Furious Angels

Chapter Nine: Swan Song

The days were getting colder, and it was nearly October before Harry finally grew so frustrated with stupid Lockhart and his stupid celebrity fixation that he threw down his fork and let out a groan of frustration. He glared up at the staff table. Incompetent moron, he seethed. Defense Against the Dark Arts had become so awful that Harry genuinely wished that he could skive off every day.

"What's wrong, Harry?" Ron asked around a mouthful of food.

"Lockhart," he growled. "We're not learning anything. He's such a damn fraud. How are we going to--"

But he interrupted himself when he saw the look of concentration on Ginny's face. What is she thinking about? He thought she might have the same problem he had at the moment. There was something... something that he needed to remember. They'd taken matters into their own hands, hadn't they?

"Lockhart's a foul git," Ron said darkly.

"He's completely awful," Neville agreed. "We're not learning anything."

"And look what he said about Ginny!" Hermione said.

"I think... I think..." Harry said slowly. "I think we need to - we need to--"

And then it came to him in a flash of inspiration. They needed to go to the seventh floor corridor, of course. That's where they'd get better at magic... in the room. "Come on," he said excitedly, though he looked down at his half-eaten treacle tart with a pang. Ron looked equally distraught over leaving his second piece of pie only three quarters demolished.

"Come on!" he said again. Ginny was already behind him, but the others were slower and more bewildered. But they followed him out of the Great Hall, up the stairs, and into the corridor that held, Harry knew, something quite spectacular.

"Is he going to tell us what he's doing?" Ron asked.

Harry ignored him, though he felt the twinge of annoyance that he was beginning to be quite familiar with. Ron's behavior had been vacillating between belligerent, sulky, and downright rude, with increasingly fewer flashes of what Harry considered the 'Old Ron.' Today was no different, and he almost wished that Ron had disappeared again.

"He'll tell us when he's ready to," snapped Ginny. "Honestly, Ron, I have no idea what your problem is."

"I told you, I'm not feeling well, all right?" Ron said loudly.

It was true... Ron had not looked well for weeks, not since they had returned to Hogwarts. Hermione had pointed out just a week ago that Ron would break out into a sweat at odd times (like when they were sitting in the perfectly cool library), would look on the verge of vomiting, and would occasionally even skip a meal (a far more ominous symptom). But any show of concern was met with harsh words, and Harry had not attempted to ask him about it since Ron's nightmare.

He pulled himself away from his thoughts, and frowned at the expanse of empty wall. I wish I could remember--

"Are those trolls wearing tutus?" Hermione asked, pointing toward the tapestry on the opposite wall. Harry ignored her.

"The room should be here... where is the door?" Harry ran his hand across the smooth stone surface. He turned to Ginny, who was staring back at him. That same look of concentration... as if she was on the verge of figuring out a puzzle, was on her face. "The door should be right here, shouldn't it? The room where we learned magic..."

Ginny gave a little gasp of recognition, and they shared one of those moments when they understood each other on a level that none of the others could comprehend. They beamed at each other when the door appeared - as Harry had known it would - and the others looked completely bewildered.

Harry pushed it open, revealing a long, wide room with padded floors and mirrored walls. In the corners were shelves holding what he knew were texts on defensive and offensive magic. The others all piled in behind him, marveling at the sight of it.

"This place is great, Harry..." Neville said. "How'd you find it?"

"I don't... really remember..." Harry said. "But we can practice spells here. Real defense spells... and we can learn better than we can with Lockhart, that's for sure."

"This isn't mentioned in Hogwarts: A History," Hermione said.

"There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy," Ginny whispered.

"What?" Hermione looked puzzled. "That's from Hamlet... what you do mean by it, Ginny?"

"Not everything is in books, Hermione. Always remember that," Ginny responded, looking around.

"This is going to be cool," Ron said, displaying the first signs of enthusiasm that he'd shown in weeks. "Hermione can find all kinds of new spells in the library, and she can show them to us. And Ginny... I mean... you could show us those hexes you used on Malfoy, right? I figure since Bill or Charlie taught them to you, they aren't secrets, right?"

But Ginny was shaking her head. "No, it's not going to be Hermione or me teaching spells... it's going to be Harry. It has to be Harry."

