My Eternal Curse

Chapter Ten

Minor Adjustments

Ginny stood there, in the near total silence, trying to decipher what she was feeling. For the first time in her life, she felt... alive. She could think of no other word for it. She had survived the impossible, unharmed, and came out of it stronger then she was before... better for it, somehow. For the first time in her life, she had power, real power. She didn't know what it was, or how she had done it, but it was there, just waiting to be exploited. Her newfound power, everything that was happening to her was a riddle, but one she would enjoy solving.

Ginny smiled. She had protected Harry and they were still in one piece. He would be fine, as soon as they got him out of the body bind. Ginny could feel that everything was going to be all right. She knew she had done the right thing in defying the Minister. Ginny was sure that Harry wouldn't be here right now if she had listened to the prat, and stayed at the Three Broomsticks. It was a great feeling... then her eyes fell back on the fallen Death Eater.

Ginny had never killed anyone before, not even when Tom opened the Chamber of Secrets. She felt a pang of guilt and grief for killing him... but he had brought it on himself. If he hadn't become a Death Eater, and tried to kill them, then he wouldn't be here. But that fact didn't make her feel much better about the whole thing.

"It was self-defense," Ginny thought. "It was either me or him..." Ginny looked up, and saw the Dark Mark in the sky above. "Better it was him, then why do I still feel so bad about it?"

"You did what you had to, princess," Tom said. "I, for one, am proud of you. When it came down to it, you didn't hesitate in what needed to be done. Don't berate yourself about Voldemort's little lackey. He got what he deserved for trying to sneak up on you like that. You did what you did in self-defense. You protected Potter from the Death Eaters, and lived to tell the tale. There is nothing wrong with that."

"Have you ever... killed anybody?" Ginny asked.

"Once," Tom said. "She was in the wrong place, at the wrong time. I believe her name... was Myrtle."

"How did it feel?" Ginny asked.

"Now is neither the time, nor the place for this..." Tom said, changing the subject. "We have more important matters to worry about... like the stranger coming towards us."

Ginny looked down, and saw the stranger who had helped them in the battle checking on Harry. The stranger removed the body bind, and Harry was free. Harry sat up, and looked from the stranger to Ginny, and back again.

"You guys saved my life," Harry said. "Thank you."

"We're just happy your okay," the stranger said. "Are you hurt?"

"No," Harry said, as the stranger helped him back to his feet. "Why are you holding my wand, Gin- what's wrong with your hands?"

"My hands..." Ginny said distantly, realizing that her hands were oddly numb. She looked down, saw what Harry was talking about, and dropped the wand in surprise. Her palms were covered in nasty looking burns and blisters. It was probably a good thing that she could scarcely feel anything in her hands, apart from a dull ache, at the moment. "My wand... rejected me. It burned my hands."

"I've seen quite a few rejections in my time, but nothing like that," the stranger said, eyeing Ginny suspiciously. Ginny looked for her wand for a few moments, before spotting it almost fifteen feet away. She walked over to where it sat, and knelt down to examine it. It had a hairline crack running down its length, starting at its tip and ending at its base. Other than that, it looked fine. She touched the wand with her index finger, half-expecting it to react and, sure enough, it did. It burned her injured index finger, and flew almost a foot away, as if fleeing her touch.

"I can't even touch it anymore," Ginny said, utterly bewildered. "It doesn't make any sense."

"Your wand rejected you?" Professor Lupin asked. Ginny was startled, but barely flinched. She stood and turned to see her Professor standing right behind her. "Are you alright?"

"Apart from my hands..." Ginny said. "Yeah, I guess so."

"Let me see them," Lupin said. Ginny showed him her hands, and he frowned slightly. "Those are serious magical burns. They need immediate care. Did your wand do that?"

"Yes, sir."

"We must leave at once," Lupin said. Harry and the stranger made their way toward them, while Professor Lupin went to retrieve her wand. "We should Apparate directly to Hogwarts. Her hands need immediate treatment, and it's too dangerous to take the normal way."

