Drifting

Chapter 25: The Battles Have Only Just Begun

"Every time I get lost,

In a temperamental mood,

You still stay cool,

Just when I think that this life's about to drive me insane,

You take the reins,

Every time I feel like I'm drifting off course,

You're my compass,

You're my one true north,

In a mixed up world-"

Rascal Flatts, You

~*~

A jet of light hit Harry on the shoulder at the same time he shot the spell Impedo Glacialis. Harry's spell hit twenty-five of the Death Eaters, a new record for him. Harry never knew what spell hit him but the next thing he knew he was screaming in pain and there was a huge gash in his shoulder that looked like he had been stabbed by a sword.

At this point there were only fifty remaining Death Eaters and ninety Aurors. The Death Eaters had attacked with one hundred and the Aurors had countered with the same amount. The Death Eaters were slowly being driven back but it was hard because the remaining Death Eaters were among the best fighters Voldemort had.

Dumbledore sent the Impedo Glacialis spell at the remaining Death Eaters. At once all fifty of them froze. Harry barely noticed, even though he had stopped shooting spells. He was slightly more concerned about his arm and the small rivers of blood that left the cut, soaked the sleeve of his T-shirt, and traveled down his arm. He didn't feel the charms on his face and hair come off him either.

"Harry," Dumbledore said, coming over to him. "Are you all right?"

"My arm's cut, sir, but otherwise I'm fine."

Dumbledore took Harry's arm and inspected it. He raised his hand over it and said a healing spell that Harry didn't know.

"That should stop the bleeding but you should still get it checked over by Madam Pomfrey when you return to the school. Speaking of return-" Dumbledore said as he held a Portkey out to Harry, "you need to be getting back. Thanks to the Impedo Glacialis we have all the time we need to get the situation under control. The Aurors have already started on it. Take the Portkey and go. It activates in ten seconds."

Harry took the Portkey from Dumbledore.

"'Bye, Professor."

The Portkey activated just as the words left his mouth. It sent him spiraling back to Dumbledore's office. He landed as he normally did, on the floor because he couldn't keep his balance. As he stood up, he registered that the sound in his ear was loud sobbing. He looked around until his eyes lighted on Ginny sitting in a chair off to his side. She didn't look up.

"Ginny," Harry said as he moved to her. "What's wrong?"

He wrapped his arms around her but she wrenched away from his grasp. Ginny stared up at him.

"You're really Harry?" she said in a small voice. "A living Harry, not a trick of the light?"

Harry stroked her hair. "Yes, it's me."

Ginny caught his wrist and raised it above her head. Then she stood up and faced him. His wrist remained firmly in her grasp.

"Are you injured?"

Harry wasn't very surprised that these were some of the first words out of her mouth. Ginny was very like her mother in that aspect. When someone she loved was hurt she would slip into a mode of caring that was so uncannily like her mother that it sometimes made Harry wonder if they were the same person in two forms.

"Just a little cut on my shoulder. It's already been partially healed by Dumbledore."

It was as if Ginny didn't hear the last part of what he said. She had already tugged him by his wrist to the doorway before he had even finished the sentence. Soon Harry found himself following Ginny down the somewhat noisy corridors that were half-full of students milling around on the weekend. Minutes later Harry looked up and saw that he was staring at the closed door of the hospital wing. Ginny pushed it open and led him in.

"Madam Pomfrey?" Ginny called.

The school's nurse came bustling in. "What is it?"

Harry spoke next. "I was hit by a spell and I don't know what it is but it left this cut in my shoulder," he said, shoving up his sleeve showing her the shoulder. "Professor Dumbledore did a spell to stop the bleeding but he said to have you take a closer look at it."

"On the bed, Potter," Madam Pomfrey said without missing a beat. "Now give me the arm."

She took the offered arm and held it still as she inspected his shoulder. Pomfrey could tell the gash was deep but she had no clue what spell could do that. Of course, she already knew about the battle, all the staff did.

It's probably another new invention of the Death Eaters, Pomfrey thought shakily.

