Harry Potter and the Rise of the Phoenix

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Once in a lifetime,
Once in your life,
You'll find the kind of love
That never ends
The kind I want back again

Kansas ~ Once in a Lifetime
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Deciding to ask a girl out was very different from actually doing it. Every time Harry managed to get Ginny on her own (which was often as everyone seemed to be aware of Harry's goal) he chickened out. His Gryffindor courage enabled him to spit at Voldemort, but it would not let him ask the most important woman in his life out on a simple date. Maybe that was it, it wasn't a simple date. It would be the start of a terrifyingly, yet promisingly permanent relationship, that is, if he had his wish. As Harry knew full well, very little in his life had permanence, and the idea that this could become permanent scared him. He wasn't ashamed to admit that.

"I'm terrified to ask her," he told his friends. It seemed like the whole of the seventh year was sitting in the Library this Wednesday night. Well, those who were his friends.

"She'll say yes," Lavender assured him.

"Definitely," Sephra agreed.

"That almost scares me more than if she said no," Harry replied. "What if it doesn't work out? Could we return to being friends? Wouldn't it be pushing my luck to try again? At least we're friends now; I couldn't stand to lose that!"

"As if the 'just friends' thing is working," Blaise commented dryly. "Check this paragraph out, Dean," he said, handing the Gryffindor a library book. They were actually working on Charms, even if it didn't seem like it. Though they weren't all working on the same project, they had decided to work in a large group. Harry felt everyone just wanted to tease and pester him about Ginny. In reality they all knew, in the back of their minds, that at the end of the year they'd all be going their separate ways. Life would change drastically, and they wanted to enjoy each other's company as much as possible before then.

"Okay, so that didn't work out quite like we planned," Harry admitted, handing Susan a promising book. "But it did work in important ways. We still hang out and talk. Actually," Harry paused to think. "It really did help a lot."

"Yeah, it turned you into a tar and feathering love sick puppy," Ron teased, while writing down some notes.

"Tar and feathering? And I wasn't invited?" Seamus asked sorrowfully.

"Oh, you were invited alright," Hermione assured him. "As a matter of fact, you were the guest of honor." The others laughed fully understood the joke.

"I figure that if, no, when we win the Quidditch game Saturday, I'll be so pumped that it'll be easy," Harry said after a few minutes of quiet work.

"Don't be so sure of that win, Potter," Sephra warned. "You don't want to be eating your words."

"Sure, Slytherin," Ron responded, putting fake disdain into his voice.

"Don't use that tone of voice towards my girl, Weasel," Blaise threatened.

"And don't you use that tone of voice with my boy, Zabini," Hermione countered, causing everyone to break down in a fit of laughter.

"Be quiet or I will remove you from my library," Madam Pince reprimanded them. They tried to calm down, smothering the laughter behind their hands and grin tightened lips, though most of them shook with suppressed mirth.

"I'm sorry, Susan, I can't concentrate on this right now," Harry apologized after ten or so minutes of slowly flipping through pages absentmindedly. "I'm going for a run to work off some excess energy."

"You had Quidditch practice right before supper," Padma argued. "Aren't you tired?"

"Not really," Harry said with a shrug. "Quidditch doesn't use the same muscles as running, and Bryant would be ashamed of me if I couldn't run a lap around the lake after a simple Quidditch practice."

"No kidding," Ron muttered. "I'd love to go with you, but you like long distances and I'm a sprint man myself."

"That's 'cause you're lazy," Hermione teased. Both Weasleys were sprinters, while Harry and Hermione preferred long distances. It made for some good-natured teasing and competitions.

"Exactly, and it's for that very reason I'm staying here," Ron said proudly. "Just don't stay out too long, and don't you dare catch a cold!"

"Yes, captain," Harry mocked, saluting his friend. "See you guys at breakfast." Everyone said goodnight and Harry hurried up to the dorm to change into running clothes. Once outside he started to jog, slowly warming up for the long run. It was already dark, so he took out his wand to light his path.

The weather was actually pleasant. Two weeks had passed since the last really rainy day. Harry and the others were thankful, training with Bryant in the rain had not been fun. There had been a shower or two, but those hardly counted after the summer and early fall they had had. Harry hoped that it would hold for the game that Saturday. He didn't want to play in a storm like last year's.

Last year! That had only been a year ago! That fiasco seemed to have belonged to another century, so much had happened since then. At least they wouldn't be playing against Malfoy, Ron was right about that. Sephra had put together a strong, rule-abiding team; it would be loads of fun playing against them. Remembering last year's game led him to think of another worry Harry had at the moment.

Malfoy and Nott were now acting like enemies. No one seemed to know any details; even Pansy and the Trolls looked confused. Yesterday at his Occlumency lesson, Dumbledore had shown up to talk about the two Slytherins with Snape. Surprisingly they didn't kick Harry out, but included him in the discussion. Dumbledore was finally starting to worry. It had been a month and a half since the last major Death Eater attack. Voldemort only went quiet when he was planning something big and only when complacency on the Order and Ministry's part was needed.

