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New Year, New Hope | ||||||
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Category: Post-OotP, Buried Gems Characters:Harry/Ginny Genres: Angst, Drama, Fluff, General Warnings: None Story is Complete Rating: PG-13 Reviews: 117 Summary: It's Harry's sixth year and Ginny Weasley's "Harry-Watching" has paid off. In this sequel to "You're Still You" the two teens explore their new relationship while dealing with the challenges of life threatened by war. Hitcount: Story Total: 89440; Chapter Total: 5611 |
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Part Fourteen “I can’t believe how hard the OWLs were!” Ginny exclaimed as she, Luna, Hermione, Harry, Ron and Neville descended the front steps of the castle. “I’m glad that’s over with!” “Ah, freedom!” Ron exclaimed spreading his arms wide and twirling around in a circle. “No more tests for three months,” Harry chimed in, smiling and shaking his head at Ron’s antics. “No more Snape breathing down my neck!” breathed Neville, a blissful expression coming over his face. “But you said you thought you did well,” Hermione said, looking slightly scandalized. “Yesterday you were saying how easy Defence Against the Dark Arts was because you’d been in the DA last year. And the day before that you had even enjoyed your Herbology OWL.” Ginny just shrugged and continued walking. “Well, I don’t think they were that bad,” Luna added. “Ancient Runes and Arithmancy had a few tricky questions, but overall, I think I did particularly well on both of those.” Ginny stared at Luna. “You and Hermione always pass your exams with three hundred percent and stress-free revision while the rest of us have to bully our brains into remembering what we learned five years ago!” “That’s not true,” Hermione retorted. “I revised plenty last year while trying to make those two gits (she pointed at Ron and Harry) crack the books once in a while. I also think you two had it easy in Astronomy last night because there weren’t any distractions like there were last year!” she added with a significant glance over her shoulder at Hagrid’s hut. “Will you three stop!” complained Ron. “We go through this every year: I do not like rehashing every single exam after I’ve taken it and I don’t feel like hearing all about yours. Our exams are fait accompli and now it’s time for some fun!” Ginny looked at her brother in surprise. “’Fait accompli,’ huh? Ron, I think you’ve been spending too much time around Hermione lately.” Ron just smirked at his sister and linked arms with Hermione. As they approached the village, Harry asked, “Where to first?” The group decided to split up and meet in front of the Three Broomsticks at half-past eleven. They paired off and scattered in different directions. “Harry,” Ginny said as the two meandered their way down the high street, “All I need to do is get a couple of quills and I’m done. What about you?” “I’m all set, Gin,” Harry told her. “Want to do some exploring after we get your quills?” “Sure, as long as we don’t go too far. I may not be able to get back in time.” She looked appraisingly at the ornate walking stick she was leaning on rather heavily. Harry took out his wand and twirled it between his long fingers. “I could always carry you,” he said, a mischievous glint in his eye. “But it would be more fun to float you back to town.” “Don’t you dare, Potter!” Ginny exclaimed, producing her own wand and brandishing it in front of Harry’s nose. “I happen to know you’d look rather interesting with a bunch of bat bogeys flapping about your face.” At Harry’s look of mock horror, she turned on her heel and began limping hurriedly toward Scrivenshaft’s Quill Shop with her walking stick clunking with every other step. “Did I ever tell you that you sound just like Mad-Eye Moody when you do that?” he asked her as he caught up. “How un-original, Harry. You need to talk to Ron about the insults he’s been throwing at me lately. You’re beginning to sound like a parrot.” “Well, it’s true.” Ginny scowled at him until he added, “But you’re a lot cuter, you know.” Ginny maintained the scowl for a few more moments, and then had to give in to the fit of giggles which had been forcing their way forth. She turned to Harry and said with a snicker, “You’re forgiven for now. But if you bring it up again, you may just find yourself looking down the business end of my wand.” “I don’t doubt that,” he smirked. “Although I just might gamble on my chances.” He waggled his eyebrows at her as she playfully stuck out her tongue at him. They had reached the entrance to Scrivenshaft’s by now, so Ginny popped in and made her purchase. (The four new eagle feather quills she bought just barely fit into the Muggle-style handbag she had slung over her shoulder without being charmed smaller. The two rolls of note-sized parchment and the small bottle of peacock blue ink she managed to squeeze in next to her money pouch.) The pair then resumed their stroll down the high street. The weather was perfect for a walk and Harry, it seemed, was in a rather romantic mood. He reached over, gently extracted the walking stick from Ginny’s grasp and offered his arm as substitute support. Ginny smiled up at him as she took his arm. They headed out of town, past Dervish and Banges and the few out-lying cottages with their enormous gardens, where the road became a winding country lane. They eventually turned a corner and Harry stopped abruptly. “Harry?” Shaking his head, Harry led Ginny over to a style at the end of the lane. He gave her walking stick back and leaned heavily on the top rail of the style, gazing toward the mountain which overshadowed Hogsmeade. Ginny stood next to him, her hand resting lightly on his forearm, and waited for Harry to explain. At length, Harry said quietly, “Ron, Hermione and I met Sirius here after the Second Task two years ago.” He pointed up the mountain. “There’s a faint path over the rocks and through the trees that leads to a cave hidden in the mountainside about a third of the way up. Sirius lived up