Love, War and Friendship - The Wizarding Way

Told From Harry's POV

I wish I'd had a camera and could have captured the looks on the Dursley's faces as Lupin and I catapulted out of the electric fireplace onto the white-carpeted floor of the living room. Uncle Vernon was furious. I was positive that he would have thrown me out if Lupin hadn't raised his wand, pointed it at him and told him we were going to be staying until I caught the Hogwarts Express back to school. Then he marched me up to my bedroom to deposit my things.

"Thanks for that," I tell him as I take a seat on my bed. "I hate it here. Are you sure I couldn't go some place else? Say with the Weasley's or -"

"The Finnigan's?" Lupin stops pacing to look at me.

I nod.

Lupin sighs. "Harry right now the most important thing to us is your safety and here unfortunately is the safest place for you. I'm sorry if it puts a crimp in your love life."

I blush. "You heard that huh?"

Lupin smiles. "I think everyone did," he tells me gently.

I shrug trying to get over my embarrassment. It was just Lupin. "I guess it wasn't really a secret anyway."

"She'll be fine," he says almost reading my mind.

"Yah she'll be just fine with Dean trying to stick his tongue down her throat every five seconds," I mutter looking at my hands while Lupin's looks on in amusement.

"Does Dean - uh - like Hermione?" he asks finally.

"I dunno."

"If she really does love you, Harry, Dean won't be able to change her mind."

I didn't answer for awhile contemplating his words. I supposed he was right. "I know," I say. "I'd just like some good news for once."

Lupin's face changes and he appears a little nervous. "Would you?" he asks.

"Yah, why do you have some?"

Lupin reaches into his cloak pocket and pulls out a packet of papers. Handing them over to me he looks a little white.

"What are these?" I ask as I look over them. They're official looking documents that have come from the Ministry that much I can tell.

"They're - uh - papers stating that I am now your legal guardian," he tries to smile at me.

I stare at the papers in shock, not sure what to feel. "You've adopted me?"

"No, unfortunately I couldn't do that but I have however received custody of you which is pretty much the same thing. Do you - do you mind?" he says in an anxious rush.

"Mind?" I repeat, a smile coming to my face.

"I know I'm not Sirius and can't replace him but it might be nice for you to have a place where you belonged and I thought I could give you that place. Of course if you would rather stay with the Dursley's I can -"

"Lupin!" I cut in loudly. "I'm glad. It's the best news I've heard in awhile!"

The nervousness disappears from his face and a huge grin breaks free. "It's Remus now," he tells me ruffling my hair a little.

"Thanks Remus," I say seriously.

Sirius had been my godfather and had been the closest thing to an actual parent but since he'd died I was still glad to have gotten Lupin instead.

***

Told From Hermione's POV

I think Seamus's house is in Ireland. Everything outside the window looks different. How long will it take an owl to get from here to Harry? My heart aches for him. He must be having an awful time at the Dursley's. I wish either Ron or I could have gone with him.

"Mum," I hear Seamus saying. "This is Hermione Granger and of course you know Lavender."

Mrs. Finnigan nodded at Lavender and smiled at me. "Harry Potter's girlfriend is that right?"

I blush as she pats me lightly on the head while Dean and Seamus exchange confused glances.

"Well you'll see him soon enough," she tells me. "Now we'll be having tea at four and I trust Seamus and Mr. Thomas will show you your rooms and help you get settled in." She smiles again before walking away.

"Here," Dean takes my things. "I'll show you to your room." I see Seamus is doing the same for Lavender but I guess we're not sharing a room since he's taking her down a different hallway than the one Dean's leading me through.

The Finnigan's house is huge. It's filled with long winding stairways that lead to millions of different rooms. I don't know how I'm ever going to find my way around here. Why did I come here? I guess they wanted me to be with Lavender but then why didn't we go with her parents? Did she request this? I mean I could have gone back home to my parents, I haven't seen them in ages.

Dean pulls open a door and drops my trunk on the ground by the wall. "This is your room," he says standing aside so I can walk in. The room, to my distaste is completely pink and white from the bedspread to the closet doors.

"It's - er - ... great," I try to say with the enthusiasm I lacked.

"I'm right across the hall from you," he says excitedly, grinning widely.

"Oh," I say and seeing the hurt look on his face I quickly add, "That's great Dean."

He takes a seat on the fluffy pink bed, looking completely out of place and I don't know how to ask him to leave.

"So where's Lavender's room?" I ask trying to ignore his hand beckoning for me to come sit on the bed beside him. As an excuse not to I open my trunk and begin to hang my close in the closet.

"It's over in the left by Seamus's room."