New spells made up by Death Eaters had become a problem for her in the First War. She knew how to treat regular spells, the ones she had learned about. When Death Eaters had begun inventing new spells and using them on their opponents, the patients she had to treat couldn't be treated because she didn't know what the spell was. Pomfrey was ashamed to admit that she couldn't save quite a few people because of this and she vowed to never let that sort of thing happen again.

While she had been lost in her thoughts, Pomfrey had been getting a Potion from her storeroom to give to Harry. It would help heal the cut and get rid of any infections that it might have caused. Since she didn't know what the spell was, that was the most she could do.

"Drink up, Potter," Madam Pomfrey said as she handed him the glass that the Potion was in.

Harry drank it, even though his face contorted into an ugly grimace at the flavor of it as he did. His cut began to heal almost instantly. A minute later, after one last inspection of his shoulder, Harry was dismissed from the infirmary. Ginny followed her boyfriend out the door.

The walk through the hallways back to the Gryffindor tower was spent in silence. It was as if each person was afraid to talk. Right then, more than anything else, Ginny just wanted to be held by Harry. She knew that Harry knew it too.

Harry went first into the common room and Ginny followed after. She stood off to the side as Harry sank down into a chair. Ron and Hermione were nowhere to be found. Ginny strongly suspected they had gone up to Ron's dorm room or out to the Room of Requirement, which disappeared after each training session.

"Gin? What's wrong?" Harry asked.

"Nothing," Ginny said quickly.

Harry frowned. Ginny's answer had come too fast for his liking. Harry wasn't stupid. He knew when something was wrong, especially when it had to do with the love of his life.

"Come here," he said softly.

Ginny, though somewhat hesitantly, complied. She sat down on his lap and immediately hugged him as tight as she could. Harry cradled her in his arms. Ginny buried her face in his shoulder.

"I thought I had lost you for good when you left with Dumbledore," Ginny whispered shakily. "I thought you would die. I had this horrible feeling you would get hurt. In a way I was right. You did get hurt, Harry. What would have happened if you had gotten injured any worse?"

Harry kissed the top of her head.

"But I'm fine, Ginny. Stop worrying so much."

Ginny loosened her arms a little. She greatly enjoyed the feeling of being safe in Harry's arms. It was nice to feel loved but in Ginny's opinion being loved by Harry was much better than anything else. He was so caring and so perceptive towards her that it amazed her still, even though she'd been his girlfriend for nearly three months.

"But what happens when there's a day when you're not fine?" Ginny said.

Harry tensed briefly. Ginny felt it and Harry knew she had even though she didn't move. For the first time thoughts of the final battle between him and Voldemort came to his mind. Never before had he imagined the final scene. He had always hoped he would kill Voldemort but he never thought about the actual battle.

He frowned as he thought of something. The link between himself and Voldemort began to trouble him.

What if the only way to kill him is to kill myself? What if I kill him... would I die too? There's got to be some way around that. I can't just die trying to save the wizarding world. I mean, if I kill myself, what if it doesn't work? What if I'm dead but that only makes Voldemort stronger? What if...

"Harry!" Ginny's sharp voice said.

Harry blinked. His thoughts of Voldemort and death cleared from his mind as he focused back on the girl sitting on his lap.

"What?"

"Now that you're back from la-la land, are you going to answer my question?" Ginny asked with a hint of sarcasm in her voice.

Harry paused. The question had sent him for a spin and now he wasn't sure if everything was going to be all right. It was one of those things that you couldn't just know. You had to wait and find out the answer.

"I'm fine for now, Gin, and that's all that matters."

Ginny smiled into his shoulder. She raised her head slightly and tilted it, then she leaned in and kissed the side of his neck.

"As long as you're with me, Harry, as long as you're with me."

~*~

Albus Dumbledore stood in front of the school the following morning at breakfast. The students' faces were all turned up to him. Some were clutching copies of the Daily Prophet in their hands. A few could be seen with tears rolling down their cheeks.

"As some of you may or may not know, Diagon Alley was attacked yesterday during late morning."

Quite a few gasps were heard around the room. This surprised Dumbledore a little. He thought that by now more students would have known about the attack because news spread quickly throughout the school, especially with nearly the entire student body assembled at breakfast by this time. Dumbledore waited another minute for the chatter to die down before continuing.