"I agree," the stranger said. With that, the stranger put a hand on Harry's shoulder, while Professor Lupin a hand on her shoulder, and they Disapparated with a faint pop. No one noticed a young wizard hiding in one of the now abandoned stores, tightly clutching his camera.

*~*~*

They Apparated before the gates of Hogwarts. Tom could feel an unspoken tension in the air as they traveled back to the castle at a high pace. They entered the Entrance Hall and stopped just inside. Tom could feel Ginny begin to worry about what was going to happen next.

"Relax, my dear," Tom said, not quite believing it himself. "We will be fine."

"Harry, take Virginia down to the infirmary," Remus ordered. "And wait for us there."

"While you're at it, get yourself checked out," the stranger added.

"But-" Harry protested.

"No buts," the stranger said. "I want to make sure you're alright."

"Okay," Harry said. Harry and Ginny went to the hospital wing in silence. They walked through the door, and were greeted by Madam Pomfrey.

"What happened to you two?" Madam Pomfrey asked.

"The Death Eaters attacked us in Hogsmeade," Harry said. "We barely got out of it in one piece."

"Take a seat, and I'll have a look at you," Madam Pomfrey said. Ginny took a seat on one of the hospital beds. Harry took a seat on the bed across from her. She tried to ignore the headache, and the burning sensation in her hands, that had been growing since they Apparated. Madam Pomfrey ran several scans on Ginny, and then she fixed Ginny's mild concussion with a wave of her wand. After that was done, Madam Pomfrey disappeared into her office for a few moments. When she came out, she was holding a large basin and a large, unmarked container filled with a sickly green potion. Madam Pomfrey filled the bowl with the potion, which bubbled as if it were still boiling. She put it beside Ginny and then, unceremoniously, thrust Ginny's hands into the bowl. The potion felt cold, despite the appearance that it was boiling. Cool, soothing relief swept through her hands almost at once, and she let out a sigh. The potion turned yellow, and Ginny looked at the Mediwitch with a questioning look on her face.

"This may take awhile," Madam Pomfrey said. "Please, keep your hands in the potion until it turns black."

Madam Pomfrey turned back to Harry.

"Let's make sure you made it out in one piece..."

Ginny watched the potion slowly turn from yellow to orange, her mind lost in thought. All of a sudden, they heard a commotion and raised voices, just outside the door. Ginny looked up from the potion, and saw Professor Dumbledore, her father, and Cornelius Fudge enter the hospital wing.

"Will this day ever end?" Ginny thought mournfully.

"Not with our luck," Tom replied.

"Thanks for the ray of sunshine, Tom," Ginny thought. Professor McGonagall and Rita Skeeter entered the hospital wing. Skeeter had her Quick Quill Notes out, writing at a furious pace, floating just behind her. "This just gets better and better..."

"... Professor Dumbledore made it quite clear that you are barred from the school, Miss Skeeter," McGonagall said angrily. "I do not know how you got in here. I will not let you harass any of my students. Now, leave this instant!"

"I go where the story is, Professor," Rita Skeeter said. "Since I did not get the opportunity to get an interview with Miss Weasley at Hogsmeade, I've come to do it here."

"You will not be doing any interviews with Miss Weasley, or any of the other students," Dumbledore said. "I will not have you do to Virginia what you did to Mr. Potter the year before last. Now please leave."

"You have not heard the last of me, Dumbledore!" Rita Skeeter declared.

"I think he has."

Hermione entered the hospital wing with Ron. Rita Skeeter glared at Hermione threateningly. Hermione returned the glare with equal intensity.

"I'll escort Miss Skeeter off the grounds, Professor," Hermione said.

"Very well," Dumbledore said. "Good day, Miss Skeeter."

Rita Skeeter reluctantly followed Hermione out of the hospital wing. Fudge, Professor Dumbledore, her father, and Ron walked over to where they were sitting, and Ginny felt her apprehension grow ten fold.

"Are you alright, Ginny?" Arthur asked, looking extremely worried.