I wrinkle my nose up, my back facing Dean. Was this supposed to be some sort of set up?

Dean's gotten up off the bed to supposedly help me put things in the closet. I smile my thanks and hand him a pair of jeans to put in the dresser. I frown as he throws them to the ground. I expect him to pick them up again, must have accidentally dropped them but instead he pulls me closer and suddenly he's kissing me. I didn't kiss him back but pushed him away violently.

"What was that for?" I whisper my heart crying out for Harry.

***

Told From Ginny's POV

"This is it," I say as I show Draco to Fred and George's old room. He'd have it all to himself since Fred had gone straight back to the joke shop despite Mum's failed attempts at convincing him to spend a few days with us. I think he needs some time to himself. The Burrow would only remind him of the hundreds of memories he has with George.

Draco looked around with an odd look on his face. He swept his hand over the desk and I blushed embarrassedly at the amount of dust that floated up.

"You don't like it."

"Of course I like it. It's just different that's all."

"Well it's not the manor you're used to."

"No," he replies with a smile. "It's ten times better because you grew up here."

I grin up at him in surprise. Who would have ever thought Draco Malfoy could be so sweet?

He's about to kiss me when a knock at the door startles us both.

"Hey," Ron says glumly, kicking things out of the way so he could walk over to us.

"Hi," I say gently glaring at Draco who was giving Ron an irritated look. "Is something wrong?"

He takes a long time to answer, gazing around at all the failed experiments and works in progress covering almost every spare surface.

"Yah," he sighs finally, looking more depressed than he's been for awhile. "Loads."

"Do you want to tell me about it?" I ask giving his hand a friendly squeeze.

"Not with him here," he says pointing at Draco. I sigh. Don't be such a baby Ron I wanted to say. For some reason ever since Draco had changed sides Ron's dislike for him had heightened rather than diminished.

"Draco would you mind?" I make a motion to the door.

"Oh fine," he complains hotly. "What am I supposed to do if you kick my out of my room?"

"Go help Mum," I tell him annoyed at his childishness. "Cook, put on tea, clean, I don't care."

Draco glowers at Ron before leaving huffily.

"This better be important Ron," I say quietly.

"You know how Dumbledore said that You-Know-Who would manage to separate friends and pit us all against each other?" he asks.

"Vaguely."

"Well it's happening, Ginny. Look at us. George's gone for good, Fred doesn't even want to look at us anymore, you're going off with that - that Malfoy," he spat out Draco's name angrily. "Harry and Hermione get farther away from all of us everyday. We fought so much this summer, all of us. I wish things could just go back to the way they used to be before things got all complicated."

I laugh softly, watching his miserable face sadly. "Ron that's not You-Know-Who's doing. That's called growing up."

"I'd like to stop now then thanks," he murmurs, idly picking up one of George's sweater's Mum had knit him.

"Don't be ridiculous," I say taking the sweater away and shoving it in a drawer. "Things'll get better soon enough. You've just got to make the most of what is."

Ron smiles slightly but his eyes were still distant. "How'd you get to be so wise?"

"Someone had to. Look who I have for brothers," I joke. "Ron you're feeling this way because of George but you'll get over it soon and things won't seem so horrible."

"I guess," he sighs. "Sorry for kicking Malfoy out of your little love nest."

"You're not."

A genuine smile graces Ron's face. "You're right. I loved it."

***

Told From Harry's POV

"I have one question," I say to Lupin during our tenth card game up in my room. We both thought it best if we stayed out of the Dursleys' way for awhile.

"Yes?" Lupin asks putting an eight on top of my five and absently muttering, "Hearts."

"Arg you just had to do that," I begin picking up cards. "If I'm now in your custody why are we here? Couldn't we go to your place?"

"Dumbledore is in the process of invoking magic's strong enough to protect you with there. But keep in mind - aha I win again," he exclaims setting down his last card in triumph. "It does take a long time to do so. Perhaps at Christmas you'd like to visit?"

"Move," I correct as I begin to shuffle the cards again.

Lupin grins. "Yes that's right."

It was actually quite a lot of fun to have Lupin around like this. At the beginning of summer break he had always been down in the basement with all the other wizards doing things for the Order, I rarely saw him. I was quickly reminded how Lupin had been one of my favourite adults. Aside from Sirius probably was. Sirius, I thought with a jolt. Wasn't it a little like betraying him to be so happy that I had a new guardian? No my godfather would want me to be happy.

"Worrying about Hermione again?" Lupin asks. I must have looked a little agitated.

"Uh - yah," I agree. No need to mention Sirius at all. It was a subject Lupin and I had avoided almost since his death. It was awkward for both of us to discuss the fresh pain of his death.