there for months, my fourth year...” He trailed off, a faraway look descending upon his face. “This is the first time you’ve been back here, isn’t it?” Harry only nodded. “Is it...is it hard for you...I mean, the memories...” Harry turned and smiled at her. “It’s all right, Ginny. I brought you here because I thought I was ready to come back myself. I think I’m just a little disappointed there wasn’t a big, shaggy, black dog waiting for us like it did that other time.” Ginny smiled. “I’m glad I came, then,” she told Harry quietly and watched contentedly as he wiggled his fingers between hers until their hands were intertwined. They leaned against the rail for a while longer, then, with a small sigh, she looked at her watch. “Harry, it’s eleven o’clock. Shouldn’t we be getting back?” Harry nodded. With one last look at the mountain he took her walking stick again and extended his arm to her. A wistful sigh escaped him as they headed back toward town and their rendezvous with the others at the Three Broomsticks. They didn’t even get close to the pub, though. They had just passed Zonko’s and were headed toward the post office when the balmy day took on a sudden chill. Looking up, Ginny and Harry spotted a sight neither of them had ever expected: an enormous blue swarm of... “Pixies?” Ginny looked at Harry for confirmation of her identification. “Yes, definitely Cornish pixies,” Harry agreed as they stood rooted to the spot. The pixies came swooping out of the sky toward the village to snatch at hair, wands, bags...anything that was not tied down. Several of the blue creatures spotted Harry and Ginny and the two pulled out their wands to defend themselves. “They’ve been bewitched!” Ginny yelled as her Immobulus hex failed to freeze a pixie that was bearing down on them. “Try Stunning them, then,” Harry shouted to her. He sent a jet of orange light at a pixie, which did nothing but ignore it. The pixie then made a bee-line for him. Ginny cast the charm and was quite relieved when this spell worked. Minutes later, when the last of the swarm had passed over the high street, she commented, “I’m glad that’s over with!” “You’d better hope that’s the last of them. They’re bloody distracting,” Harry said dryly shaking his head as he surveyed the piles of pixies littering the street in front of them. Up ahead, students and residents alike were doing much the same. “They’re not supposed to swarm like that, according to Hagrid.” Ginny silently began to count stunned pixies, but gave up trying when the number of fallen creatures she reached two hundred and nine. They resumed their trek toward the pub, realizing that the real count easily must have been several thousand. Thank goodness there aren’t any Dementors yet, she thought catching sight of the look of cautious relief on Harry’s face. He must be thinking the same thing. It still puzzled her at the sudden change in temperature, though. “Do you see Ron and Hermione or Neville and Luna?” Harry asked, voicing Ginny’s next worry. Ginny scanned the street and the clusters of hurrying students. “Over there, Harry!” she exclaimed pointing toward the narrow alley between Zonko’s and the shop next to it. She could just make out Ron’s bright head peering around the corner toward the sweet shop: her brother’s height seemed to be an advantage at the moment. They hastened toward their friends as some of the older students and the residents of Hogsmeade began forming battle lines, ready to take on whatever threat was coming next. “Thank goodness you’re here!” Hermione exclaimed as Harry and Ginny approached. “Those pixies were awful!” She began forcing her hair back into the clip it had escaped from during the scrimmage with the pixies. “I told you they’d be fine,” Ron retorted. Hermione glared at Ron. “I can’t help it if I worry about them. It shows that I’ve got more feelings than Merlin gave a pencil!” Ron looked puzzled for a second, then retorted, “You take that back–how dare you accuse me of being insensitive!” Hermione opened her mouth to respond, but Harry beat her to it. “Hey, you two,” Harry said with a worried glance up the street. “This is no time for arguing. Everyone here has to be together in this...no distractions. They need us over there.” He pointed further up the street where the outlines of their opponents, most likely Death Eaters, were growing larger. They could hear the sounds of many footfalls and knew the next battle would be upon them any moment. “Sorry, mate,” Ron said apologetically. He glanced fearfully toward the advancing foe. “How many do you think there are?” Hermione followed his gaze. “No telling until they get here. No matter what, though, they’re coming from Hogwarts. I think I heard someone say there’s fighting at the castle.” She had no time to say more. What looked like a battalion of Death Eaters had reached Hogsmeade and was spreading out to surround the village. As they watched, someone shot the Dark Mark into the sky, causing everyone in the high street to look upward. A deathly silence descended on the village. Then, someone screamed. “Oh, God,” Hermione breathed, a trembling hand flying to her mouth. Harry took command of their group immediately. “They can’t get away with that,” he declared vehemently. “Neville, Luna. Get Ginny into Honeydukes and down into the cellar. She’ll be safe there. Ron, Hermione. Come with me.” The tunnel! He wants me to escape back to school using the tunnel. No, I won’t hide like a scared little child. Ginny stepped in front of him. “I’m going with you,” she said forcefully. “You can’t make me stay here.” Anger darkened his features briefly. “Like hell, you’re not!” he told her heatedly. Ginny glared up at Harry. “I made a promise that I’d stick by you in battle; that I’d be at your side standing next to you.” She glanced at the others. “We all did, Harry…so you wouldn’t be alone when you faced Voldemort. Now you’re asking me to disavow my pledge? That’s not fair!” Harry blanched and looked to the others for support. “Can you honestly tell me that you can dodge and move quickly enough