"I'm fine, dad," Ginny said, giving him a reassuring smile.

"Now that she is gone..." Fudge said, turning to Ginny. "I have to thank you for saving Harry, and protecting Hogsmeade from the Death Eaters. You did more than anyone expected of you... but I do not agree with your methods, any more than I agree with your preposterous notion that You-Know-Who was the one behind the attack."

"Voldemort was behind the attack, Minister," Harry said. Ron, Arthur, and Fudge flinched at the name. "My scar hurt just before the Death Eaters attacked us."

"You, and your blasted scar," Fudge muttered under his breath. "Utter rubbish..."

"He's an even bigger fool than he looks," Tom said. "And that's saying something..."

"It was Voldemort," Ginny said, beginning to feel exasperated with the Minister's thick-headedness. "I felt him. I'm sure he was behind it."

"Tread carefully, Ginny..." Tom cautioned.

"I'm telling you, that can't be true," Fudge said. "Harry has a lot of enemies, some of them former Death Eaters. They were probably acting on their own, like during the Quidditch world cup, the year before last."

"Are you calling my daughter a liar?" Arthur asked, giving Fudge a murderous glare that would have given Snape a run for his money.

"Of course not, Arthur," Fudge said, uncomfortably. "I'm saying, that she's... mistaken."

"Why do you find it so hard to believe that Voldemort is back?" Dumbledore asked.

"You said that he returned the year before last," said Fudge. "Since the Tri-Wizarding Competition we have seen neither hide, nor hair of You-Know-Who, apart from some isolated Death Eater activity. There is no proof to even suggest that he's returned. For all we know, the so-called spell You-Know-Who used to come back was unstable, and he died. All we have to go on that the threat is even close to being credible, is the word of two... of two-"

"Two children," Harry finished. "Tell me, Minister, isn't Cedric's death proof enough for you? Or do you think that his murder is all in my head too?"

"I have no doubt that something tragic happened that night, Harry," Fudge said, defensively. "But You-Know-Who wasn't behind it."

"Can't you see that this activity isn't isolated?" Dumbledore asked. "Voldemort is tricking you. When the time is right, he will reveal himself, and by then it will be too late."

"That man's the bloody energizer moron," Tom said. "He just gets blinder, and blinder..."

"I knew I shouldn't have taken Muggle Studies..." Ginny thought, mentally shaking her head.

"Voldemort's returned," Ginny said, her voice filled with absolute certainty. "He's out there, and he wants something from Harry. If they'd wanted Harry dead, they would have killed him long before I got to him. I'm sure of it. Why won't you believe us?"

"Don't waste your breath, my princess," Tom said. "Fudge's head is harder than iron, and he has about as much intelligence as that too. He's going to deny everything that is going on until the bitter, bloody, end."

"And take the whole wizarding world down with him..." Ginny thought.

"Perhaps," Tom said. "Unless that fool Dumbledore can pull a rabbit out of his hat again."

"Why would he need a rabbit?" Ginny thought.

"I give up," Tom said, sounding crossed between irritated and amused. "You're hopeless..."

"I refuse to listen to this-this utter nonsense any longer!" Fudge said. "I will be in touch, Professor..."

"What's wrong with your hand, Minister?" Harry asked, noticing the bite mark on his hand. The memory of biting Fudge came back to Ginny with startling clarity. She noticed that she still had the taste of his flesh and blood in her mouth. Tom snickered.

"Yes, you'd better make sure you get that treated," Dumbledore said, with a twinkle in his eyes. "You don't want to get an infection."

"That's none of your business!" Fudge said, angrily. Fudge stormed out of the infirmary. Dumbledore chuckled lightly for a few moments, as he watched Fudge slam the door behind him. A few moments later, Hermione entered the hospital wing.

"What did I miss?" Hermione asked.

"Nothing much, Miss Granger," Dumbledore said. "Have you escorted Miss Skeeter off the grounds?"

"Yes, Professor," Hermione said. "I'm sure she won't be bothering us again."