"Fifty Death Eaters were either killed or escaped, the rest of them were rounded up and sent to Azkaban after they were frozen by spells cast by myself and one other person who shall remain nameless."

Dumbledore watched with slight amusement as Draco, Blaise, and Ginny's heads all turned to stare at Harry. It was obvious they knew he had done it even though Dumbledore wasn't sure if the boy had actually told them he had. Harry colored slightly, at Dumbledore's best guess out of embarrassment, since now others, following Draco, Blaise, and Ginny's gazes, had turned to stare at the young wizard as well. Other than the blushing, Harry seemed to ignore the stares. Dumbledore thought it was quite mature of him since only a few months ago the teenager would have yelled at anyone who stared at him like the way the kids were staring at him now.

"The remaining Death Eaters were taken and locked up in Azkaban. Unfortunately, they did not stay there. Those of you who have the Daily Prophet can see the double headline. 'Attack on Diagon Alley and Breakout from Azkaban'. The Dementors guarding Azkaban have deserted the island and gone to join the ranks of Lord Voldemort. In the guards absence the Death Eaters were able to escape and rejoin their master."

Chatter broke out all around the room. A few loud remarks were made. One girl screamed after she had taken the article from her friend and read it over. Some of the Slytherins, Crabbe, Goyle, Pansy, and many of the other fifth through seventh years, merely raised an eyebrow at the article. Dumbledore saw this.

They are most likely the next to join the ranks of Voldemort, the headmaster thought. I wouldn't be surprised if some of them already have the Dark Mark.

Most of the chatter had died down at this point. Only a few whispered conversations carried on.

"We have entered a stage where war is occurring. Battles will be fought and men, women, and children will die. This war is unavoidable. I offer my condolences to any who have lost family or friends in this attack. On a final note, may I add that if you remain at Hogwarts, you will be under some of the best protection available. You may continue with your meals."

Hermione and Ron turned back to Harry, who was sitting across from them and next to Ginny, the instant Dumbledore was done.

"You were there, weren't you?" Hermione asked. "That's why you and Ginny were gone so long."

Harry nodded. "I was in the battle. Ginny wasn't. Dumbledore didn't want us to come but I grabbed onto his Portkey right as he left and he couldn't send me back. Ginny stayed and waited for me to get back."

He conveniently left out the fact that Ginny had been crying and that he had gotten hit with a spell that cut his shoulder. Harry knew it would worry both Hermione and Ron if he told them. It was also better because he knew Ginny didn't like anyone to see her at weak moments except Harry. Also, he hoped to stop further questions with that explanation. His hopes were dashed when Hermione leaned across the table and whispered another question in his ear.

"You hit the Death Eaters with that spell Dumbledore was talking about, right?"

"I did," Harry responded.

Hermione sat back with a satisfied look on her face. Harry nearly laughed. It was the look Hermione always got when she got the right answer to something.

Without knowing why, Harry looked back up at the high table. He saw Dumbledore stand and leave the table. Frowning, Harry looked around at the rest of the hall, wondering why Dumbledore would be leaving early. His eyes widened as he realized that a little less than half the students were already done with their meals and had left the Great Hall to go back to their common rooms.

Harry transferred his gaze back to the people who were sitting around him. His eyes fell on Ron and he immediately felt horrible. Ron had the most hurt look on his face that Harry had ever seen in his life. He watched as Ron looked between himself and Hermione, the sadness in his unusually dark blue eyes increasing. It was then that Harry made what he would later think of as one of the fastest decisions of his life.

"Professor Dumbledore!" he called, standing up from the table and running down to where Dumbledore had stopped. "I need to tell Ron about training and everything else. Anything that was told to Hermione, the rest of us and myself need to tell Ron. I can't stand the look of hurt on his face when he realizes we're all talking about the one major thing he doesn't know. I need to tell him, sir. It's not optional anymore," Harry said in a much lower voice so the conversation wouldn't be overheard by anyone.