to avoid being hit?” he asked quietly. Shaking her head resignedly, Ginny murmured, “All right, I’ll go. But I don’t want to.” The truth was harder to accept than anything Ginny had yet experienced. Several loud booms echoed through the streets as shouted curses began flying past the alley. The teens could hear the sounds of breaking glass and more explosions as the battle began in earnest. Harry drew her into a quick hug, his lips grazing her forehead. “Thank you,” he mumbled into her hair. “I hope you know I want you with me. But having you safe to come back to gives me great hope, Gin. I need that right now.” Then, he, Ron and Hermione ran out into the street to join the fray, Hermione now arguing with Harry, it seemed, all the way. “Come on, Ginny,” Neville said drawing his wand. Luna did the same and the three cautiously ventured around the corner toward Honeydukes, ducking several times as spells went whizzing over their heads and hit the building behind them. The main combat line had now progressed as far as the post office across the street. The sweet shop was deserted. The owners had left the door unlocked, Ginny assumed, because it probably would have been fruitless to lock it if the front windows were blown out by wand-fire during the mêlée. The three students entered the store and Ginny locked them in. “If Harry wants me safe I’m going to put something between me and the battle,” she told Neville and Luna. She pulled down the black-out shade hanging over the window. “I just wish there was something I could do besides hide.” They watched her with compassionate expressions on their faces. Ginny began pacing. “Neville, Luna, I can’t leave this fight. Harry’s out there...and Hermione and my brother! I have to do something...anything! Help me you two!” Luna was peering through the front window at the multi-coloured flashes of light flying past, her normally far-off expression completely gone. “There is something you can do,” she said, pointing across the street. “Look over there,” she exclaimed, her voice void of its usual dreamy tone, “there’s a stranded group of Ravenclaw third years caught across the street. I recognize them! They’re directly in the line of fire!” Neville was at the door almost instantly. “We’re going after them,” he said decisively. “We’re going to get them over here safely. Luna, come with me and cover my back. Ginny, lock the door and be ready to open it when we get here. Luna and I will round up as many third and fourth years as we can. There’s no way, even with the spells they’ve learned in Defence this year, they can defend themselves against the Death Eaters!” Ginny nodded and her two friends slipped out the door. She locked it behind them, and then took up a post where she could see quite a lot of the street in front of the shop. She watched, glancing both toward the main battle and to where Neville and Luna were now crouched behind a barrel trying to persuade the younger students to follow them back to Honeydukes. From where she stood she could see Harry, Ron and Hermione taking on some of the Death Eaters; Ron and Hermione seemed to be working together, Hermione fending off the pixies as well as maintaining a protection shield around the two of them while Ron cast spells at the Death Eaters in rapid succession. They traded places a few minutes later which seemed to throw the Death Eater into momentary confusion. Harry, meanwhile, took on his opponent alone, a multitude of rainbow-coloured jets of light emitting from his wand. Ginny marvelled at the power and grace he exhibited as he fought. It must be all those hours with Professor Dumbledore and Kingsley Shacklebolt, she thought in admiration. Ginny wrenched her gaze from Harry just in time to unlock the door for Neville, Luna and the four Ravenclaw girls they had guided across the street. “We saw another group in an alley over there,” Neville said pointing. “I’m going back for them.” “I’m coming with you,” Luna said as Neville headed out the door. Ginny heard her mutter “Protego” just before the door slammed shut. She turned to the Ravenclaws. “I’m Ginny. What are your names?” she asked. The younger girls nudged each other, no one wanting to go first. Finally, one squeaked, “I’m Maura.” The others followed suit. “I’m Samantha.” “Emily.” “Rebecca.” “Pleased to meet you,” Ginny told them. “Now, let’s get you somewhere safe.” She pointed to the door behind the counter. “The cellar of this store is probably deserted. You get there through that door. I think you’ll be safe down there.” “What do you mean, ‘probably’?” Maura asked. Ginny thought a moment and then gestured to her walking staff. “I can’t do steps very well,” she admitted. “I’ve been here almost ten minutes and no one has come in to find out who’s in here. Most likely, the owners are outside defending the village.” “Oh,” The girls said as one. “Are you coming with us?” Rebecca inquired. “No,” Ginny said. “My friends have gone back out for another group and will be coming back here with them soon. I need to stay up here and protect the door.” “Okay. That makes sense,” Emily said. “Let’s go check it out.” The girls began walking around the counter. “Stop!” Ginny called. “You’ll need to light your wands. It’s dark down there. You’ll need the wand light until we can find some lamps.” The one Ginny remembered as Samantha suddenly wailed, “I can’t remember the spell!” “Lumis,” Maura said. “It’s ‘Lumos,’” Ginny corrected gently. “Oh, right,” Maura muttered looking slightly chagrined. “Come on you lot. Let’s explore this place. We’ll see what we can find.” As the girls headed down the stairs, Ginny heard a loud knock on the door. She drew back the black-out shade to find Neville and two boys waiting to be let in. Luna stood a little apart, her back to the building and her wand ready. As Ginny let the boys in, a purple jet of light struck Luna’s shield with a loud clang causing her to stumble back toward the door. Neville shoved the boys into the shop and grabbed Luna by the neck of her robes, pulling her inside just as Ginny slammed the