"Why does it have to be Harry?" Luna asked.

"Because... because... I don't know why because, but it has to be..." Ginny's voice trailed off. She looked blank for a moment before refocusing. "And we can't allow Umbridge to know about this place."

Harry opened his mouth to ask Who's Umbridge? But as soon as that thought crossed his brain, he suddenly remembered what it was that he had forgotten. He needed to find something... he desperately needed to find something... he needed to find the... the... "I need the Room of Forgotten Things," he muttered. The room around them shimmered and blurred, and when it solidified again, their surprised gazes were met with the sight of a cathedral of items: stacks and stacks of old, broken furniture, open trunks over-flowing with clothes, broken statues... Harry was a little awed by the sheer size of the place.

His bushy-haired friend gaped around in awe. "How is it possible that a room of such size is able to fit in Hogwarts?"

"Magically," Neville and Luna said together, grinning. Hermione blushed.

"Of course," she said, flustered. "But... why hasn't anyone mentioned it?"

"Maybe they don't know it exists," Ginny said. She shut the door, and it echoed in the huge room.

"I wonder if the Hogwarts elves would be able to catalog all of this," Harry looked around. Something niggled at the back of his memory. But he could not see it with any sort of clarity; he only knew that somehow it was important that he know exactly what was in this room. I wish I knew why...

"Why do you say that?" Luna said.

"It does seem like a good idea," Ginny said.

"But you said one of those weird things again, Harry," Hermione said seriously. "And what are house-elves?"

"Does it matter?" said Ron. For once, his tone was filled with wonder, and the sulky lines around his mouth had disappeared. "I call dibs on the carpet... Blimey, I've always wanted to fly on one of those!" Ron pointed at a rolled up carpet. Harry assumed that Ron was right, that it was one of those flying carpets that Harry had heard about but never seen. The edges of it rose and fell a little in a nonexistent breeze.

"Hermione, Luna!" Ginny had wandered a few stacks over and was bent over a trunk filled with what looked like very old dresses. "Look at this! Princess dresses!"

Hermione looked uncertain. "Are you sure we're supposed to be here? Should we touch these things?"

"You worry too much, Hermione!" Ron said. He smiled widely at her for the first time since they'd been on the Hogwarts Express. Harry hoped that Old Ron was back for good...

Hermione eyed him warily, and then turned to Neville and Harry. "Are you sure?" she said. But she was already edging over to where Luna and Ginny were now throwing gowns with large skirts and sparkling collars about with total abandonment. Ginny held up a gown made of a thin, floaty material that looked like a cloud, and Hermione lost the last of her nervousness.

"It's an Axminster!" Ron said. He'd unrolled the carpet, and now looked ecstatic. "Wait till I tell Dad... he's always wanted one..."

"I'm going to go look for another one, my gran always tells me about how her parents had one when she was little," Neville said. Harry wondered what was so special about flying carpets. He preferred brooms. I wonder if there are any brooms in here...

He wandered leisurely, enjoying the sound of the girls giggling as they played dress-up, and Ron whooping as he soared through the air. He did not quite know what he was looking for, and it was not until his eyes rested upon a truly beautiful, antique broom that he stopped moving, rose into the air, and wondered if Quidditch could be played on a carpet--

And was nearly knocked out of the air by a laughing Ron and Ginny. Ron was in control of the carpet; Ginny sat between his legs, wearing a velvet and lace gown that was much too big for her small frame, and a ribbon that hung drunkenly in her vivid red hair. Her face was flushed with laughter.

"You've got to try it, Harry!" Ron called.

"Let's get him, Ron," Ginny grinned mischievously.

Ron made the carpet twist and twirl; Ginny shrieked, and they headed for Harry with great speed (for a carpet). Harry flew away from them, though he was sure to stay just far enough ahead of them. He did not push the antique broom as fast as it would go... it was far more fun to spin, duck, and dive, evading Ginny's out-stretched arms.

On and on they flew, and Harry was light and weightless, gasping with laughter, playing with the two people he loved best in the world; he hoped that this was the end of Ron's strange behavior--

"Harry!" Neville shouted. "Ron! I've built a fort... let's play war!"