Dumbledore smiled a knowing smile. Harry was starting to hate that smile. It made it seem as if Dumbledore knew everything that was going to happen before it actually happened. Harry wouldn't be terribly surprised if he found out that Dumbledore was a Seer.

"You may tell Mr. Weasley, Harry. I suggest you do it sooner as opposed to later. Bring him up to my office when you are done so that he may take the oath of secrecy."

"Thank you, sir," Harry said.

Dumbledore left the Great Hall as Harry went off to the Slytherin table. Draco and Blaise were sitting there, still eating. Harry surmised that they had probably spent quite a while discussing this morning's news.

"Hey you two," Harry said as he came up behind them. "Meet me at the Room of Requirement in fifteen minutes."

Before either of them could ask why, Harry had already started back to the Gryffindor table.

Ron continued to sit there picking at his food. He had lost some of his appetite after Dumbledore's speech. The rest of it had been lost after Hermione and Harry had started talking about something that he was sure had to do with the attack but he didn't know what. It was really starting to bug him how Harry and Hermione were leaving him out of everything now. That's why he was shocked when Harry came back over to them and said to follow him up to the Room of Requirement because they were going to tell Ron everything they could.

Ron stood up and looked at Harry skeptically. He didn't fully believe Harry would just come out and spill everything to him. Harry caught the look and folded his arms over his chest. He shot a look at Ron that clearly said, do you want to know or not?

Ron gave in and followed Harry, Ginny, and Hermione up to the Room of Requirement. When they got there, Ron, Ginny, and Hermione stood back and watched as Harry paced back and forth in front of the door. After the third time, a door appeared. Harry pulled on the handle and the door opened. He led the group inside.

In the room was a fireplace with a fire burning steadily inside it. There were six chairs set up in a half circle around it. Harry grabbed Ron's arm and steered him to one of the two chairs directly facing the fire.

"Sit," he ordered.

Ron complied and sat. Harry waved Hermione over and she sat down on Ron's right side. Ginny sat down on her brother's left. After a few minutes of uncomfortable silence the door opened again. This time it let in Draco and Blaise. Harry gestured for them to come over. Blaise sat down next to Hermione and Draco next to Blaise. Then Harry took his seat next to Ginny.

"Okay, Draco, Blaise, we're all here because I got permission to tell Ron everything that was told to Hermione. He'll get sworn to secrecy just like Hermione was when we're done. I needed you two here along with Ginny and Hermione to help explain," Harry said.

"Explain what?" Ron said feeling frustrated that Harry's introduction was taking so long.

"Everything, Ron. Everything I haven't told you that I can tell you now. Everything that happened since I heard the prophecy."

"How could you hear the prophecy? It was smashed, wasn't it?" Ron asked.

"Dumbledore had a copy of it," Hermione said. "He showed it to Harry."

"It said, The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches.... Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies...and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have the power the Dark Lord knows not... and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives.... The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies...." Harry recited and waited a moment for the words to sink in before he spoke again. "It means that I either kill Voldemort," he ignored Ron's flinch at the name, "or he kills me. There's no way around it and there's no loophole. In the end it's either going to be me or him."

Ron's mouth dropped open. He didn't understand how Harry could be so calm about all of this. If Ron were in Harry's shoes, the weight of the world on his shoulders would have crushed him flat. Then again, Harry has always been slightly different from the rest of us...

While Ron was thinking about it, he missed Harry and Hermione's silent conversation. Hermione was mouthing to Harry, asking him why he hadn't said anything about Neville. Harry mouthed back that it wasn't important to what Ron needed to know. Though Ron didn't know the conversation had happened, the other three teens did. They all knew that the prophecy could have been about Neville, too.

"All right," Ron said slowly. "I know there's more."

"Ron," said Hermione. "Do you know anything about the Mark of the Phoenix?"

Ron shook his head, no. Ginny and Hermione launched into an explanation of it. They explained everything from what it was, to some of the wizards and witches who had the mark, to what powers you had with the mark. At this point, Draco, Harry, and Blaise had started adding in some things about the powers they had because they had the Mark of the Phoenix. Ron soaked this all up with a face that clearly showed he was dying to know more.