door and relocked it. “That was close,” Luna gasped, sticking a finger down the neck of her robes and rubbing her throat where the material had cut into her skin. Neville introduced the younger boys as Neil and Nikhil who turned out to be brothers from Hufflepuff. Neil, the fourth year, stuck out his hand to shake Ginny’s. She smiled at his formality. Neville had turned to where Luna was now leaning against a barrel of jelly slugs. “Luna, are you all right?” he inquired, a look of concern on his face. “I’m fine. I think that was the hex that got Hermione last year. The sparks were beautiful.” The familiar dazed look was back on her face. Neville walked over to Luna and the two began talking in low voices. Ginny watched the exchange silently, a small smile playing about her lips despite the danger she knew they were all in. Knowing that she was staring she tore her attention from her friends and focused her attention on the Hufflepuffs. These boys will know a little more than the girls about defensive spell work if push comes to shove, she thought somewhat satisfied. Aloud, she asked, “What’s happening out there? I can’t see much of the battle from here.” “The village is crawling with Death Eaters,” Nikhil said. “We hid in that alley across the street when the pixies flew by. One nearly got my wand.” “The fighting is slowly coming this way,” Neil added as more spells hit the building. “Some of the shops are already on fire.” “Have you ever done any duelling?” Ginny asked with a glance over her shoulder at the street. The two boys shook their heads. “Not like this,” Neil said. “We’ve had some practice in Defence class, but I don’t think we know enough to go out and do what the sixth and seventh years are trying to do out there.” “And we definitely can’t fight like Harry Potter,” Nikhil said in an awed voice that made Ginny’s heart surge with pride. Luna joined the three just then to ask Ginny to release the locking charm she’d cast. She and Neville were going back outside to look for other students who might need help. When her friends had gone, Ginny turned back to the boys. “Do you remember everyone from your years that came to Hogsmeade today?” When they nodded affirmatively, Ginny dug in her bag and produced a small roll of parchment, a small ink bottle and one of her new quills. “Please write down everybody’s name you can remember and what year they are, starting with yours,” she told them. “How come you need the names?” Neil asked taking the parchment from her. “The list might come in handy when the teachers and Aurors start looking for the missing. Professor Dumbledore can check my list against Mr. Filch’s. If we know who is in the village, but isn’t present here, we’ll know to start looking for them...they might have become injured...the Death Eaters might have…” Ginny’s voice faltered as she tried to put a terrifying thought out of her mind. Shaking her head, she added, “We’ll cross off each name as Luna and Neville bring them back here. OH!” Ginny let out a small shriek as a spell shattered several of the window panes behind her. Whipping out her wand, she cast a repairing spell on the shards of glass. “Wicked!” Nikhil gasped, his eyes growing wide. “Thanks for teaching me that spell, Ginny!” She smiled at him. “Here’s another that’s quite useful.” She then pointed her wand at the window and uttered the unbreakable charm Hermione had taught her. She repeated the charm on the window of the shop’s door. Neil handed Ginny the completed list along with the quill and ink bottle. “The last I saw them, they were all in the Three Broomsticks. Are Neville and Luna going up the street that far? That’s where most of the fighting is right now.” “Probably. Neville’s that kind of boy. He’ll go anywhere he thinks he’s needed just as long as he doesn’t have to be on the front lines, is all.” When Neil looked at her quizzically she added, “Neville went with Harry to the Ministry of Magic last year and was part of the duelling there. Harry says that Neville may not be the most accurate spell-caster in a fight, but he provides great support and wouldn’t go anywhere dangerous without him.” Nikhil’s eyes grew wide for a second time in almost that many minutes as she spoke. “You mean…you’re friends with Harry Potter?” “Yes. He’s a fellow Gryffindor and best mates with my brother, Ron,” Ginny said her pride evident in her voice. “Brilliant! Have you ever talked to him?” “Oh, yes. Quite recently,” Ginny said quietly, glancing briefly out the window. “In fact, he ordered me to hide in here while he and the others in our group joined the villagers in protecting Hogsmeade.” Her thoughts drifted outside to the fighting she could hear but not see. “He ordered you in here?” “Yes. He’s my boyfriend and he didn’t want me to get hurt out there,” she said waved her hand at her walking stick. “But first and always, he’s my friend.” Nikhil had just inhaled to ask another question when the Ravenclaw girls returned. “We found some lamps,” Emily said happily holding hers up. The others did the same. “Good,” Ginny said smiling. “Let’s light two of them and put those downstairs. The others can go over on the counter to use later.” She handed the quill, ink and parchment, explaining what she wanted, to Maura who gave her unlit lantern to Emily to put on the counter. When the others came back, they huddled together to complete the list. “Not all of us got to come,” Maura told Ginny when they were finished. She pointed to the names. “This girl, Orla Quirke, doesn’t have permission to come to Hogsmeade, so she’s at the castle. Then, Mike and Tony are doing detention with Filch for something they did during Care of Magical Creatures. See, I’ve written down where they’re supposed to be. I guess it’s just the four of us and the three boys here.” Ginny eyed the list. “Do you know where those three might have gone today?” “Probably Zonko’s,” Rebecca said disgust evident in her voice. “I heard Henry say something about getting prepared for summer holidays.” “I’ll have Neville and Luna check the joke shop out when they