In the end, they decided that without more information, they could do very little. Dumbledore said he would have Order members try speaking with the werewolves and goblins again. The werewolves were as divided as ever on the topic, but the goblins still remained neutral. Maybe with a little convincing--What was that sound?

Harry slowed to a walk, extinguishing his wand. He crept along, staying in the shadows and walking as silently as possible. It sounded like crying, but who would be out here crying at this time of night? He saw the figure, and instantly recognized her.

"Gin?" he called, walking forward slowly with his hands out to his side so that she would know he was a friend. She jumped and sniffed loudly, turning to face the other way once she realized who he was. He didn't say anything, just sat next to her and gathered her into his arms. She turned into his shoulder and sobbed. Harry held her, rubbing her back comfortingly. Every so often he'd whisper something into her hair. Not knowing what was wrong, he didn't know what to say.

Finally she pulled away, looking out over the lake. Harry kept his arm around her shoulder, silently letting her know that he was here for her. Looking around, he realized they were sitting at Ginny's favorite thinking spot. What had bothered her so much that she had to cry out here? He waited, not wanting to push her into talking. He knew how annoying that could be. A small pile on the ground caught his eye and he bent to pick up the stuffed animal. It was Prongs.

"He fell, when you startled me," Ginny explained, pulling the animal out of Harry's hands and into a hug.

"He's seen better days," Harry commented sadly. "I'm sorry I left you."

"I know why you had to go," she replied after a moment. She rested her chin between Prongs' antlers, and leaned her whole body into Harry. "B-but why my d-dad?" She started to cry again, and Harry held her, rocking from side to side.

"Because he knew there were things worth dying for," Harry finally said, once Ginny calmed down. "And love is one of them." Ginny looked up at him, wrinkling her nose at his use of her own words. "I think we should talk about this and everything else. What do you think?"

"I think you're right," Ginny said with a nod. "I miss him."

"Me to," Harry agreed softly. "It's so weird, thinking of the Weasley family without him."

"He was always there for us when we needed him," Ginny mumbled, not bothering to wipe the tears trailing down her cheeks.

"Even for me," Harry added. "I remember that he went against Fudge to warn me about Sirius. Of course, in hindsight, there was no need, but..."

"They shouldn't have kept that from you and he knew it," Ginny finished. "He loved you as a son. He had a big heart for the misunderstood and the hated. I think that's why he loved Muggle things so much. No one else at the Ministry was willing to protect them whole-heartedly and take care of them. He didn't want to see the Muggles abused by wizards."

"Remember, when your dad was in St. Mungo's, there was that wizard that had just been bitten by a werewolf," Harry added after a few minutes of thought. "He was one of the few people there, Healers included, that talked to the man as if he was human. Tried to reassure him that everything wouldn't be a complete loss."

"When I was little, my dad used to protect me from my brothers," Ginny said softly, sitting up a bit. "Whenever they were teasing me too much, or just being brothers, I used to run to my dad and we'd read a book or play some chess. And when I had calmed down enough to be left alone, he would go and yell at them."

"Why are you out here crying?" Harry asked after a few minutes of silence. "I mean, why now?"

"It's his fifty-third birthday today," Ginny answered after a few moments of sniffling. "I would always send him a card and a letter, and I had to make one this year..." She pulled the papers from the pocket of her jeans. "I was going to fold them into a boat and float it on the Lake, with a small candle in it... My dad did that for his parents on our pond."

"Oh, Gin," he said, pulling the girl back into a hug.

"Would you hold Prongs while I do that?" she asked, pulling away slowly. He nodded, carefully sitting the animal on his lap. He watched as Ginny carefully made a canoe like boat out of the paper. She took a skinny candle about an inch and a half long, and used a sticking charm to keep it centered and up right. "Make a wish," she whispered as she placed the small craft onto the Lake's surface. She gave it a gentle nudge and then pushed it out further with a spell. A whispered charm had the candle lit once it was out of reach.

Let her heal, Harry wished, watching her intently for a few seconds.

Giving the girl a bit of privacy, he looked down at Prongs. As Harry studied it, a flash of metal caught his eye. It was a chain. He searched for a charm on it and stared at what he found. It was his mum's ring. The chain, loosened by Harry's fingers, started to fall away.

"I've been wearing it under my robes since September seventeenth, and I broke the chain tonight," Ginny said, surprising Harry. He looked up to see her watching him from where she stood near the water. "I wasn't in the mood to fix it, so I wrapped it around his neck."

"That's when my scar acted up," Harry realized, causing Ginny to nod. "It hasn't really bothered me since then. Just a twinge here or there."

"That's good," she commented, returning to her seat next to Harry. He handed Prongs back to her.

"My sources tell me that you blame yourself for my suicide attempt," Harry finally said after carefully weighing the words.

"Did Hermione say that?"

"I can't reveal who she or he is," Harry replied with a small smile. "You shouldn't, you know. If we blame anyone, blame Voldemort."

"What about my 'giddiness'?" she asked, looking down at Prongs. Harry tilted her face up so that he could look into her eyes.