"Good," Dumbledore said, the twinkle in his eyes intensifying slightly.

"Do you know what happened to his hand, Ginny?" Harry asked.

"Umm..." said Ginny, sounding slightly embarrassed. "When I had my vision, I told Fudge what was going to happen. He wouldn't believe me. He wouldn't let me leave the pub. He insisted that I wasn't well."

"What does that have to do with his hand?" Ron asked.

"When he wouldn't let me go, I bit him," Ginny said.

"You bit the Minister of Magic?" Hermione asked, trying not to laugh.

"Yeah," Ginny said. "I got him good too, using it as a distraction, so I could find Harry before it was too late. I'm not going to get that taste out of my mouth for a week."

Harry, Ron, Hermione, and to Ginny's shock, Tom, started laughing uncontrollably. Even her father looked slightly amused.

"I don't like that you bit my boss," Arthur said, giving Ginny a small, reassuring smile. "But I'm not going to punish you for it. You made the right call, and I'm proud of you, Ginny."

"Thanks, dad," Ginny said.

"Remind me never to get on your bad side, Gin!" Ron said between laughs.

"Besides, the look on his face was absolutely priceless!" Arthur said, giving in to the urge to laugh. Ginny laughed too, remembering the funny, shocked look, on Fudge's face. With that, the tension since Hogsmeade broke, and Ginny felt better. After the laughter tapered off, Dumbledore turned his attention back to Ginny again, looking at her as if he were trying to read her thoughts.

"Now," Dumbledore said. "I've examined your wand. There is no way you can use it again. What do you think caused it to reject you, my dear?"

"I don't know, Professor," Ginny answered.

"How long have you been having problems with it?" Dumbledore asked.

"Since I accepted Tom," Ginny thought.

"Tell him it was since your visions started," Tom urged. "You know what will happen if he finds out about us."

"I do," Ginny thought, mournfully.

"It's been acting up since my visions started," Ginny said.

"Are you sure?" Dumbledore asked. "Are you sure nothing else could be interfering with your wand's operation?"

"Yes, Professor," Ginny lied. "I'm sure."

"Very well," Dumbledore said. "I will take you to Diagon Alley tomorrow to get a new one. We can't have you going to classes without a wand, now can we?"

"Professor, can I go with you tomorrow?" Harry asked. "I'd like to pay for her new wand, as a thanks for saving my life."

"Of course, Mr. Potter," Dumbledore said. "I want you both in the Entrance Hall after breakfast tomorrow morning. Severus and I will floo with you to Diagon Alley, and we'll get what we need."

"Professor Snape is coming with us?" Ginny asked, without a hint of apprehension in her voice.

"Yes, Virginia," Dumbledore said. "He was planning on going to the Apothecary tomorrow anyway. I'm sure he will be more than happy to help me watch you two as well. I'm afraid, I'm not as good at keeping up with two active young people as I used to be."

Harry didn't look as enthusiastic about going as he did before he heard Snape's name. Ginny didn't mind that Snape was coming along. If anything, this might give her a good opportunity to ask Snape a few questions about going into Potions after school.

*~*~*

Remus and Sirius sat in Dumbledore's office, waiting for the Headmaster to return. Sirius had decided to conserve the Polyjuice he had left, so he had changed back to his normal self when the time had run out on his last dose. Remus noticed the taut expression Sirius' face, and frowned.

"What is it, Padfoot?" Remus asked.

"Everything," Sirius said. "I should be here to protect Harry, and I can't. Harry could have died today or worse..."

"But he didn't," Remus said, putting a comforting hand on his friend's shoulder. "We protected him."

"Today," Sirius said. "But what about tomorrow, and the next day? What's to stop Voldemort from sending more Death Eaters against us?"

"I don't know what to tell you, Padfoot," Remus said. "Other than, that we'll do everything in our power to keep him safe."

"I've got an idea," Sirius said. "Maybe I could stay at Hogwarts... in my Animagus form. You could say that I'm your pet. That way I could keep a close eye on Harry, without anyone suspecting me."