"Set me back down with Hermione and Luna," Ginny ordered. "I'm not going to play war."

"What if we need to capture the princess?" Harry grinned at her.

"We'll just abduct her again," Ron said. "It wasn't so hard the first time; I can do it again..."

Harry didn't think he'd ever had a better idea in his life than deciding to find this room that he'd never been in, yet seemed to hold so many vague, shadowy memories.

XxxxxxX

Luna could not decide who she found more fascinating: Harry, Ginny, Hermione, Neville, or Ron. Harry and Ginny were like two halves of a whole; sometimes she watched the way their bodies oriented themselves toward each other, and wondered if they knew they did it. She often thought that if love had a face, it would look the way Ginny did when she saw Harry. But she didn't know if it was love that made them know things, or if it was the Soul Stone. Either way, their knowingness was intriguing to watch.

"Hermione, Luna!" Ginny called. "Look at this! Princess dresses!"

Luna had always been drawn to open delight, so she joined Ginny. She walked slowly, wondering how long it would take for Hermione to join them. The older girl was as different from Luna as it was possible to be, but Luna understood Hermione more than any of the others. She made sense... it was like Hermione was made of glass, and Luna could see all the stubbornness, bravery, and insecurity all rolled up into one.

"What do you think of this dress, Luna?" Ginny asked. She held up a dress that looked very soft. "I think it might be a bit big for me..."

"Just a little," Hermione said dryly. "I think I might be able to transfigure it--"

"Let's not bother with that, Hermione." Ginny threw off her robes, and pulled a velvety gown over her head. It hung on her; it had obviously been made for a witch about five times larger than she was. "It's more fun when the clothes don't fit."

"Aren't we a little old for dress up?" Hermione asked. Her heart wasn't really in the question, though. The thought of just cutting loose and having fun with her friends was very, very tempting.

"Relax, Hermione... you don't have to be perfect all the time, you know," Luna said. She widened her eyes at the older girl, hoping that she would understand what Luna was saying. Luna was very loyal to her friends, and the fact that Hermione felt somehow less worthy - though she would never admit to it - because her parents were Muggles.

Hermione's mouth fell open, and her cheeks turned pink. She turned away abruptly, and started pulling dresses out of the trunk. "This one would match your eyes," the older girl said shyly. She held out a frothy, lacy confection that was pale blue and was draped in swan feathers. Luna liked it immediately.

"I wonder who these dresses belonged to," Luna said.

Ginny giggled, and then stuck her nose in the air. "To us, surely, Lady Luna," she said.

Luna pulled on the gown. "Of course, your highness," she said. She found a pair of old, faded gloves and, ignoring the fact that they were several centuries newer than the dress, pulled them on as well. "I see Her Grace, Hermione, the Duchess of Granger is very underdressed."

Ginny lifted her hand dramatically to her forehead. "Those horrible black robes! What would Prince Harry, Lord Ronald, and the Duke of Longbottom say?"

"Duchess?" Hermione said delightedly. "I like the sound of that!"

"You just like to boss us around," Ron said, coming up behind them. Hermione's face froze - Luna didn't blame her, Ron had been quite rude to her over the last few weeks - but then relaxed.

Luna cocked her head and looked at Ron. She did not understand the red-haired boy at all, though if he was a girl, she would think that he was going through puberty. He was usually sullen and belligerent by turns, but right now his face was open in a wide smile, and he looked at all three of them with open affection.

"You need bossing around, Ron," Ginny said absently. "Help me find a dress for Hermione!"

"No way," Ron shook his head frantically. His ears turned bright red in a way that Luna found quite endearing. "I'm a bloke. We don't play dress-up. We do bloke things like--"

"Write in diaries?" Ginny said slyly. "That doesn't seem like a very macho thing to do to me. Usually, it's girls that are--"

"It isn't a diary," Ron said insistently. His voice was a little too loud. "It's a journal."

Ginny rolled her eyes. "And there you go again. Why don't you go do macho things, and leave us girls to play dress-up?"

Ron stalked off. Luna watched him go, wondering where the outburst of anger had come from. He mystified her. He leaned up against the wall, and Luna thought he might be trembling a little. She thought this was a rather private moment, and decided to watch Hermione (who was equally interesting, but in a better way) instead. It was interesting to see how many different shades of pink the other girl could go...