"I should have known that your 'giddiness' was because of something to do with me," Harry answered. "Heck, you probably weren't all that giddy, just compared to my mood you were. You do know that I never blamed you or anyone on our side. Well, Dumbledore, but that's resolved now."

Ginny sniffed. "I do know, but it's hard to believe that. Your letter--"

"Never blamed you," Harry assured her. "Confusion didn't lead to suicide, depression did. Had I known you guys were coming Saturday, I might have made it through the night... but I'm not so sure. The damage had already been done. I was beyond repair at that moment."

"If you would have stayed at Hogwarts with us, would you have done it?" Ginny asked.

"Probably not, but I wouldn't be as well as I am now," Harry answered. "It made me grow up and really think about what I want from life. It made everyone realize that I'm not eternally strong, that even heroes," Harry spat the word, "have their breaking points."

Ginny nodded understanding what he meant, and looked up at the sky. She pointed and Harry followed her finger. A shooting star flitted across the velvety dark, and Harry made a second wish. The stars were glorious, the full moon casting long shadows. Remus would be worn out tomorrow, that is, if he even showed up. It was the perfect night to be having this conversation.

"I miss my dad," Ginny said after a long silence. It was the perfect night to talk about Mr. Weasley. "I never thought it would be this hard not to have him around."

"It's difficult... I bet it's harder to love him and then lose him, than never having met him to begin with."

"They each have their own unique challenges," Ginny contested. "You'll always have the 'what ifs' and never truly understand your loss. I have the 'if onlys' and I know exactly what I lost. At least I have memories of him." Harry didn't know what to say, so he just kept his mouth shut. He looked back up at the moon, steeling his courage.

After another moment's hesitation, Harry turned so he could face Ginny. Gently brushing a lingering tear from her cheek, he gazed into her brown eyes. "Ginny, can you forgive me?" Harry finally asked. Ginny looked down at Prongs, running a hand along its back.

"Yes," she said, and Harry couldn't help but hug her.

"Thank you," he whispered into her hair.

"Hey! I don't remember agreeing to be your girlfriend," Ginny said, her voice muffled in his chest, but it hinted at laughter and teasing.

"I'm hugging my friend who has been mad at me for the past two and a half months, longer than that even," Harry explained seriously, letting her go and staring into her eyes again. "But... Ginny, I've been meaning to tell you something... something that I couldn't say in front of everyone." Ginny looked at him oddly as he stood up to pace.

"When I was at Malfoy Manor, I had a lot of time to think. And I thought about us a lot, because, well, I had left you when you needed me the most. You had never done that to me. Never! And with the ring, I knew roughly where you were and kinda how you were feeling. So I thought a lot. I didn't have anything better to do, other than catch that snitch, and between you and me, that gets boring really quick." Ginny smiled up at him, and he paused to look at her. He would never grow tired of seeing that smile. A hand went through his hair as he realized that he wanted to continue, but didn't know how.

"Ginny, I realized that you had succeeded at your goal," he finally said. Confusion crossed her face, he had to explain better. "You taught me to love and know that I was in love. I've wanted to tell you all summer, but... it's such a foreign thing to me that... I just didn't know how." He paused and then sat next to her on the log. "Ginny, I love you." He felt so much better now that he had said it, but Ginny looked stunned and startled. "Will you go out with me? Be my girlfriend again?" She stared at him, blinking owlishly. "Gin?"

"Yes," she finally said, so soft that Harry thought he might have imagined it. "Yes, of course," she said again, this time louder and more assured. "Thank you for finally asking."

"Will you please put this back on? I've missed having you in my head," Harry said, pulling off the ring. Ginny looked up at him and then out across the Lake, staring at the speck of light out there.

"I'm not ready for that," Ginny finally answered. "I'll keep it around my neck, though, next to my heart, as Hermione put it."

"All right," Harry agreed, fixing the chain and stringing the ring back on before clasping it around her neck. "But no hiding it."

"Deal." Ginny turned back toward the moonlit waters. Harry carefully extended his hand to hold one of hers. She looked at their interlaced fingers and a soft smile graced her face. They stood like that, hand in hand for a few minutes. Harry watched as Ginny's candle started to sputter and go out. The whole thing erupted in flames suddenly and then it was gone.

"Can we go slow, though?" Ginny asked softly, turning to face him. "I love you, Harry, but I don't want to move too fast and ruin this."

"Of course," Harry said, knowing that she had a point. "May I have the honor of walking you back to the common room?" She laughed and took his offered hand.

They walked up to the castle, catching up on each other's lives. It was amazing, they spent quite a bit of time together every day, but they were so out of touch with each other. Even with the talking they had started to do, it paled compared to this. They talked about classes and friends, about strange things that had happened at Hogwarts, and a little about their fears and worries about the war.

When they were almost to the common room, Harry pulled Ginny into a little nitch and hugged her. "I think we should go in not holding hands," he said into her hair. She nodded, tilting her head up to kiss his nose.

"And no kissing until you take me on a date," she told him impishly.

"You mean, you don't count this romantic get away as a date?" Harry asked, pretending to be offended.