go out next,” Ginny said. “There might be someone trapped there who can’t get out on their own.” She was thoughtful for a moment trying to think of what to have the others do to keep them from getting scared should the battle intensify on their end of the street. She looked at the group around her and said, “In the meantime, why don’t you lot go downstairs and practice that unbreakable charm on the boxes of sweets. If we protect the merchandise, I think the owners will be pleased.” Neil looked scandalized. “I’m not going to take anything! Don’t you trust me?” “Of course, I do,” Ginny said, thinking of how Fred and George might have taken advantage of a similar situation when they were younger. “But someone else Neville and Luna bring in might think it fun to nick something when no one’s looking and I don’t want to be blamed.” The younger students seemed to think about this, and then began drifting down to the storeroom in ones and twos. Ginny peered out the window again, and spied Neville and Luna dodging spells and herding half a dozen students toward the sweet shop. At the last moment, she threw open the door. “Thanks for that,” Neville panted. “It’s bloody awful out there. Much worse than the Death chamber was last year.” Ginny cringed inwardly at his remark as she closed the door of the shop. “I have a list of students from Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff for you,” she said recovering her voice. She pointed to the names of the three Ravenclaw boys. “Their house mates think they went to Zonko’s.” “Good. Let’s have a look,” Neville took the parchment. “You can cross off these three Ravenclaws. They came with us just now.” He indicated three of the newcomers who were standing off to one side with Luna. Ginny crossed off the Ravenclaws and then turned back to Neville as he said, “The other three are from Slytherin.” Ginny eyed the group of Slytherins over Neville’s shoulder. The older of the two girls and a boy looked as if they wanted to go back out and join the battle. The younger girl just looked plain scared. “What’s the plan now, Neville?” she asked taking back the parchment. Neville leaned against a wall and closed his eyes. He was beginning to look tired. “I’m going back out there. I haven’t seen any of the Gryffindors who where were in line with us yet; I think they were all in the Three Broomsticks… that was the first building the Death Eaters hit. There were so many in there…” He let the sentence end in a frustrated sigh. Then, he murmured, “I just hope everybody got out…” Ginny knew the feeling. She also knew that Neville needed some hope, but all she could offer him and Luna was her support. “You’re doing the best you can, both of you,” she said quietly. “I’d be out there, too, if I could. Here…maybe this will help.” She quickly found two tall glasses on a display shelf and, muttering a spell her mother had taught her, filled them with water. She then handed them to her friends. Luna smiled her thanks and joined Neville against the wall. Ginny now turned her attention to the Slytherins. She handed over the parchment list to the older girl and repeated the request she had earlier made of the other two groups. To her surprise, instead of getting a surly response the other girl, the younger one, began to cry. “I’m so scared,” she wailed, tears running down her face. She glanced at her housemates. “They want to go back out there, but I can’t!” As Ginny took the distraught girl in her arms, the boy said, “Don’t mind Imogene. She cries at the drop of a hat. I have no idea why the Sorting Hat put her in Slytherin. Everyone in the common room is sick of her constant blubbering.” Ginny glared at him. “She has a right to be scared. War is a terrible thing, no matter what side you’re on. I have only one request. Put your name and year on that paper so I know you were here. Then, if you choose, you can go back out there and chose your side.” I hope you get your due, too, she thought, then mentally kicked herself. Professor Dumbledore would not be proud of that attitude, Ginevra. That kind of enmity between Houses wasn’t going to make the war go away any quicker. The two Slytherins gave the parchment and quill back to Ginny having identified themselves and the other third and fourth years from their House who had come to Hogsmeade. Then, without another word, they slipped out the door and down the street. “Can I really stay here?” the weepy girl asked Ginny. “Of course you can, Imogene. Anyone who wants to stay. Let’s go into the storeroom and see what the others are up to.” “Give me a minute,” Imogene sniffed. She looked relieved as she produced a handkerchief and blew her nose loudly. While she was composing herself, Ginny took the time to cast a few anti-theft spells around the main candy shop. She could have sworn the two Slytherins had grabbed some sweets on their way out: they had seen her take the glasses down from the display and she wondered if they thought she was giving them license to nick things, too. She hoped her hunch about them was wrong, though. The two girls finally went down into the storeroom followed by the three Ravenclaw boys. Their housemates and the two Hufflepuffs were looking pleased with themselves: everyone, it seemed, had figured out how to perform the unbreakable charm. They all had successfully cast it on a large glass apothecary jar which had only been smashed twice when it was dropped on the floor. (Nikhil had proudly repaired it each time.) Now, the group was finishing up casting the spell on the boxes of sweets. Ginny introduce Imogene who was immediately recognized by Emma, who inquired if she knew the spell. As Ginny mounted the stairs, the Ravenclaw group gathered around their housemates and the Slytherin and were excitedly relaying their new knowledge to the newcomers. “We’re off again, Ginny,” Luna said as Ginny returned to the ground floor. “Where are you going?” “The Three Broomsticks. It was packed when we left shortly before the Death Eaters appeared. I have a bad feeling we’re not going to find anything good