"What do you think of this one, Luna?" Hermione asked, breaking into her thoughts. She held up a scarlet and black robe. "Think it's me?"

"If you want it to be," Luna said serenely. She did not think that Hermione's personality would fit into the dress, but her friend had the right to wear whatever she wanted. She eyed the older witch closely. She really was very pretty, but in a gentle, somewhat awkward way that made Luna want to hug her.

Hermione flushed again, but didn't look away. "You really say the oddest things sometimes, Luna. Just like Harry and Ginny..."

"Do I?" Luna asked. "Well... I suppose. And I think that for right now, when you're only thirteen years old, you should wear earth tones... you aren't ready for scarlet and black yet."

"Am I ready for it?" Ginny grinned. "I am a married woman, after all."

"No," Hermione said.

"But you are ready for this." Luna plucked a bottle-green ribbon out of the trunk. "Look... it matches Harry's eyes."

Ginny was about to say something, but a shadow passed over them. "Hey, Princess Ginny!" Ron said. He had apparently gotten over his pique, and was now grinning again. The darkness had fled from his eyes.

"Yeah, Lord Ronald?" Ginny said, though she sounded a little wary.

"I've remembered something else that blokes do," Ron said. He brought the carpet down lower, until he was at the height of Ginny's waist. Quick as a flash, he reached out, seized Ginny, and pulled her over his legs. "They kidnap little princesses!"

"RON!" Ginny shouted, but she was shrieking with laughter. They shot into the air, and their vivid red hair trailed away from them like flames. Luna couldn't help but laugh with them as the carpet rolled drunkenly from side to side while Ginny scrambled to find a better seat. "We've got to tell Dad!"

"Do you think that's very safe?" Hermione said.

"I don't think Ron will let her fall," Luna said. "And they aren't going very fast."

"Still..." Hermione chewed on her bottom lip. "He doesn't know what he's doing, does he?"

Luna shrugged, and turned her attention fully on Hermione. She reached over and brushed the bushy hair out of Hermione's face. "You need to put your duchess dress on, your grace," she said. "And then I'll plait your hair..."

XxxxxxX

Hermione was torn between Ron's angry outburst (another one!) and Luna's unwavering regard. She simply did not understand Ron Weasley anymore; ever since she had met him on the train, he had been a completely different person. He was snappish, and his sarcastic comments were biting and mean sometimes, rather than funny.

But Luna was staring at her again, and Hermione could not keep her thoughts together. She found the younger girl even more perplexing than Ron, and Harry, and Ginny. She seemed to understand things that Hermione didn't voice, and barely thought about. Hermione was not a bundled mass of insecurities, but she had to admit that she'd had such a disadvantage being raised by Muggles. She knew nothing about the Old Laws, for instance...

Well, she hadn't known anything about the Old Laws. Now she'd been reading about it constantly--

Luna was still looking at her. She cast around wildly for something to say (Ginny was still annoyed with Ron, and would not be any help, apparently), and her eyes alit on a rather garish scarlet and black gown. She hated it... until she picked it up. It was soft and pretty and completely feminine in a slightly wicked way. She rather thought that she would never fit into it - not physically, but emotionally and mentally. She was a bookworm... her home was a library, not a ball.

"What do you think of this one, Luna?" she asked. "Think it's me?" She knew the answer was no, but she sort of wished it was yes.

"If you want it to be," Luna said steadily.

Hermione honestly wasn't really aware of the next few bits of conversation. How does this girl understand me so well? It's like she can see me! But how?

"--married," Ginny's voice cut into Hermione's thoughts.

"No," she said absently, because some sort of answer appeared to be expected from her. She watched as Luna appeared to reach out randomly and pull out a ribbon the exact shade of--

"Look..." Luna said. "It matches Harry's eyes."

"Hey, Princess Ginny," Ron said. He had apparently reined in his completely irrational anger, and was now speaking to them again.

"Yeah, Lord Ronald?" Ginny said.

"I've remembered something else that blokes do," he said. He reached out and snatched Ginny up so fast that Hermione squeaked. He soared into the air - surely they were about to fall, Ron had never even been on a carpet before, and Ginny was hardly in a secure position. But both Weasleys were laughing.