"No, not from you," she replied. He started to walk toward the portrait, but she pulled him back. "Harry, I mean, slow. You know I love you, right?" He nodded, confused. She looked down at her trainers before continuing. "I'm pretty sure we can't keep the gossip wheel from going around, but... we're not... completely all right yet... I... I'm not completely alright yet. I don't want to ruin this. I don't want my messed up head ruining this."

"We'll go slow, Gin, I promise. I don't want my messed up head to ruin this," he said, cupping her face in his palms. "How 'bout we're the best buds who happen to hold hands?" She smiled and nodded.

"That's better," she said, trying not to laugh. "I do love you."

"And I love you," he replied, wrapping her in his arms. It seemed to get easier, every time he said it. "We'll go as slow as you need, we can always wait. You're worth waiting for."

She rested her head on his chest for a few minutes. Then, pulling away, she said, "Come on, let's go."

They entered the common room, talking to each other about Quidditch. Ron and Hermione looked up at them, relief and then bewilderment on their faces. All of a sudden Ron smiled and whispered something to Hermione. She looked at Ginny and then smiled as well.

"Where have you guys been?" Ron asked, trying not to tease them. Harry looked over at Ginny not sure what she wanted to tell them.

"It's Dad's birthday," she answered, but Ron started swearing before she could continue.

"You floated a letter, didn't you?" he said. Ginny nodded. "Oh, bloody brilliant, I completely blanked about the date. If I go, it'll be past curfew, but I can't miss Dad's birthday!" he declared, throwing a pillow across the nearly empty room.

"Just go," Harry said. "I'll talk anyone out of punishing you if you get caught. Take the map and cloak. That'll help keep you hidden."

"Thanks, mate," Ron said, before bounding up the stairs and down again, carrying a large lump. Ginny said goodnight, smiling at Harry slightly longer than Hermione.

"What were the two of you smiling about?" Harry asked, once Ginny was gone.

"Just the beautiful ring she's wearing around her neck," Hermione answered, smiling in her 'knowing' way.

"Yeah, well, you keep quiet about that, and I won't tell Ron that you're an animagus," Harry bargained.

"How'd you find ou--"

"I have my sources," Harry interrupted her. "Deal?"

"Deal."

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"Captains, shake hands," Madam Hooch's sharp voice rang out. Sephra shook Harry's hand, and then Ron's. "I want a fair game, not like last year's, do you understand?" Both teams nodded, completely agreeing with her. "On my whistle. One. Two. Three." She blew the whistle, throwing the quaffle into the air, and taking off.

"Ginny Weasley with the quaffle!" Dean shouted. "Weasley to Kendra Kilpatrick, the new second year Chaser for the Gryffindors. Kilpatrick to Natalie MacDonald, MacDonald back to Kilpatrick, Kilpatrick flies around Lavena Atwater, sixth year Slytherin Chaser! Nice move there, Kilpatrick! She passes to Weasley... WEASLEY SCORES! 10-0 in Gryffindor's favor. What's Harry Potter up to?" Harry, was mid-dive, having already spotted the snitch. Sephra was on the wrong side of the pitch, causing him to smile. The snitch veered to the right, away from the approaching Sephra. Harry put on a spurt of speed and ran right into a bludger.

"Potter takes a bludger to the chest... he seems fine folks!" Dean shouted. Harry was already speeding after the snitch, with Sephra right beside him. "That was wonderful bludger work by the Slytherin beater, Gordon Glaeske. Caught Potter off guard! Oh! That's Blaise Zabini with the Slytherin goal, 10 all!" The snitch flew straight up, and Harry and Sephra followed but then pulled away at the same time, both losing site of the small ball in the sun. Harry nodded towards his opponent and took off, searching for it anew.

"Richard Strickland weaves through Gryffindor's defenses!" Dean shouted. "He's approaching the goal, Weasley prepares for the attempt! Strickland shoots and--Wonderful save by Weasley! Weasley to Weasley, who passes to Kilpatrick! Wow, Kilpatrick has some good moves! She passes back to Weasley, now unchallenged except for Donelle Scriven, Slytherin Keeper and fifth year! Last second pass to MacDonald, who shoots... and... SCORES! 20-10 GRYFFINDOR!"

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An hour later, Severus Snape was still out in the cold, but thankfully dry, November air watching his team. Something was bothering him though. Something alerted that sixth sense he had developed for the Dark Arts. A whole lifetime immersed in the thing which he detested most did have a few perks. He searched the crowds, trying to find each student he knew was sympathetic to the 'Cause'. His eyes stopped on Malfoy.

"Oh, that bludger looked like it hurt!" Dean Thomas's voice rang out. Malfoy smiled slightly, no, smirked would be the correct word. "Ginny'll be out for the rest of the game, with a bludger to the face like that anyone would be!" Severus found the young woman sprawled out on the grass. His sharp eyes caught the slight tremor of her body.

"Headmaster, she is not well," Severus commented. "She's shaking, if not spasming." Professor Dumbledore looked from Snape to Ginny and nodded.