in there,” Neville said shaking his head. Ginny patted his arm. “Chin up, Neville. No matter what you find there, you did not cause the damage. You aren’t the responsible party for what you’ll find. I hope you know you’re doing a terrific job here.” She gestured toward the storeroom door. “There are ten grateful students down in that storeroom because you and Luna were concerned enough for their safety to bring them here. Do me a favour…just stay safe yourselves.” Then, before her emotions got the best of her and Neville could protest, she opened the door to let them out. Ginny took up her post behind the door again, listening to the screams and shouts filtering into the shop through the window. From where she stood she could see most of the street in front of the shop as well. She knew the battle had intensified while she had been downstairs. The figures which had been unidentifiable just minutes ago had become recognizable people: two Aurors she vaguely recognized from the Order lurched past, their wands flashing at the Death Eaters they battled. Ginny saw Justin Finch-Fletchley and Ernie Macmillan from last year’s DA go by: they were in Harry’s year and were throwing curses at a Death Eater as they raced from one hiding place to another. On the far side of the street, in the alley where the Ravenclaw girls had huddled, Ginny recognized Cho Chang and her friend Marietta. They were taking turns firing spells at the attackers. Ginny smiled as the seventh years celebrated a well-placed full body bind that caused a black-hooded figure to fall flat on its masked face. She bit her lip as she thought of all her friends who were scattered about the village. She wanted to be out there, but deep down, knew Harry was right in sending her here. Harry, are you there? It’s me, Ginny. I’m safely locked in Honeydukes and I hope you’re trying to stay safe, too. She didn’t know if he’d hear her thoughts or not, but at least it was worth a try. When no reply came, she grasped her angel and sent Harry strengthening thoughts, hoping that he’d at least feel something through their connection. Another wave of pixies began to mix with the human combatants. Some seemed to be flying in from the direction of the Forbidden Forest and Hogwarts while others must have revived from their earlier Stunning and were drifting up from where they lay in the streets. No matter where the creatures came from, they were causing mayhem and making it hard for anyone to take aim. Ginny watched Cho and Marietta pick off several before one flew close enough to snatch Marietta’s wand. As the girls retreated into the alley after Stunning the pixie and recovering the wand, Ginny began forming a plan of attack. She knew that she was incapable of actually duelling, but she and some of the willing third and fourth years could actually be useful to their side. Keeping everyone busy would prevent them from becoming too frightened and/or out of mischief. Going to the door behind the counter she surveyed the group below. She noticed that most of the boys were pacing while the girls huddled together in groups of three or four. “Is there anyone who would like something to do?” she called. Immediately, several hands were raised, their owners brightening at the idea of being useful. “The fighting has moved down toward us. The pixies are back again and making it difficult for everyone out there. I’ve just watched two seventh years defend themselves against both the Death Eaters and the pixies and think I know how we can become involved without actually fighting.” “Do we have to go outside?” someone asked. “Not if you don’t want to,” Ginny replied. “If I go outside, or even if I don’t, someone will have to watch both the doors to the shop. I’m expecting Neville and Luna to reappear sometime soon and they need to be let in. Anyone who wishes to stay inside can act as a sentry.” “Will we be learning any new spells?” This question came from Nikhil who looked at Ginny rather expectantly. She smiled at him as she said, “I’ll teach you everything we need. Now, who wants to help?” The boys volunteered immediately as did two of the Ravenclaw girls, Maura and Rebecca. Imogene, the Slytherin, stood up. “As long as I can stay inside I’ll help,” she told Ginny in a determined voice. Ginny smiled. “All right, you lot. Come with me.” She led the way back into the sweet shop where she stopped just on the other side of the counter. “We need four sentries: two for the back door and two for the front. Do all of you remember who Neville and Luna are?” “We know Luna,” Rebecca said. “She’s a little peculiar, but she’s nice.” “Good,” Ginny said catching Maura in the act of elbowing Rebecca in the ribs. “You two then, can cover the front door. Imogene, you’ll be at the back door with…” She looked expectantly at the boys and raised an eyebrow. One of the three Ravenclaws stepped forward. “Stewart Ackerley,” he said looking pointedly at Imogene as if to dare her to hex him on the spot. She returned the look and then gave her attention back to Ginny. “Thank you,” she said looking at Stewart. “I think you know Luna as well, right?” When he nodded, she demonstrated the locking spell she had been using and how to cancel it to open the door. “This spell also responds to ‘Finite Incantatem’ and ‘Alohomora’ if you forget the counter spell.” She took the four sentries over to the back door and had them practice both incantations with their respective wand movements. The younger students seemed rather pleased with themselves when their spells actually locked or unlocked the door. “I think you’re ready,” she told them and sent Rebecca and Maura to their post at the front door. She turned to the other four boys. “These pixies respond only to the Stunning spell. Normally, you can freeze them with Immobulus, but I think they’ve been bewitched. I know you’ve practiced Stunning in Defence class. Can you all do it?” Nikhil shook his head. “That’s a fourth year spell. I’m only a third year.” “It’s simple,” Neil said before Ginny could respond. “You do it like this…” He pointed