"Do you think it's very safe?" Hermione asked.

"I don't think Ron will let her fall," Luna said.

No, he wouldn't, Hermione thought. But she watched them for a little while to be sure. It wasn't that she really thought that Ginny was in danger. But Ron had been acting so odd lately, and while it was very pleasant to see him acting normal, she had the feeling that it wouldn't last. "Still... he doesn't really know what he's doing, does he?"

Ten seconds later, Luna had magically reduced her stress. A minute later, Hermione was dressed in a very pretty, lacy gown, and held a scepter like a queen. She'd never really played dress-up before, and told Luna so.

"Really?" Luna said. Her blue eyes widened. "My mum and I... we used to play all the time. Sometimes even Daddy would play the king or the knight or the cow-wizard; it was always a great deal of fun. Didn't your parents play with you?"

"Well... no," Hermione admitted. "My mother bought me dolls every year for Christmas and my birthday, but I wasn't to play with them. They were porcelain, you know, and ever so expensive. They're in a cabinet, actually. They're all still in their boxes."

"That's just about the saddest thing I've ever heard," Neville said cheerfully. "What's the fun in getting presents if you can't play with them?"

Hermione shrugged, feeling suddenly uncomfortable. She did not like having her emotions out on display like this. She barely knew Luna and Neville. She'd just met Luna, and Neville had never been close... not like Ron and Harry... But then she opened her mouth, and the words seemed to flow out of her. "My parents... they were a little older when they had me. I don't think they expected me, actually. And they've both got very demanding careers - they're both dentists - and they always sort of expected me to be... like them. Frankly, I don't know how they reacted to me being a witch. We got the letter, and Professor Flitwick explained everything... they didn't say anything until the next day, and that was only to tell me that I ought to prepare myself for school."

Neville looked a little confused. "Prepare yourself how? Your parents are Muggles, and you're not to do magic--"

"We went to Diagon Alley to get my school things, and they told me that I should prepare myself for first year... they recommended memorizing the texts, actually," Hermione said in a rush. "And I'm ever so glad that I did."

"You're the best in our year," Neville said simply. "Though I think it has more to do with your natural talent than your ability to memorize. Me... I'm barely even a wizard."

"Don't say that, Neville," Hermione said fiercely. "You're the one who won us the House Cup last year."

"Only because you put the Body-Bind Curse on me," Neville said. He could have been bitter, but he was grinning instead. "You could have told me it was You-Know-Who that you were going after."

"Next time," Hermione promised.

Neville tipped his head back and sighed. He stared at the other three, who were laughing like mad and chasing each other underneath the ceiling. Ron and Ginny were attempting to catch Harry, but he was flying circles around them. "They're all so athletic," he said a little forlornly. It was obvious that he was comparing himself to Ron and Harry and coming up short.

"You have other talents, Neville," Luna said.

"You could lure them down," Hermione pointed out. It occurred to her that Neville was feeling a little left out with Ron and Harry playing in the air where he was so distinctly uncomfortable. "Is there something that boys like to play on the ground?"

"I suppose... I suppose I could build a fort," Neville said, looking around.

"There's lots of stuff to throw at each other," Luna said.

Hermione rolled her eyes. Boys.

XxxxxxX

Neville strode away from the girls and looked around for the very best spot for a fort. Truth be told, pretty much every square inch of this place Harry had instinctively known was here would be ideal for an encampment. But he wanted it to be perfect, so he waited until he saw a wardrobe lying on one side directly in front of a small cave that had been hollowed out in the piles of junk.

He hastily threw together a place where one of them could go on the offensive, and yelled, "Harry! Ron! I've built a fort... let's play war!"

He felt an immense sense of relief when Harry joined him not a minute later. "Ron's coming," he said. "He left Ginny with the girls again."

Ron pounded up, grinning, and then stopped abruptly. "Nice fortifications, Neville," he said.

Neville beamed. Harry looked a little bewildered, as if he did not really know how to play. He suspected that Harry had not had much in the way of friends when he was younger. Truth be told... they were a bit old for this, but it was fun anyway. Neville could pretend that he was six years old, and his cousins had actually liked him enough to allow him to play with them. Except that Harry and Ron were so much cooler than his cousins...