"Callan, if you can make your way down there?" he asked. "Try not to interrupt the game without cause; I don't need any of those captains in my office complaining."

"THAT'S 140-130! SLYTHERIN!" Severus turned his attention back to the game. Without their senior and lead chaser, the Gryffindors were at a disadvantage.

"I'm going to finally win this year," Severus commented to the witch sitting next to him.

"Only because you're lucky," McGonagall murmured, not happy about the state of her student lying on the ground. Quirke had made it onto the pitch, nearly running now.

"Seems like the Professors want Weasley looked after," Dean's voice rang out. Severus watched the Healer perform several spells. Finally, she cast a Protronus and sent it to Dumbledore. The headmaster listened to it carefully, growing graver with every passing word. He sent a single red spark into the sky and Madam Hooch blew her whistle. Play stopped, the Slytherins just moments away from scoring again.

"We were about to score," Severus observed.

"You're already ahead by 30 points, so don't worry," Minerva snapped at him, already heading toward the pitch. Madam Hooch was dealing with an angry Sephra, but in the end the girl huffed off to berate her beaters. Looking over at the Gryffindors, he saw both Harry and Ron talking to their beaters animatedly, frowns on their faces. Once in awhile they would glance at the fallen Weasley. A frown formed on his own face when he looked over at her as well. Her body was shaking violently. Althea helped Quirke get her onto a stretcher and tied down so that she wouldn't fall off. Then they made their slow way to the Aurors' Headquarters, where several portkeys to St. Mungo's were kept. Something must be seriously wrong if they were taking Ginny to St. Mungo's, but there was no other reason for them to head towards the Lake, where their Headquarters were located.

Dumbledore, who was speaking with Hooch and Minerva, called the captains over, making a motion for Severus to join them. He slowly made his way down to the pitch, not rushing, but not walking either. "Severus, hurry up," Minerva snapped again. It could not be good if she was that irritated. Years of having her as a teacher and now a colleague had taught him that she was only snappy when something was seriously wrong.

"We want you to consider a re-match," Dumbledore said, once Severus had joined their circle. All three captains protested this; Gryffindor could still win if Harry caught the stitch. "We do not know what's wrong with Miss Weasley, but it is more than just a bludger to the head," he assured them, or worried them would be the better choice of words. His statement caused the three students to fall silent.

"Do you have any ideas?" Harry finally asked.

"No," Dumbledore admitted.

"I was watching Mr. Malfoy when I heard Dean's comment about the hit," Severus remarked casually, as if what he said really meant nothing. The two other Professors and Harry both looked at him more closely; those three knew him the best. "He smirked once she was hit," he finished.

"When I get my hands on that little ferret," Weasley remarked, but Harry cast a silencing spell on him.

"You won't do anything," Harry rebuked him. "We have no proof, for all we know, Malfoy was smirking because someone made a lame joke about Potty and Weasel."

"Very true, Mr. Potter," Minerva agreed with her student. "But we also know the boy's background. What would you recommend, Albus, call the game or let them play through?"

"I and Mr. Malfoy are going to have a discussion," Dumbledore informed them. Harry winced at the man's choice of words. Severus had to agree; a discussion with the wise man tended to be painful in some way or very... disillusioning. "I believe the pitch safe for play to continue."

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Harry searched the pitch for the snitch, knowing that without Ginny, his chasers were in a world of hurt. Hopefully Ron would keep the score closer than 150; otherwise, Harry's efforts would be in vane

"Carrigan's going into a steep dive," Dean's voice rang out, clear in the crisp air. Harry put on a spurt of speed, searching the spot he thought she was heading towards. On a hunch he looked at Sephra, and saw that she was watching him out the corner of her eye. "And Potter's pulling up and out! What's gotten... Carrigan's pulling out too. Did they lose the snitch or was it a feint?"

Sephra flew past him, nodding in recognition of his skills. Harry just nodded back, knowing that her Feint would have fooled the other school seekers. Deciding to put on his own show, he floated away from her, casually flying towards Ron.

"Potter's found the snitch!" Dean shouted. Harry was diving straight up, waiting for Dean to tell him Sephra was following. "And there goes Carrigan!" Harry went to the right, angling down just a bit. He waited a few more minutes and then switched directions once more. Keep moving in different directions and the other seeker starts to concentrate so hard they never see the ground!

"Oh, that had to hurt," Dean commiserated with the fallen seeker. Harry had run her into a wall; seekers that were expecting a Feint into the ground always fell for that one. She stood up quickly, re-mounted her broom, and took off. For the first few minutes Harry could tell that she was unstable, but soon the dizziness seemed to pass and she was fine.

"210-160, SLYTHERIN!" Dean bellowed. "Weasley barely missed that one! Nice try there, Ron! The two Gryffindor chasers are definitely missing the other Weasley! Oh! Kilpatrick shoots and... SCORES! 210-170 SLYTHERIN! Zabini with the quaffle, passes to Strickland, who zooms around Kilpatrick and passes back to Zabini. A quick pass to Atwater who gives it up to Strickland and he shoots and SCORES! 220-170, SLYTHERIN!" Harry frowned, why hadn't Sloper hit that bludger at Strickland? He had the perfect angle. The bludger was right there!