"Nothing to worry about, Harry. Dean Thomas, though a wonderful boy in himself just doesn't compare to you." Lupin takes the cards from my hands and begins to deal them out.

"At least there's no chance of him getting her killed," I mutter.

"What's that?"

"Nothing," I say picking up my pile of cards. "So -"

I was cut off by the sounds of muffled shouting from downstairs. Lupin and I exchanged a fleeting look before bolting down the stairs.

Uncle Vernon (the source of the shouting) and Aunt Petunia stood in front of the door looking both furious and terrified while Dudley seemed quite enthralled by whoever was standing before them.

"Sir, you don't understand I must see him. The -"

"YOU CAN'T SEE HIM BECAUSE THERE IS NO HARRY POTTER AT THIS HOUSE! DO YOU HEAR ME?" Uncle Vernon shouted loud enough so the even the last house on the block would be able to hear. I pushed him aside disgustedly, having to avoid a smack in the head as a response.

"I'm here," I say. "What can I -"

"Harry Potter!" came a thrilled voice from a petite, pale skinned girl, whose robes were torn every which way. "Harry Potter I have come all the way from-" she falters slightly trying to catch her breath. I step back to let her come in.

"Please tell me what can I do for you?" I ask anxiously. She looks as though she's been through hell and back.

"I needed to warn you," she starts again stumbling over the porch step, into the house. She grabs tightly onto my arm.

"About what?" I'm now very alarmed.

"There is a plan, a dangerous plan that involves you." The girl keels over, clutching her stomach. "You must - the Dark Lord is - Harry Potter," she struggles to speak.

"Yes?" I hope I'm not sounding impatient.

She looks up into my eyes, her's just as startling blue as mine were green. "The Dark Lord," she utters for the last time dropping to the ground in a faint.

***

Told From Hermione's POV

"But your owl," Dean stares at me in confusion, rubbing his lower lip with his hand. "You said there was nothing between you and Harry!"

"So that just gives you permission to just maul me like that?" I snap, crossing my arms tightly in front of my chest.

"Hermione I'm sorry I didn't mean to make you mad," he says taking a step towards me. I instantly step back.

"I thought you wanted it. I mean you act like you do. And the owl-"

"All I said was it would be nice to hang out once we got to Hogwarts. That doesn't imply I want to make out with you the first chance we get!" Hot tears spread to my eyes. I'd always liked Dean. He was nice, kept to himself a lot but always there if someone needed him.

"But you came here," he says still bewildered by my reaction. "You came here instead of going with Harry. I thought that meant something."

"Dean I came here because Mr. Weasley told me to!" I shout angrily. "If I had a choice I would be with Harry right now."

Dean's face quickly changes from bewildered to hurt. "You are one complicated chick," he sighs before heading out the door.

"Wait Dean," I call after him. "I didn't - that was mean. I'm sorry."

Dean shrugs, trying to look cool but I can tell he's still kind of hurt. "It's alright. Seamus warned me this might happen."

"What might happen?"

"You and Harry."

His name shoots a pang of longing through my heart. His big green eyes looking at me so surprised when I'd said I loved him. It was a relief to finally admit the one thing I'd been holding in for so long.

"Me and Harry aren't really me and Harry," I say after awhile. He looks at me imploringly.

"But you care about him?"

"Yes," I say in a small voice.

"But you still lead me on even though you cared so much for him?"

I glare at him. "I didn't think being bored out of your mind in an ice cream shop was flirting."

Dean's eyes widen angrily. "You're not worth this, Hermione," he tells me icily. "You're just a tease." He stalks off into his room and slams the door.

"I am not!" I say slamming my own door. Gee this trip was turning out to be just a whole load of laughs. Although I felt sort of bad for Dean considering what he said wasn't entirely untrue. I sigh and buried my face in the hot pink pillow.

***

Told From Draco's POV

"Can I help you with something?" Mr. Weasley asks. I turn to find him seated in an easy chair ten feet away.

"No I'm just-"

"Trying to find a way to destroy my house?" his voice is sharp, which startles us both. "Sorry," he says sheepishly, looking away. "It's hard to remember you're good now."

I ignore the sarcastic emphasis he places on the word good.

"I know," I agree. "It's hard to remember that myself."

He gives me an odd look before gesturing to the purple armchair beside him. I walk over slowly and take a seat. We both sit in silence side by side: him...thinning I suppose and me staring boredly down at my shoes. It was a shame I hadn't gotten a chance to give them to Evelyn, our maid at the manor for a polish before I'd gotten myself kicked out.