"Suppose it'll be two on one," Ron said. He smiled at the both of them. "I think it would be too unfair if I was on someone's team... neither one of you seem to know much about warfare, and I learned - painfully - from the twins."

Neville was grateful. He had expected that Harry and Ron would team up, and Neville would be decimated within seconds. Harry looked uncertain for a moment, but then he smiled. "What do we do?" he asked.

"Throw things at each other," Ron and Neville said at the same time.

"Spells?" Harry asked.

"Nothing that can damage," Neville said. "Though... I'm not sure you should, Harry. You're better than us."

"Enough talk," Ron said. He positioned himself behind the overturned sofa with the blooming flower print. One by one, he began gathering up items for ammunition. Neville immediately copied him and Harry, after a moment's pause, did as well until there was quite a pile of items at their feet behind the wardrobe.

What happened next could only be described as one of the most fun experiences of Neville's life. Ron was a worthy opponent, and though he ducked too quickly, Neville almost pelted him with a candle.

"I'M THE KING OF THE WORLD!" Ron shouted, as he hopped up onto the sofa and did a little jig. He was making himself a target, but Harry and Neville were laughing too hard to throw anything, not even when several books flew at them.

"How do we know who wins?" Harry asked, once they paused to restock their ammunition.

"Whoever has the least amount of bruises," Neville shrugged.

Harry turned, ready to throw, when one of the girls screamed. Harry's head immediately swiveled around, and Neville knew that it must be Ginny.

"Ginny," Harry breathed. He leapt up and maneuvered around the fortifications.

"Ginny," Ron said in quite a different voice. "I'm sure she's fine, Harry, let's keep playing!"

But Harry didn't answer, and when Ginny screamed again, Neville followed, not sparing Ron a second glance.

XxxxxxX

"Let's explore a little!" Ginny said brightly. She picked up the hem of her dress, straightened her back, and lifted her chin, as she thought a real princess might. Luna and Hermione, who had apparently become the very best of friends in her absence, followed readily in line. Luna, who had found a pair of very high heels, wobbled drunkenly as they wandered the towering stacks of abandoned things.

"Of course, your highness," Hermione said tentatively. Ginny got the feeling that she hadn't played very much as a child. Her husband had truly had a most wonderful idea - but most of his ideas were wonderful. Like Quidditch, and giving her the ring before he left.

Luna giggled. "Lady Luna thinks that exploring is a great idea!"

A particularly loud shout and a whoop of exhilaration from Ron met them as they rounded a corner. "The Duchess of Granger," Hermione said dryly, "thinks that we should stay as far away as possible from the warring king, lord, and duke."

There was a loud bang and an explosion of sparks. Ginny shook her head. Boys and their games, she thought, as all three boys laughed loudly. "Princess Ginny thinks that is a most excellent idea."

"Oooh!" Hermione said, pointing. "Look, Princess Ginny! A tiara!"

"Perfect," Luna said. She made a ballerina move and gracefully detached an old, worn out tiara from a pile of junk. She held glanced at it, then held it out Ginny grinned and reached out--

And screamed in pain when her hands came into contact with the tiara. It burned and burned like she'd stuck her hands on hot coals. It seemed to last for an eternity, and all she could do was stare down in horror as her flesh blistered, and the tiara adhered to her skin. Then, just when the pain was almost too much to bear, the tiara was pulled forcibly out of her hands and flung away; she watched it land on a stack and tumble out of sight.

She held out her palms, and wailed again. "It hurts," she whimpered. She tucked her hands under her armpits. "It hurts."

"GINNY!" Harry shouted. He skidded to a halt, Neville right behind him. He looked horrified and furious. "What happened?"

"I don't know," Hermione said immediately. "She touched a tiara - Luna handed it to her - and it just started burning her. Then Luna threw it away," she pointed. "It fell over there."

The dark look on Harry's face told Ginny that he wanted to kill the object for hurting her. "It's getting better," she said in a wobbly voice. She hated how weak she sounded. The pain had lessened, but it was still intense.