"Sloper, pick up your game!" Harry shouted as he flew past him. "You've got to cover for Ginny's absence!" Sloper nodded, though he looked frustrated. Harry focused on the game, knowing that Ginny was out of his aid and would be angry if he lost the game because he couldn't keep his concentration. In a real battle, he had to keep his head no matter who was hurt or dead. It was a sad thing when he could compare this simple game to the game of life and death. Everything in his life was preparing him for his destiny.

"Kilpatrick with the quaffle, she passes to MacDonald who weaves around the Slytherin beater, Dobbs! Why didn't Dobbs hit that bludger at her? MacDonald back to--No! Intercepted! Zabini with the quaffle! Zabini to Atwater to Strickland, who flies around MacDonald--Hey! That's a cob!" Harry waited for the whistle to be blown but there was nothing! Strickland had blatantly thrown his elbow into Natalie's jaw!

"Natalie, come here!" Harry flew towards her, and healed her swollen jaw. "Just keep up the hard work," he told the third year as the Slytherins scored again. "There's not much we can do without Ginny." She nodded and went to contest Strickland's flight towards Ron.

This was getting ugly. Without Ginny's leadership, the two younger girls were intimidated. Slytherin had great chasers, Harry knew that. And they were older and bigger than his thirteen-almost-fourteen and twelve-year-old chasers. Where was that snitch when he needed it?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

An hour had passed since Ginny's removal to St. Mungo's. Severus was frustrated; the score was closer than it should have been, thanks to Weasley's keeping abilities. Severus had to admit that the boy had come a long way since fifth year. A chorus from "Weasley is our king," filled the stadium, the Gryffindor supporters belting it out. Dean was even humming it into the microphone.

"And with Zabini's last score, it's 300-240, Slytherin!" Dean announced. Slytherin was only sixty points ahead. Harry called a time-out, gathering his team together. Again, the three captains started chewing out their beaters. Severus couldn't really remember any instances when the beaters had bungled a play. Then again, with the exception of Ginny and Harry, he couldn't remember any hits or near misses either. The beaters pleaded their cases to their captains, just as frustrated as the three seventh years.

"Minerva, have you noticed anything strange with the beaters?" Severus asked thoughtfully.

"Not really, they haven't really impacted the game," she answered, a frown on her face. "Even with Miss Weasley's absence, I'll point out, you're only up 60 points."

"True," he agreed. "Weasley is playing well. I wonder what has our captains so angry then." She nodded, having noticed it as well. Hooch blew her whistle and the teams took off. This time Severus watched the beaters, knowing that Minerva was as well. That sixth sense was warning him that something was wrong with this game. Nearly every time a beater went to hit a bludger it would suddenly change course out of their reach. When they did manage to make contact, the bludger wouldn't keep to its intended course, making it impossible to attack the other team.

"Bludgers don't act like that," Minerva commented softly, thoughtfully as if she was thinking out loud. Severus nodded. Harry tried to call another time-out but with the time-out charged to Gryffindor for Ginny's injury and the recent one, he couldn't. He swerved in front of Sephra, speaking with her. Her face grew pale as Harry continued. She called the time-out for Harry, who sped toward the teacher's bleacher.

"Something is up with one of the bludgers," he told them breathlessly. "Sloper and Kirke were both sure that they've been tampered with, so I 'felt' them. One of them has a definitely evil 'feel' about it, but I'm pretty sure that both of them have been tampered with."

"Which one has the evil reverberations?" Severus asked, looking past Harry's shoulder. Harry turned around, searching for the elusive balls.

"It's not that one," he said, pointing off to the right. "It's that--" His jaw dropped as the rogue bludger hit Ron smack in the back of his head. "--One," he finished softly, zooming off towards his friend. Severus and Minerva hurried after him, trying to get there as fast as dignity would allow. Severus crouched down next to the boy, and watched as a spider web-like design spread across his face. Could that be poison seeping through the boy's veins?

"Is this the same thing that happened to his sister?" he asked Minerva quickly. She nodded. "This is not good. They've been poisoned."

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Harry walked through the small crowd in St. Mungo's waiting room, ignoring the stares and comments directed toward him. Dumbledore had finally agreed to let Hermione and him travel to the hospital. With Remus and Volker they wove through the crowd to the stairs and climbed up to the floor where the twins had spent all of April and part of May fighting for their lives. Mrs. Weasley was sitting next to Bill who was holding her hand. George had an arm around his mother, Fred reaching in front of his twin to hold her other hand. Charlie sat in another grouping of chairs, idly flipping through a Quidditch magazine, his eyes watching his mother carefully. Two Aurors stood at each end of the hallway, but Harry didn't know any of them.

Mrs. Weasley looked up as they entered, her eyes red with tears. Harry walked over to her as she stood to greet them and hugged her. She was surprised at first, but then clung to her seventh son, crying yet again. Finally she pulled away and hugged Hermione, who wasn't crying but looked close to it. When they parted, a few tears made their way down her cheeks.