"So," says Mr. Weasley finally. "Would you be kind enough to tell me what is going on between you and my daughter?" It sounded like a combination between a threat and a desperate plea. I guessed more of the latter because Ginny after all was his only daughter.

"I have nothing but good intentions, sir," I say in an unDraco like manner. Since Mr. Weasley had become not just Ron's father to me but also Ginny's I felt the need to impress him the way any proper boyfriend would, although technically we were not boyfriend and girlfriend.

"I believe that Draco," he says gently curbing some of my worry. "But I didn't ask if your intentions were pure. Does Ginny have feelings for you?" he's leaning forward in his chair and probably without realizing it is gripping the arm rest of my chair so tightly his knuckles have gone white.

"I think so," I whisper, hoping he's not going to attack me as his face color begins to match his hands.

"And do you?" he asks. "For her?"

"Do your really need to ask?" I say as I smile reassuringly.

Mr. Weasley breathes a sigh of relief. "I did think so. Honestly, you are a tad bit obvious. Remind me a little of Molly and I, you two," he smiles wistfully. "But-"

"Is this the part where you tell me as she's your only daughter you'll me if I break her heart?" I cut in eager to end the conversation. I had never been comfortable around adults but then can you blame me? Look who had been my primary example: Lucius Malfoy, a man willing to sacrifice any and everything for a little bit of power.

Mr. Weasley laughs faintly. "I'll leave that to Ron."

I grin at his words in spite of myself. So he had noticed what a bastard Ron was to me too.

"You mustn't blame him for it," he continues, patting his thinning hair as if he was searching for something inside his head. "Ron has had it tough. He's very protective of his sister and she him. Only a year apart they are. When they were little they quite resembled Fred and George-" his voice dies away at George's mention. He takes a noisy gulp of air.

"Draco do you know why he would do such a thing? Do you have any idea why one does or doesn't become a death eater?"

I don't answer for a moment. "Well," I start, awkwardly looking away. "Weakness."

"What?"

"It takes a very strong wizard to stand up to You-Know-Who so it makes sense that it takes an equally weak wizard to follow him," I reluctantly explain to Mr. Weasley's stricken face. "He was probably sought out by the Dark Lord because your family has always been so close to Harry."

Mr. Weasley sighs taking everything in. You could tell he blames himself for his son's transformation just as my own father did for my unwillingness to serve the Dark Lord.

"Thank you," he says squeezing my shoulder in a fatherly way. I feel oddly touched when an almost inhuman wail of pain interrupts my train of thought.

"Ginny!" I hear Ron yelp.

***

Told From Hermione's POV

Lavender listened carefully as I explained to her what happened with Dean.

"I'm not a tease am I?" I ask anxiously when I'm finished.

"No," Lavender laughs. "Not at all. You're just a very ... confusing person."

I smile, my mind more at ease. Lavender didn't think I'd done anything wrong. She said Dean could be a little psycho at times.

"It's my fault though," I persist. "I told him things with Harry were over."

"So?" Lavender shrugs. "That was what you believed. Dean'll get over it."

I was glad to have her to talk to. All right so she wasn't the most caring or sympathetic person in the world but she had a knack for making things a lot better than they originally appeared.

"Have you ever worn this?" Lavender exclaims giggling all the while as she held up a yellow undress she'd found rooting through my closet.

"Yes," I say hotly taking it from her. The downside to having a friend such as Lavender was the steady stream of comments about my hair and wardrobe.

"Can I ask you something?" I ask trying to get her attention back away from my clothing.

"Sure," she says closing the closet door and plopping down onto the white beanbag.

"Why am I here? I mean I could have just as easily gone home."

Lavender's face went blank as she stared down at her nails. "Because I ... I ... wanted you here."

I'm stunned. "Lav-"

"Don't let it get to your head," she interrupts speaking rapidly. "My parents are on some mission and Seamus and I are on the way out. I didn't want to be alone. I-" she stops when I squeeze her hand lightly.

"Hey," I say smiling. "I'm glad. I don't want to be alone either."

We fall into an awkward silence embarrassed by our sentimental display.

"So," I finally say. "Why are you and Seamus on your way out?"

Lavender grins, grateful for the change of subject. "He has no depth," she explains honestly.

I held back a snort. Lavender herself didn't have too much depth or maybe she did it was just hidden underneath her bubbly surface. But either way it was all a part of her charm.

"Don't laugh or anything," she says covering her face with her hands. "But I kinda like Ron."

"I knew it!" I squeal, sliding off the bed so I was sitting beside her.

"Do you think he knows?"

"Ron?" I laugh. "Yah right."

