family.

"What do we do now?" Ron said in honest bewilderment. "They won't be back until New Year's Day." The other three rolled their eyes.

"Come on, Ron," Hermione said softly. "I have some ideas for what we can do, upstairs."

"What? Oh!!!" Ron frowned. "But what are. . . ."

"We'll be down in the Jacuzzi," Ginny said firmly. "The door will be locked, and if you come down, I'll cut things off you won't want to imagine."

Ron gulped.

10 Questions With Harry Potter

Nearly everyone in our world knows the name of Harry Potter. The so-called Boy-Who-Lived survived the attack of the Dark Wizard still commonly called 'the Dark Lord,' 'He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named' or simply 'You-Know-Who.' That Wizard, it was hoped, was destroyed in the attack on the Potters of October 31, 1981. As we reported (July 1, 1995), the Dark Lord has apparently risen again, in a Dark Ceremony performed June 24 in Western Britain. An upsurge in Dark activity has been reported in Britain and surrounding areas since then.

Young Potter (15) was an unwilling participant in that ceremony, as we were finally able to report in the story confirming the the Dark Lord's return in our August 5 issue. Mr Potter is currently on Yule vacation in North America. He agreed to answer our monthly 10 Questions.

1) Rumors have abounded in the press over the last 14 years over your upbringing in the Muggle world. How accurate has that reportage been?

HP I haven't read any of the stories. I have to say that my Muggle guardians were very, if subtly, abusive. They regarded my mother, and therefore me and the rest of the Magical community, as 'freaks.' They hoped to starve or crush the magic out of me. They failed. I don't hold Muggles in general responsible. The Muggle world is as wonderful in its own way as ours is, but my relatives weren't. I'm very glad I have my godfather as my guardian now.

2) Your godfather is Sirius Black, recently shown as having been wrongly convicted of being a Death Eater and murderer. Do you really know him well enough to prefer him as your guardian?

HP Simply answered, yes. And I'm glad he's arranged for other guardians should (the Dark Lord) come after him. I hope never to hear from my mother's relatives.

3) Are the reports that the Dark Lord was reanimated in a Dark Ceremony last June, and that you were an unwilling participant, accurate?

HP Yes.

WWR Could you tell us anything about it?

HP I made a full report that night, even if the British Ministry ignored it for about a month. I'd rather not talk about it.

4) Did his reappearance totally ruin your triumph as the youngest Tri-Wizard Tournament winner?

HP I wasn't the Tri-Wizard champion. I was the co-champion with Cedric Diggory. I hope any time we're mentioned, his name goes first. And yes, our victory was turned into ashes. I only hope people remember Cedric as champion.

5) How did Mr Diggory die?

HP He was killed by Peter Pettigrew, under the command of the homoculus that was a stepping stone to (the Dark Lord's) reanimation.

6) Do you feel the Dark Lord is after you specifically?

HP It sounds egotistical to say that, but I've been told that He feels, since His killing curse rebounded from me and disembodied Him, (the Dark Lord) feels he has to deal with me, along with a few others, before He can really start again.

7) Do you think He can be truly beaten?

HP He can't win; the question is how much harm He can do before He's stopped.

8) You have two and 1/2 years left in your basic education. Do you have any plans for after that?

HP No; I'll wait and see what the magical world is like then.

9) You've been linked to. . . .

HP Stories like that show one area that the British Muggle world really does better than we do. If we had the laws the Muggles do on libel, I'd never have to work again.

10) Any final statement you'd like to make?

HP Remember Cedric Diggory. (The Dark Lord) can strike down anyone. Do something today to fight the Darkness.