his wand at a spider in a corner of the front window and yelled “Stupefy”. The spider froze until he muttered “Ennervate. ” Then Nikhil had a go at it. “I’ve got it,” he said happily as the spider awoke and scuttled away. “Good,” Ginny said. “There’s one last thing before we go out there. I’m going to attach a lanyard to the handle of our wands. When I was watching earlier, one of the pixies snatched a wand and flew away with it. I don’t want that happening to yours. May I use someone’s wand to put one on my own?” Nikhil handed over his wand when the other boys were reluctant to part with theirs. Ginny pointed it at the handle of her own and muttered “Funalis.” Seconds later, a loop of thin cord dangled from her wand. “This isn’t permanent. All you have to do is have someone cancel the spell with ‘Separe funis’ and the loop will disappear.” She demonstrated and had to smile at the relieved looks on the boys’ faces. They immediately held out their wands and then slipped the cords around their wrists. When everyone’s wand had been protected, Ginny led the group out the back door and into the alley. “We’ll need to take turns,” she said stopping half-way to the high street. “Yeah, keep ‘em guessing,” someone said. “That’s right. We don’t want anyone watching to know how many of us are back here.” “How far into the street can we go?” someone else said. “Not very far. Better yet, don’t step out of the alley at all; only Stun the pixies flying past or directly at you. Don’t go after one that’s attacking someone, even if they are on our side.” “Can we Stun the Death Eaters?” “No. Do you want them coming after you?” The boys shook their heads vigorously. “Let’s go, then.” The group quickly found a rhythm for trading places and Stunning pixies without the restrictions of a window in front of them. While she waited her turn, Ginny watched the action in front of their hiding place. If reality weren’t so terrible, she thought, this would be beautiful. The street was eerily lit with a multitude of colourful curse sparks which ricocheted off the buildings and the protection shields of the combatants when they didn’t find their marks. Suddenly, Ginny smelled smoke closer than it had been before. Edging closer to the entrance to the alley, she searched the street for signs of the fire: the roof of the post office across the street was blazing. She watched helplessly as a flurry of owls burst through the doors and windows and soared in all directions. The roof collapsed. I hope they all got out, she thought watching the fire consume the rest of the building. Most of the birds seemed to be heading for Hogwarts or the forest. She hoped they would make it to safety. It was now her turn to sight and hex a pixie. As she searched the street for the right one, she saw Neville and Luna making their way up the street with a rather large group of students between them. Their progress was slowed not only because they all had to dodge flying curses and avoid the burning building, but Neville himself was limping badly. Several of the other students were as well. Ginny spotted two pixies flying towards her and Stunned both with one hex. She then left the alley and went around to the back door, gave the appropriate knock (there was no glass in this door), and was at the front of the shop as Maura and Rebecca let everyone in. Ginny looked around at the assembled group. She recognized many as her fellow Gryffindors and assumed the other eight were some of the missing students on her list. She would have to check on that later. Right now, though, Neville needed her and possibly Luna’s attention. As Neville collapsed at Ginny’s feet holding his left leg, she inquired, “What happened? Are you hurt anywhere else?” Neville shook his head. “Bludgeoning Hex meant for Harry,” he grunted through gritted teeth. “He stepped right in the path of that hex, Ginny!” Luna added. “Harry was down on the ground and Neville tried to cover him.” “He got the git good, though. Threw a Stunner from behind me and dropped him where he stood,” Neville said with a grim smile. “And no, I’m not hurt anywhere else,” he continued as Ginny glared at him with her best Molly Weasley scowl. “Do you think it’s broken?” she asked kneeling beside him. “I don’t think so. My shield was only partially up so the spell was only partly deflected. It hurts like hell to put weight on my leg,” he groaned. Ginny pulled out her wand and pointed it at Neville’s knee. “Fred and George taught me a few healing spells over the years,” she said with a slight grin. “I’ll heal your leg, then splint it just in case it needs support.” “Don’t splint it, Ginny. I won’t be able to kneel if I have to keep my leg straight,” he requested. “You’re sure you’ll be all right, then?” she asked sceptically. When he nodded she continued, “This spell came in handy more than once when a prank went wrong or someone fell off their broomstick playing Quidditch and we didn’t want Mum to know about it. Sometimes it was hard for me to nick Mum’s wand without her knowing when I needed it to fix somebody up. Ready? Hold still...Episkey...” Neville sighed as his injury healed and he flexed his knee, testing it. “Thanks, Ginny. It still hurts a little, but I can go back out there now.” Luna offered her hand and pulled him upright; he gingerly added weight his leg and smiled when it supported him. “You are not going looking for any more people,” Ginny said, her tone an exact imitation of the one she had heard her mother use countless times. “You’re staying right here and resting that leg. If you don’t, you’ll just damage it again. Do you understand?” “I have to go, Ginny,” Neville protested. When she continued to glower at him, he continued, “I owe it to Harry. I made the same promise you did. I may not be able to fight very well, but like you said earlier, there are people in this room who would still be trapped in the crossfire if Luna and I hadn’t found a way to get them out. This is how I’m helping him. Harry knows it, too.” At this, the assorted students milling about the shop began murmuring