She looks out at me through the crack between her fingers, her violent tinted eyes full of curiosity. "Do you think he might like me?"

I decide not to answer this. I honestly don't know the answer and I don't want to either tarnish or raise her hopes. She'll have to figure this one out on her own. My love life is complicated enough; I don't want to get entangled in anyone else's.

Lavender sighs leaning her head against my shoulder. I patted her head gingerly thinking I now know how Ron feels every time I throw myself at him.

"I never thought he had very good taste in girls - present company excluded of course," she adds hastily casting a nervous look in my direction.

"He has an affinity for veela too."

"Yah," she agrees with a giggle obviously having been present during one of his and Fleur's horrible encounters. "And he can be mean sometimes. He was just awful to Padma Patil -" Lavender freezes looking horrified. "Hermione are Ginny and Draco going out?"

"Um I dunno?" I answer, caught off guard by the sudden question. "Why?"

"Well it's just - now I might be wrong about this but I think Parvati may have mentioned that her sister was seeing Malfoy."

"When did she say this?" I ask straining to keep myself from exploding hexes at the new "improved" Draco Malfoy.

"It was weeks ago. They might have broken up," Lavender tells me desperately.

"Do you know where the Finnigans' keep their owl?"

Lavender has become extremely nervous. "Yes," she says slowly. "Are you going to send an owl to Ginny?"

"No I'm going to send one to Malfoy."

***

Told From Harry's POV

I wet a cloth and sponge it gently over the unknown girl's forehead. Lupin and I had, against the Dursleys' wishes moved her to the couch where she still lay out cold.

"Will she be alright?" I ask.

Lupin holds her wrist lightly. "Her pulse is weak," he says. "No doubt she's made a long journey. I'd guess she's suffering from lack of sleep and proper nourishment but I'm not a doctor mind you." He pulls a slab of chocolate from his robes. Dudley eyes it eagerly. I'm surprised he's still here. Usually he runs and hides from any unknown witches or wizards. Come to think of it he's goggling at her rather oddly. I wonder if -

"Is she a veela?"

Lupin frowns down at the limp girl fro a moment before shaking his head. "Can't be." He pushes the chocolate towards me. "When she wakes make sure she eats this, get her story and then come straight to me."

"Where are you going?"

"I have a few owls to return," he calls over his shoulder as he walks up the stairs presumably to use Hedwig. At least I didn't think Lupin owned his own owl.

The girl stirred slightly under my touch. I watched her carefully comparing her to all the other veela I'd seen. She wasn't blonde but then that didn't necessarily mean anything. She was slim without an exceptional figure but she had this aura about her that I couldn't quite put my finger on. I could hear Dudley panting from behind me. Lupin must be wrong.

She stirred again. Blinking at me fearfully she jumped to her feet.

"What am I doing here?" she whispers, drawing her torn robes closer to her body. She moves away frantically as I offer her the chocolate like I poisoned it.

"You came here twenty minutes ago," I tell her, confused. "You asked to see me, said something about the Dark Lord and then collapsed."

Her face pales. I'm afraid she might faint again as she sways unsteadily on her feet.

"Don't lie," her voice trembles. "I did no such thing."

"But you did!" I insist as she tries to push past me. Stumbling, she lands at my feet, her tears creating a puddle around my shoes.

"What's your name?" I ask softly bending down to her level.

"Ravey."

"I'm Harry Potter," I brush my hair away to show her the legendary scar.

"I know," she sobs.

"Can you tell me how or why you got here?"

"I don't know!" Ravey cries and then in a scared, much quieter voice, "I don't remember."

I turn to Dudley. He's still staring at Ravey in deep fascination. "Dudley," I command. "Go up to my room and get Lupin."

"I don't want to," he says sulkily crossing his arms over his chubby chest.

"Now!" I snap brandishing my wand. Dudley whimpers before scampering off upstairs. Lupin appears alone moments later.

"What is it Harry?" he asks calmly giving Ravey a friendly smile.

"She doesn't remember how she got here."

A look of dread crosses his face. "Her fall could have given her temporary memory loss perhaps?"

"I caught her before she hit the ground," I say. "Could it be a memory charm?"

He shakes his head. "All memory charms work instantaneously. She had her memory when she arrived."

Ravey, who had been watching us both anxiously slowly pulled a silver pendant from her neck. Lupin's eyes widened.

"Where did you get that?"

Ravey immediately shoved it back into her robes as if she expected Lupin or I to take it away from her. "It's a family heirloom. My grandmother was half veela."

I shoot a triumphant smile Lupin's way but he isn't paying any attention of to me he's looking at Ravey intently.

"That should have protected you," he says. "It could only take a very strong spell to override protection such as that."