"No," Remus shook his head. "It's too dangerous. If you get caught-"

"I won't be," Sirius said. "Come on, Moony. We can do this. I know we can. It'll be just like old times."

"Siri-"

Dumbledore entered the room, and smiled at the two men with a twinkle in his eyes.

"Sorry to keep you two waiting for so long, but I had pressing matters that couldn't wait," Albus said.

"Albus," Remus said, deep in thought. If I support him, he could get sent to Azkaban, and if I don't, he'll just try it another way and get himself killed in the process. It doesn't look like I have another choice in the matter... I just hope we don't regret this. "Sirius has plan to keep an eye on Harry without getting caught, and with a little tweaking, I think it could work."

"Tell me," Albus ordered. They went over the plan, and after spending almost an hour on it, Albus came to a decision. "I believe this could work. But it is all dependent on you, Sirius. You can't transform except for the places we deem safe, when you're using the Polyjuice potion, or unless Harry's life is in jeopardy. Can you handle that, Sirius? Keep in mind what will happen, if you give in to the temptation to transform at the wrong moment, and you're seen. None of us may able to come to your aid, if you're caught."

"I understand Professor, and I'm more than willing to take the risk for Harry's sake," said Sirius, his voice filled with determination.

"Then, it's settled," Albus smiled. "I'll have the house elves make the appropriate arrangements right away. I'm sure Harry will be happy to have you around."

"So am I," Sirius said.

"I just hope we don't end up regretting this," said Remus.

"We won't," Sirius tried to reassure his friend. "It'll be just like old times, Moony. You know me..."

"That's what I'm afraid of..." Remus thought.

*~*~*

Ginny left the hospital wing and was greeted by Mark, who was holding her shopping bags, including her new pet, in it's carrying case. She had completely forgotten about him and her stuff, when she had her last vision.

"I'm so sorry, Mark!" Ginny said. "I didn't mean to just run off and leave you like that."

"You saved Potter's life, and helped protect Hogsmeade," Mark said, with a smile. Tom could sense that same strange tension when he said Potter's name again. Could the boy have something against Potter? "You don't need to apologize for it... I'm proud of you. You fought well."

"Thank you," said Ginny, returning the smile. "How long have you been waiting out here?"

"Not long," Mark said. "It's been a long day. Why don't you take your new familiar upstairs, and get some rest. I'll sit with you at the Gryffindor table tonight, and you can tell me what happened after you left the pub."

"That sounds like a great idea," Ginny said. "I am a little tired... I'll see you later tonight."

Ginny took the bags and the carrying case from Mark.

"Thank you," Ginny said. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

"Don't mention it," Mark said. "Bye."

"Bye," Ginny said. As Ginny walked off, Tom could have sworn he heard Mark mutter something under his breath.

*~*~*

Meanwhile Harry, Ron, and Hermione sat, thankfully alone, in the Gryffindor common room. After everything that had happened today, the last thing Harry needed was to be harassed.

"What happened out there, Harry?" Hermione asked.

Harry told them everything he had witnessed, which wasn't much since he had been in the body bind through most of the incident.

"This shield repelled the Killing Curse?" Hermione asked distantly, searching for something in her memory that was long forgotten. "There's something familiar about it, like it was something I read somewhere, but.... No, I don't think I've heard of anything doing what you've described."

"What do you think it could have been, Harry?" Ron asked.

"I don't know," Harry said. "But whatever this is, its part of what's happening to Ginny..."

"I'm afraid for her," Ron said. "Whatever's happening... I think she's in over her head. What can we do for her?"

"For now, all we can do is watch her, and look for the answers in the library," said Hermione. "There have to be answers for all of this somewhere, and I'm betting that the answers are there."

"So what are we waiting for?" Ron asked, heading for the portrait hole. "Let's go find them."

This was the first time Ron actually seemed eager to go to the library. It was a scary sight to behold. Harry and Hermione shared an astounded glance with each other, and followed him out the door.

________

TBC