After that, the group moved on to telling Ron about the training they were going through. Hermione stayed silent for most of it, allowing the other four to tell their stories.

"So what's the room look like where you train?" Ron asked at one point.

The four teens looked at each other. Hermione sat up straighter in her chair. She was curious about this as well.

"I suppose we could probably recreate it if we tried," Blaise said.

"Yeah, we could. Everyone - no, Ron, not you and Hermione, just everyone else - get a clear picture of the room in their minds and just will this room to appear that way," Ginny put in.

In a minute, the room had transformed into a perfect replica of their training room. There was the same forest and the same stream running along the side. The track was there as well. The chairs had stayed since the six teenagers were still sitting in them but the fireplace was gone and so was the fire.

"Wow," Hermione said. "This is amazing."

Ron was gaping at the room. "Do you get to go in the stream, too?"

Harry smiled. "Of course we do."

Draco's face lit up with an idea. "How about we all go into the stream and finish talking there?"

Everyone turned to stare at him. It wasn't every day that Draco came up with ideas that satisfied everyone's wishes.

"What?" Draco said indignantly. "I want to go in the stream and I bet you all do too!"

Laughing, they all agreed. For once, no one cared about their clothes getting wet. They just wanted to finish the talk and have a good time.

All of that afternoon, that's what they did. They talked, splashed around, and just had a good time. To Harry it was like a huge weight being lifted off his shoulders. Ron knew everything they had been hiding and the great afternoon he was having took his mind off the Diagon Alley attack and the Azkaban breakout.

For just one afternoon Harry felt like a normal teenager.

~*~

"I really think Seamus should be a starting Beater," Harry protested. "If you're going to keep Kirke in, then you have to have Seamus in as well. The twins will only work well with each other. It's the same thing as Fred and George-"

"Harry!" Katie said, cutting him off. "I wasn't going to disagree. I want Seamus as a starting Beater as well."

Harry's cheeks colored slightly from embarrassment. He and Katie were sitting on a couch in the common room going over the picks for the Quidditch team. They were posting the results on the board that night.

"Ginny is definitely going to be a Chaser," Katie commented.

"I think you should put that Kira girl as the third Chaser. She and Ginny work really well together and I think you'll do well with her too," Harry said.

Katie took up her quill and began to write the list.

1996-97 Gryffindor Quidditch Roster

Captains: Katie Bell, Harry Potter

Starting Beaters: Seamus Finnigan, Andrew Kirke

Reserve Beaters: Jake Stillman, Mara Stillman

Starting Chasers: Katie Bell, Kira Wilson-Hunter, Ginny Weasley

Reserve Chasers: Will Burkman, Sarah Marks, Leah O'Riely

Starting Keeper: Ron Weasley

Reserve Keeper: David Tanner

Starting Seeker: Harry Potter

Reserve Seeker:

Katie paused at that point. She looked up at Harry, who was looking down at her, waiting for her to finish.

"I was thinking of putting Ginny as reserve Seeker. That's why I didn't have that position open for tryouts. No offence to you or anything but that girl can really fly," Katie said.

Harry smiled. "None taken. Ginny would make a great reserve. I mean she's already an excellent Seeker. I'd even understand if you want her to take over for me."

Katie swatted at his arm. "No one's replacing you unless you get yourself killed, Harry. You're too good."

Harry swatted her back. "You're amazing on a broom too, don't you doubt that."

Katie blushed slightly. "Thanks, Harry. So we're all right with putting Ginny as reserve?"

"Fine by me."

Katie took up her quill again and began to write the rest of the roster.

Reserve Seeker: Ginny Weasley

The first practice will take place Wednesday at 7:15 on the Quidditch pitch. Team robes will be handed out tonight. Please see Katie Bell and Harry Potter for your robe and any questions you may have.

"Okay, then we're done," Katie said, holding the list up to Harry.

Harry took it and tacked it up to the bulletin board. When he was done, he stepped back. His eyes trailed over the roster one more time to make sure they had everything done that needed to be on it. Then Harry smiled. He was sure this was going to be a great team.