"The boy," Ravey hesitates. "Said I mentioned t-the Dark Lord."

Lupin's face tightened. "I'll get Dumbledore."

***

Told From Ginny's POV

Everything's blurry. I can barely see five feet in front of me. There are flashes of light everywhere. My head's about to burst from all the light and the noise. It's like the whole worlds talking at once in my ear.

"Ohh," I moan, shutting my eyes tightly and clamping my hands down hard over my ears as I stumble forward an unseen force pushing me. It was always like this: the excruciating pain all for several seconds of information that rarely helped.

"Ginny," a soft voice whispers.

I open my eyes to find I'm in an unknown village. It's small but quaint. A Muggle village, I think spotting a few street lamps. Why am I here? They have never taken me out of the wizarding world.

"Where do I go?" I ask. There weren't any signs of movement anywhere. Please don't tell me You-Know-Who's attacked; I think looking anxiously for a welcome sign. Where was I?

In the blink of an eye I'm inside the rickety old mansion I'd seen at the far end of the road. An evil laugh erupts throughout the house.

"The plan has worked better than I ever dreamed." The voice chills my soul causing me to pause outside the lighted room.

"Why?" a familiar voice weeps. "Why Hermione?"

"She died because you loved her," the other voice says. "And because she was a filthy Mudblood."

I freeze, knowing the scene that lies before me. I can hear Harry's deafening sobs and the high laughter of who else but Lord Voldemort. I don't want to see but for some reason I feel I have to. Pulling the door open I catch a glimpse of a limp Hermione cradled in a grief stricken Harry's arms. I gasp in shock to see Draco, Ron and I cowering in the corner, a girl I didn't recognize lying dead beside us. Was it Lavender?

I want to see more but I'm jerked away in a swirling cloud of grey.

"No," I whisper. "Please I need to know what happened. Take me back!"

"There is still more," a matronly woman materializes in front of me. "We haven't much time. They are trying to awaken you on the other side."

"Please tell me how I can prevent this," I beg her, grabbing at her cloak so she can't disappear on me. "Is there any way?"

The woman pauses stroking my cheek gently. "The future is a complicated thing my child. No matter what you do the end result will never change. The fates can not be tampered with."

"But-"

"Shh."

She takes my hand and together we step out of the cloud onto the Hogwarts grounds. It looks as if it's late at night possibly in late October (I can see the pumpkin's looming in Hagrid's garden). Two silhouettes stand about a hundred feet away fro me. Squinting I can make out two blonde heads.

"Who is that?" I ask turning to the woman but she has long gone, leaving only a pile of purple dust.

I run towards the two.

"You'll carry through with it," the girl says. I recognize her as Parvati Patil, a fellow Gryffindor although her haughty tone sounds nothing like Parvati, who has always seemed much like Lavender: dimwitted but kind.

"You will rejoin us," she continues placing a hand on the boy's arm. He recoils in response. "Because you are a Slytherin. You know power is what you want. It's in your blood."

"Being a Slytherin doesn't dictate who I am," the boy says angrily.

I stumble backward in surprise. It was Draco.

"You'd give up on all this - your family, your true friends, your calling - all for the love of some silly little girl?" Parvati looks disgusted. "She's brainwashed you."

Draco doesn't answer but this time he lets her pull him closer. I want to yank them apart but even if I tried nothing would happen. They were only a reflection of what was to come.

"We were only together a god damn week," he hisses shoving her against the side of the school. Parvati let out a low laugh.

"That's right. I'd forgotten about the night you betrayed everyone who ever helped you and went running to Potter, the wonder child." Parvati rolled her eyes. "You know why I was sent here, Draco. Is there anything I can do to tempt you to come back to us?"

"Patil," he warns.

"Come on. You know you want to," she says and without waiting for his answer pulls him into a kiss.

***

Told From Ron's POV

"Ginny!" I cry out as she screams in pain. I grab hold of her knowing in moments she's going to fall, writhing like she's having a horrible seizure. Sure enough she soon begins to struggle in my arms letting out quiet yelps of anguish.

"Hush Gin," I whisper holding her tighter. Her cries subside at my voice, her body going slack. To see Ginny like this would scare many people but I was used to it. I'd been caring for her so long our bodies had become tuned to each other. I could feel an inkling of what she was going through, though the hurt in the back of my head was nothing compared to hers. I remained the only one with the power to pull her out of her own mind but ever since the return of You-Know-Who she insisted I let her See.

"What are you doing to her?" Malfoy shouts bursting into the room followed by Dad. He runs to her side attempting to tug her from me.