"Professor Snape wanted me to tell you that he's already isolated the poison from the surface of the bludger. Some Aurors are trying to find out how they were tampered with." The Weasleys all nodded at Harry's words. "Professor Snape will be here soon to work with Healer Lemon on the antidote. He says it's just a variation of a known poison, so the antidote won't be hard to figure out." Bill hugged his fiancée, Melissa, relief smoothing the worry that had been on his face. "How are they doing?"

"Lemon told us an hour ago that they were hanging in there just fine," Charlie answered, his voice soft.

Hermione sagged in relief, Harry catching her before her knees gave out. Helping her to the chair next to Charlie, Harry felt his own fears lessen. It had been a long afternoon and evening, with no news from St. Mungo's and arguing with the Headmaster. In the end it had taken Hermione's strangled cry of, "If they die, I want to be there so they don't die without us!" before Dumbledore had relented, arranging a portkey for them and the small guard up to the hospital rooms. Harry took the seat on Hermione's other side and waited.

There was very little talking, a few calm and reassuring words or a report from a Healer was all that was said. Remus sat on Melissa's other side and picked up "Werewolf Weekly" pretending to read. Harry knew that Remus was really there as the Order's guard and contact. Volker had returned to Hogwarts to report in to Thia and Dumbledore. A short time later, Snape arrived. He paused before entering Ron and Ginny's room and looked back at Mrs. Weasley.

"I'll take good care of them, Molly," he said briskly, shutting the door behind him. Mrs. Weasley nodded, seeming to lose some of her fear. Snape was not a person to go back on his word, not willingly anyway.

Hermione looked at Harry and mouthed, "Uncle Severus." Harry smiled remembering all the times Ginny had said that. At least they knew what was wrong with Ginny and Ron. Harry didn't think he'd be able to be able to sit here without that knowledge.

"Mum?" a hoarse voice said from one end of the hallway. Harry looked up and stood quickly, a hand on his wand. The Weasley brothers, Remus, and Hermione did the same; Mrs. Weasley just sat there stunned. The once impeccably dressed and groomed Percy Weasley stood between two Aurors, his robes ill-fitting and hair a mess. He even had a shadow of a beard. A little put off by this welcome, he walked forward, his head held high. He handed Remus a note. Remus read it and then handed it to Bill. "I'm sorry, Mum," Percy finally said, after standing in front of his mother for a few silent moments.

She stood and hugged her wayward son. He whispered something else to her, and after giving him a penetrating look, she smiled up at him. As she sat back down, Percy turned to face the rest of the family.

"I hope you know just what you did to Mum and Dad," Bill told his younger brother stiffly. "And to Ginny and our brothers." Percy nodded remorsefully in return.

"Ten months and one day in Azkaban gives a man a lot of time to think," Percy replied. "I was a git."

"Don't be so nice to yourself," George said angrily.

"You were the world's biggest Prat," Fred informed his brother.

"I was," Percy agreed. "But I couldn't go back to you guys after finding out I was wrong; I'm not one that willingly admits that. I hope you'll be able to forgive me." The Weasley boys were silent for a long moment. Finally Harry shifted, and moved forward to stand next to the older man.

"Ginny forgave you a long time ago," he told Percy. "So do I. I don't want to see the greatest family in the world lose another member." He put his hand out for Percy to shake.

"I was particularly rude to you," Percy admitted. "I am sorry for that."

"Forgive and forget," Harry said, his hand still out. Percy looked at it afraid it was a trick. Finally he took it, hesitantly, and they shook. "But if you ever cause our family, your family that much pain again, I'm going to hunt you down." Percy nodded grimly, understanding in his eyes.

"Dad was willing to forgive you," Charlie finally said, stepping next to his younger brother. "So am I, but I second Harry's threat."

"Us too," Fred and George said, shaking Percy's hand. "But it might be a while 'til you lose the status as number one target for our pranks and products," George finished. Percy nodded, a slight smile on his face. Bill finally nodded, not saying anything to his brother. They shook hands, Percy looking more relieved. Hermione moved to talk to Percy.

"I'm not sure if Ron will be this forgiving," she said softly. "Not only did you upset your mum, disrespect your dad, and ignore your family, you insulted his best mate. Harry has a forgiving nature, Ron doesn't, and you said some very nasty things in that letter about both your family and Harry." She stopped to sigh. "I'm not sure if I'm able to forgive you either. I watched what you did to this family, and I'm not sure ten months was long enough punishment for the anguish you caused. I will tolerate you and try to forget at least." Percy nodded, understanding her completely.

"Thank you for that much," he finally said. "How are they? They just released me on Thursday and I just found out about it. I don't know if I would have ever gotten together enough courage to come apologize otherwise. I couldn't even make myself visit Dad," he finished quietly, the others straining to hear his confession.

"How did you get sorted into Gryffindor?" George asked honestly.