"Let me see," Harry said in a gentle voice. Ginny held out her hands. He frowned at it. "I wish I knew healing spells," he said vaguely. "It seems like something I should know, doesn't it? I wish you hadn't thrown that tiara, Luna... I'd like to smash it."

"If it's any consolation, Ginny did as much damage to it as it did to her," Hermione said. "I saw it... it had started to melt where she was touching it."

"Good," Harry said.

Ron ambled around the corner. "What's happened?" he asked. He sounded and looked very annoyed, and Ginny felt a little hurt. What happened to the Ron she used to know? She remembered how she'd once fallen and scraped her knee, and he'd scooped her up and run with her all the way back to the Burrow. What's happened to him?

She held out her hands to him. "I got burned," she said.

He didn't even look. "Probably just you being stupid again," he said. "Couldn't you have - I don't know - not managed to get yourself hurt? We were having fun!"

"Ron!" Hermione said in a shocked voice. "Could you be any more selfish?"

"Don't talk to Ginny like that," Harry's brows slammed together.

Ron rolled his eyes. "Oh, yes. I'm sorry," he said in a very sarcastic voice. "I forgot that she's your wife"--he made it sound like a dirty word--"now. But she's still my sister."

"Shut up," Ginny said. She just wanted to get to Madam Pomfrey, and she did not want this to lead to an explosion between her brother and her husband. "Can we - can we just go to Madam Pomfrey now?"

"Of course," Harry said immediately. He stopped glaring at Ron, and put his arm around her shoulder. "I'm going to help you change," he said. "Everyone clear out, Ginny's got to get her school robes back on..."

Luna and Hermione led them back to where they had left their robes, and Harry pulled her around a stack, peeled off her gown, and very, very carefully put her robes back on. "I don't know what happened," she whispered. "The tiara - it didn't hurt Luna at all."

"She had gloves on," Harry said grimly. "Maybe that was it."

Ginny choked on a sob. Harry's head immediately popped up in alarm.

"What is it?" he asked, alarmed. "Did I hurt you?"

"No," she said. "I just - I don't understand what's happened to Ron."

"Me either," Harry said, troubled. "He just isn't himself..."

"Let's go," she sighed.

They went back to the others. Harry kept his hand tucked under her elbow, and she held her hands palm up. They were blackened and cracked something awful, and her face streamed with tears. It had hurt more than anything, and she didn't know why...

"Where's Ron?" Harry asked.

"He left," Hermione said. She looked really uncomfortable.

Ginny stared at her for a minute, but the older girl wouldn't meet her eyes. She sighed. She didn't really want to know what Ron had said. She just wanted to get to the hospital wing...

She cried all the way there, hating herself for acting like such a baby, but she couldn't help it. Harry looked extremely angry about something, but whenever he looked at her, his green eyes were very gentle. It helped ease the pain a little, knowing how much he loved her. Her burned hands didn't feel quite so painful.

Madam Pomfrey clucked over her, but did not ask too many questions. She seemed to take it in stride that they honestly did not know what had happened. And it was, apparently, a normal burn. Ginny closed her eyes when the sight of her flesh mending was too much and her stomach rolled. Harry stroked her back, and Ginny was able to keep her dinner down. It took a while, but the pain faded.

"That was interesting," Luna said. "I've never seen that happen before."

Ginny gave a watery chuckle. "I hope I never have to see it again."

"Not if I can help it," Harry said intensely.

Madam Pomfrey kept her a few minutes longer. By the time they left, Ginny was feeling rather sleepy and she leaned up against Harry's shoulder rather more than usual until he was doing most of the walking for them. Another rather nice benefit to marriage, Ginny thought dozily. She blinked at the small form lying in the corridor ahead of them, wondering why it looked so funny. It was... something surrounded by a dark liquid--

"Merlin!" Neville shouted. He stopped in his tracks and stared down at it.

"Is that - is that - is that..." Hermione stammered. Luna looked ill.

"I didn't think this would happen," Harry said in a bewildered voice, quiet enough that only Ginny heard him.

"I didn't either," she said.

Ginny started to breathe heavily, and she was once again afraid of vomiting up her dinner. Mrs. Norris - what was left of her - was lying in a pool of her own blood. She'd been torn apart, literally, as if she'd been set upon by a wild beast.