"Leave her," Dad snaps to Malfoy and I'm amazed when he listens, backing off a bit. "Ron what happened?"

I look away from his worried eyes back to Ginny's pale face. "She's fine Dad."

"She is not fine!" Malfoy argues though he makes no move to touch her.

"Ron what the hell happened?"

"I can't tell - alright," I relent at the furious glint in my father's eye. "Do you remember when Ginny was about five and she started getting those awful headaches that no doctor could find the cause of?"

"Yes," Dad nods slowly. "But they went away."

"No they didn't. Do you remember when you used to find me in Ginny's bed in the morning with her?"

Dad smiles, confused while Malfoy is glaring at the floor murderously.

"I was there because I stopped her pain. If I hugged her and prayed she'd come back somehow it stopped them."

"What are you talking about? Where did she go?" his voice has risen and he seems a tad hysterical.

"She'd get so scared seeing all that stuff. She didn't understand what it meant," I go on ignoring both Malfoy's and my Dad's confusion. "I figured it out first in my second year at Hogwarts. I told her she was lucky to have such a gift but she hated it. She wouldn't let me tell anyone."

Malfoy was the first to catch on. "Ginny's a Seer?"

"What?" Dad exclaims as I nod.

"She gets visions every once in awhile."

"Well this is great," Malfoy grins. I want to slap him. Nothing that caused Ginny this amount of pain was great. "She can help the Order with her visions."

"No!" I snap, careful not to disturb my sister, her head resting on my chest. "You don't understand. You can't change what is to come. That's why Ginny hates it so much. She Sees it before it happens but she can't stop it."

Dad looks positively green. He's staring at his daughter with dawning realization and concern.

"All these years," he murmurs. "You've kept this from us. Your mother and I always knew something was wrong but we just thought," his voice breaks. "She was ill."

"I'm sorry Dad," I say with regret at the glittering tears in his eyes. I would have said more but Ginny had started to flail wildly about.

"Ron is she ok?" They both crowd around me but I center my attention on Ginny, delving my mind into her unconscious mind.

"It's alright," I tell her, searching the inky blackness. "Don't fight it. Come home to me Ginny."

Something's wrong. She's still struggling and I can't find her.

"Ginny!" I cry into her mind. "Ginny, where are you?"

"Here," she says faintly, a light flickering in the darkness. "Let me go Ron there's more I need to See."

"No!"

The light is fading but I won't let her leave. I always worry of this, that someday she'll become lost within herself.

"Come back!" I shout again seizing her remaining light with all my strength.

"Ron." Someone's pulling gently at my shoulder. "Ron."

I blink. I'm back in Fred and George's bedroom with Ginny in my arms. She's staring at me fixedly.

"Ginny?" I whisper.

"Ron?" she closes her eyes tightly before reopening them. "Am I-"

"Home?" I nod.

She hugs me still unseeing of Dad and Malfoy, who are still huddled around us. "Thanks for bringing me back," she whispers into my shoulder. I can feel her body trembling, one of the aftershocks of her premonitions.

"I always will," I promise her. "No matter what."

***

Told From Ron's POV

"Ron I can't tell you how dangerous it was for you to keep something like that from me," Dad says to me as we close the door to leave Ginny and Draco alone. I hadn't wanted since she seemed kind of skitterish after her vision but Dad had insisted.

"I know," I agree. "But we really did have it under control. I've researched it loads."

Dad sighs. "And?"

"And there are many different types of Divinator's. Ginny is the rarest type of all. Some Seer's can chose when they would like to see the future with crystal balls or tea leaves, sometimes even dreams but Ginny's different. Her vision's come without warning and she has no control over them. At times she can't even come back to reality," I pause at Dad's sharp intake of breath. "That's where I come in. I'm her Keeper."

"The closest person to her heart," Dad whispers. "The only one who can retrieve her from her self-conscious mind."

"You know?" I ask surprised but pleased.

Dad shrugs. "I've come across a few Seer's in my time. You're lucky it was you and not one of the twins who became her Keeper," he says with some relief treading over the subject that had bothered me for awhile.

"That's the thing. Ginny can only have one Keeper. If I'm replaced -" I shudder at the thought. It had taken years to learn how to get inside my sister's mind. As her visions increased with strength as they had been doing, it was harder and harder to pull her out.

"Draco," Dad murmurs almost too himself.

I nod. "He'd never be able to handle it - good or evil."

"So that's why you've been so awful to him. You're afraid he'll become her Keeper."

"Yes. Well...and that I hate the slimy git."

Dad pats me on the back. "If you give him a chance he just might surprise you," he tells me.

"Malfoy?" I ask incredulously. "I think not."