"Quidditch roster is up," Harry yelled and backed up as fast as he could.

Within seconds at least half the house had made their way to the bulletin board to see who had made the team. Harry made his way back to Katie and they sat and waited for the first of the new team to come over to get their robes. Katie laughed when she heard a few girls squealing with delight. Harry just rolled his eyes.

Ginny made her way over to the couch first.

"Starting Chaser and Reserve Seeker?" she asked in disbelief.

Harry took her arm and pulled her down onto the couch on the side Katie wasn't sitting. He took the robes Katie had handed him to give to Ginny. He spoke as he laid the robes in her lap.

"Both. It was a simple decision. Made with almost no thought at all," Harry said.

Ginny's face broke out into one of the biggest grins Harry had ever seen. She hugged him tightly and Harry hugged her back. After a quick kiss on the cheek she pulled away.

Seamus stood in front of Harry with a huge grin on his face as well. He held his new robes in his hand.

"Thanks, Harry. I've wanted to be on the house team for as long as I can remember," he said.

"It's no problem, Seamus. When someone's as good of a Beater as you are, there's no question you should be on the team."

"PARTY!" someone shouted.

The portrait hole opened, admitting Dean, Neville, and Jack Sloper with their arms full of Butterbeer, Honeydukes sweets, and bags being levitated behind them. Harry and Katie looked at each other with identical looks of amusement and burst out laughing. McGonagall was sure to come in at some point that night.

______

A little later, after most of the Quidditch team had gone away from the couch, Hermione came over to join Harry, Ginny, and Ron. She sat down and tugged Ginny away from Harry's shoulder.

"Congratulations, Ginny!" Hermione said in an exited voice as she hugged the other girl.

Ginny hugged her back. As soon as Hermione let go, Ginny slid back over to Harry and resumed the position she had been in. Harry wrapped his arm around her shoulder, massaging it gently.

"My Harry," she said in a childish voice that was reminiscent of a child being protective of a toy.

Hermione and Ron burst into laughter. Harry smiled and squeezed Ginny's shoulder.

"Come with me. I want to talk to you alone," he said.

Harry stood up and extended his hand down to Ginny. She took it and gracefully pulled herself up.

"We'll be back," she said as Harry led her out of the common room.

Harry led Ginny outside of the castle. She followed him down to the lake. There they sat under Harry's favorite tree. The sun was beginning to set. It reminded Ginny strongly of Quidditch tryouts. She focused her eyes on Harry, who was clasping her hands in his and looking at her as well.

"Ginny, I want to thank you."

Ginny's eyes showed her puzzlement. "Thank me for what?"

"For being you," Harry started. "For being the only one who I could tell all my feelings to. For caring for me when I thought no one else did. I was drifting around a lot this past summer, Ginny. My thoughts were a mess, I was a wreck over Sirius, and I was finding new friends and learning to drive with them. So many things happened this summer and I was afraid that I'd just drift away."

Ginny wanted to stop him and ask where exactly he was going with this. It wasn't like Harry to go off on big speeches. It wasn't exactly rambling, but it was close to it because he tended to repeat things a few times only in different words. Ginny kept her mouth shut though. It wasn't often when Harry would admit things like this and when he did it was best for everyone to just shut up and listen to him.

"Then you came and started staying with me. You kept me down to earth and you really showed me the meaning of love and living. I... I don't know what I'd ever do without you, Ginny. I can't even think of a time or place where you aren't by my side. I love you so much, Ginny. I love you so much I can't explain it. You saved me from drifting away and losing myself. I just needed to say thanks for that. I never had a chance to tell you before just how much you mean to me."

Ginny's eyes had begun to fill with tears during his speech. She hadn't known Harry could be that gifted with words. She also hadn't known exactly how much she meant to him. Of course she had guessed, but she had never truly known.

"You're welcome, Harry," she whispered, emotions getting the better of her.

Ginny bent her head onto Harry's chest and sighed. His hands left her wrist and his arms circled around her. For both Ginny and Harry, this was absolute heaven. There was no other way to describe it.

Harry leaned down to kiss Ginny as the last rays of the sun faded behind the mountains.

~~**~~