"I've got the courage to do almost anything," Percy answered. "But I knew what I had done to my family and I couldn't live with myself because of it. I couldn't face you all knowing that. But I had to be here... I found out they were poisoned, but I don't know anything else. Dumbledore wouldn't tell me anything."

"How did you find out?" Harry asked, perplexed.

"Haven't you read the Evening Prophet?" Percy asked in return. Everyone shook their heads. "It made the front page. Two students poisoned when Dumbledore and Commander Black are at Hogwarts is big news, particularly when they're Harry Potter's best mate and girlfriend."

"They aren't dating," Fred said, his voice filled with regret. Harry had come to the conclusion that the twins had wanted him to marry Ginny only so that they could officially prank him as their 'little brother' and for no other reason than that.

"Actually, we are," Harry corrected. "Well, kinda. Not really. It's hard to explain."

"They're working out a few things before going public," Hermione explained as if to prove Harry wrong. "Not that everyone hasn't guessed." Harry smiled ruefully. She had a point.

"Since when?" George asked, getting nosy as he tended to do.

"Wednesday night," Harry answered, but before the conversation could continue, Healer Lemon asked to see Bill and Mrs. Weasley. When they returned Bill was chewing on his lip and Mrs. Weasley just looked straight ahead.

"They didn't realize that Ron's allergic to Sneezewort," Bill finally explained. "It's a major ingredient in the antidote. They're trying to work around it, but they only have a week before things turn drastic."

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"Harry, you need to go back," Remus argued late Sunday night. "Classes start again tomorrow and you need to attend them."

"Sod classes," Harry responded. "Ron and Ginny are in there slowly dying. I'm not leaving them!"

"They're fine," Hermione assured him. "Professor Snape and Healer Lemon are working on the antidote for Ginny as we speak."

"What about Ron?" Harry asked, lashing out at Hermione. "Doesn't he mean anything to you? Or is he just my sidekick? Or someone for you to snog?"

"Harry!" Hermione yelled back, tears in her eyes. "You know very well that I love Ron, so don't you even say that! But you won't do them any good staying here and pacing a hole in this floor."

"And going to school will help them how exactly!" Harry shouted back.

"You will learn what you need to so that you can win against You-Know-Who," Percy said, coming up behind Harry. "When they're ready to give Ginny the potion, I'm sure Professor Dumbledore will let you come to be here for her. Same for Ron, but you need to go to school."

"Fight the battles you can win," Hermione agreed. The other Weasleys in the room nodded.

Harry turned his back on them, trying to calm down and think logically. He sat on the floor and ran through his Occlumency drills, slowing his breathing and heart rate. They were right, of course. School served one purpose: To get the Chosen One ready for his fight. His shoulders sagged, why did everything have to hang on that one fact. His friends were one of the few things in his life that didn't. They were around first, before he knew what he had to do.

What would Harry do if they died and he wasn't here? They deserved the vigil he wanted to keep. Through thick and thin they had been there for him. Even when things had not been good between Harry and Ginny, he knew that when things went wrong, Ginny had been there. He looked down at his hand with the ring on it. It was glowing. Not the ring, but his hand. The strange aura Ginny had told him about.

"What's the matter, Harry?" Hermione asked, squatting down to look him in the eyes.

"Nothing," he said, turning to face away from her. "I'm just tired. Let's go."

"Right, and Ron's vocabulary is as innocent as an angel's," Hermione scoffed. "Why don't you want to leave?"

"They're dying in there, Hermione, dying," Harry choked out. "And you want me to go to school and pretend they're just fine, that nothing's the matter. Who cares that my first friend ever was poisoned and neither Snape nor Lemon knows how to heal him! Who cares that Ginny, the most unbelievable woman in the world, is dying and we've barely had a chance to get to know one another. Six years isn't enough time to spend with the people you love most! I can't do that. I can't pretend to not care."

"I'm not asking you to," Hermione assured him. She continued with a mischievous smile and a laugh in her voice, "I'm asking you to go to classes so that you can help Ron get caught up. I'll be busy helping Ginny by then. I'm not stupid enough to let you tutor her!" The twins laughed at the hidden implications, the other brothers just rolling their eyes. "And I'm not stupid enough to let just me tutor Ron."

Harry harrumphed, but nodded. "I'm sorry for what I said before, I didn't mean it," he apologized.

"I know, you were just lashing out at the first thing to cross your path," Hermione assured him. "Please, you need to come to school. Classes will be bad without Ron and you."

"You would still go, even if we could stay?" Harry asked, amazed.

"Someone's going to have to tutor you boys, and it always ends up being me," Hermione replied with a wry grin. "Stop being a stubborn fool, and just come back. You can tell me what's really bothering you later."

"You never give up," Harry said, standing up with a sigh. "Alright, let's go before I change my mind."

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Author's Note: Huge thanks to all of you who reviewed last time. I really don't have a lot of time to thank you all, but I really did appreciate it. I figured you'd rather have Chapter 19 than wait for a time when I can do a proper chapter response.

Chapter 20 is called "Enigma Solved" and has many interesting revelations in it. I'm really looking forward for the next several chapters...

Later,

Ioci the eternally busy