Dad chuckles, shaking his head at me. "Trust me on this one, Ron."

"No there's something fishy about him," I argue but let the subject drop. I had more important things to do than argue over Malfoy with my father. "Do you think you could hook up that -" What was the word again. Ah yes - "Fellytone again?"

"Telephone," Dad corrects nodding. "Of course. You'd like to talk to Harry?"

"Yah."

I miss my best friend. I never really realize how lucky I am to have a friend like Harry until he's gone. I miss Hermione too but not in the same way. Things between us had forever changed. Not in a bad way, they'd just altered. She no longer held my complete trust and it would take awhile before she regained it. But I honestly hoped that she and Harry would get together although it stung a bit when she'd just announced to the world that she loved him. Fred had taken it far worse. He must have liked her just as much as I had if not more. I still couldn't put my finger on what had drawn us all to her this summer. She was pretty in a nondistracting way but that wasn't it. Maybe it was the way she cared for us or her intelligence.

"I'll have it ready by tomorrow morning," he tells me gently pulling me away from my trance. "For now there's always owls."

"Thanks Dad."

I sigh and walk back up to Ginny's room. I think they've had enough time for whatever private moment they needed. I didn't like leaving her alone with that guy. Who knew what he might try?

***

Told From Draco's POV

"So you wanted to ... talk?" I ask nervously. Ginny seems a little crazed, her eyes are wildly searching mine and every time I reached out to touch her she backed away. Had she seen something about me in her vision?

"Yah," she says wrapping her arms around herself in a tight hug. "When I was in my -er- vision I ... well ... Draco do you -"

She was interrupted by a loud squawking owl that hurtled through the window and landed on my shoulder.

"Do you mind?" Ginny snaps irritably at the bird, which was trying to nip at my ear. As soon as I pulled the letter from his leg he soared off again ducking dangerously at Ginny's head.

"Just a sec," I tell her ignoring the furious look on her face as I open the letter.

The writing's messy and scrawled every which way on the paper but what it says freezes me.

"What's wrong?" Ginny asks. I wordlessly hand the letter over to her.

Draco Malfoy I can't believe you! How dare you do this to Ginny when you're going out with Padma Patil! I should have known you hadn't changed a bit. Now you better tell her what's going on or I'm going to write to both her and Padma!

~Hermione Granger

Ginny's face color drained.

"It's not what you think!" I quickly rush to explain. "Padma and I -"

"Were only together for a week," she finishes softly.

"What?" I ask, confused. "How did you know that?"

Ginny doesn't answer me but sits down on the bed, rocking herself back and forth. She looks miserable.

"I Saw it," she whispers finally. "You and - and her. You kissed her."

"But I thought Seer's could only see the future?"

"That's right," she nods, a distant look in her eyes.

Oh no.

"Ginny no I wouldn't do that." I'm scared. The night I'd been kicked out they'd all been there: the Patils, the Goyles, Crabbes, Parkinson's, everyone. I had told them all I wanted nothing to do with any of them ever again. Padma included. I wouldn't kiss her, not when I had Ginny. Not ever.

"But you would," she says softly. "I've never been wrong. You'll kiss her because you want her more than me. Hermione's right you haven't changed." She keeps her dignity and doesn't cry like I know Hermione would in this situation. But of course Hermione would never get herself involved with a guy like me so she would never have to deal with this.

"Ginny," I beg dropping down on my knees. "I could never want anyone as much as I want you. Don't you see? I've never wanted anyone for anything nice. I've always wanted people for what I could use them for but you - Ginny I want you for who you are."

Ginny trembles slightly but kept her head held high. "That may be true but it still doesn't change the fact that you would kiss her and I can't just stand around and wait for it to happen."

"What are you saying?" I feel as if someone's hands are squeezing my heart tightly and dumped a bucket of ice water over my head.

"It's over," she sniffs, disoriently getting up off the bed and walking to the door. "Whatever this was or could be it's over."

"What?" I gasp running over to her and pulling anxiously at her hand. "It was just a vision. I'll never go near Padma Patil ever again or I'll never leave your side how bout that? It doesn't have to happen. The future can change."

Ginny shakes her head, gently taking her hand back from me. "You can't alter the fates, Draco. The future is inevitable. Maybe you wouldn't kiss her right away but eventually you would."

"Maybe you didn't See it right. I could have pushed her away it's possible isn't it? Isn't it?"

"Draco," she sighs softly and I think I the shadow of regret in her eyes. I don't think she wants this. "Don't try to change my mind."

She leaves, walking quickly into her own room and slamming the door. I didn't know how to fix this. Maybe this time there was no way to fix it.