their agreement. His words hit home and Ginny felt her annoyance at Neville ebbing away. “You’re right, Neville. I’m sorry. Please, when you go out again, be careful.” She rose and was just about to retrieve the list to begin her check-in procedure when a thought struck her. “Neville, is there a place where other injured are being taken?” “Not that we know of,” Luna answered for him. “I’ve seen several and thought about bringing them here, but I decided not to mention it.” “Bring anyone who’s hurt or hexed here,” Ginny requested. “If there’s fighting at Hogwarts Madam Pomfrey will be too busy to cope with more right now. There’s also the possibility that people can’t get back into the castle. I’ll see what we can set up,” Ginny told them. She looked at Neville again and almost begged, “Please … stay here another few minutes and rest. You’ll feel better for it.” When he nodded, she headed for the storeroom door, pausing to check the newcomers’ names against those on her list first. One quick glace at the dimly lit room told her what she needed to know: there was no fireplace and no washing facilities at all on the ground floor. She didn’t like the idea of having to break into the private quarters upstairs, but if they needed bandages, water, glasses or pallets for the injured she would have to commit burglary. There was no way out of it. She heard Neville and Luna leave as she slowly mounted the stairs to the first floor residence over the shop. Like the shop itself, the main entrance to the living area was unlocked. Ginny quickly found a quill and some parchment, wrote a note of apology, and then gathered the supplies she needed from various cupboards. Soon, she was floating three large boxes containing quilts, blankets, several small pillows, a pile of bed sheets, and an assortment of wizarding and Muggle medical supplies downstairs to the shop where she enlisted several girls’ help to set up a make-shift first aid station. Then, they waited. Over the next two hours, Neville and Luna guided a steady stream of wounded and hexed students to Honeydukes. Some limped in on their own power, while others came supported by friends who left immediately to rejoin the fighting. Ginny and the younger students not on sentry or pixie duty did what they could for the injured, all the while keeping an eye on the action outside in the street. As the fighting stalled in front of the shop, Ginny discovered that the back door had a steadier stream of traffic than the front: she assumed that Neville and Luna thought it was a safer arrival point. The one thing that worried her most was the lack of a source of water on the ground floor. She was surprised at how much potable water they needed for cleaning wounds and keeping everyone hydrated. She really didn’t like the idea of sending one of the younger students outside to the well very often, let alone asking someone to go upstairs into the shop owner’s home to fill the various buckets and water vessels she had borrowed earlier–true, they could use Augamenti to fill the buckets, but not everyone knew the spell and it was easier to take on the task herself.. There was no other answer to their problem, so she took on that arduous task herself. She was coming down the back stairs for the fourth time in an hour, floating several large buckets before her, when a deep and weary voice below and behind her said, “You remind me of Mickey Mouse in Disney’s version of ‘The Sorcerer’s Apprentice’.” Ginny descended the last few steps and carefully deposited her buckets on the floor before throwing her arms around Harry’s waist and burying her face in his chest. He smelled of dust and sweat and the sharp odour of wood smoke. He held her close as she asked, “What are you doing here?” “Taking a break,” he said. “Ron threatened to hex me if I didn’t rest a little. It’s bloody awful out there!” He shuddered, then asked, “I’m parched. Is that water for drinking?” Ginny nodded, and picked up the largest glass she could reach on one of the display shelves. Her movement set off the anti-theft spell she had placed there and she had to cancel it before she could fill the glass and hand it to him. Harry drained it in four enormous gulps and extended it for more. A satisfied smile spread across his face as he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “Thanks, Gin. I needed that,” he said when she handed the filled glass back to him. He took a smaller sip, seeming to savour its coolness and leaned back against a display shelf. “How did you get here?” “Apparated.” Ginny raised her eyebrows in a ‘was that a wise move?’ manner and received a rueful shake of Harry’s head in return. “Ron pulled me into an alley, told me to take care of myself and then levelled his wand at my head,” he said chuckling. “I guess he really wanted me to take his advice.” Ginny smiled. “And Hermione and Ron?” “I’ll send them over when I get back. Hermione has been trying to get me to quit fighting since it started. Says this isn’t supposed to be ‘my battle’ and that I need to stay safely out of Voldemort’s clutches. As if I didn’t know that already!” He glanced around the sweet shop and finally gave Ginny a searching look. “She means well, but she just doesn’t understand that I feel…well, obligated to do whatever I can. What…what about…you?” “I understand, Harry. Go easy on her. Her two best friends are out there fighting and she doesn’t want to lose either of you. Deep down, she knows you and Ron are all she’s got.” Harry thought a moment. “Yeah,” he said and shook his head. “Anyway, Ron and Hermione’ll be here soon, so is it better to come to the back door or the front?” “The back. It’s safer.” Harry took Ginny in his arms again. “I’ve got to get back,” he murmured. “Thanks.” He kissed the top of her head as she pulled away. “Constant vigilance, Harry,” Ginny told him. He grinned as he promised, “I will.” He brought his hand up to the centre of his chest, covering the place where Ginny knew his phoenix pendant lay. Ginny reached up and mirrored his gesture, a small smile playing about her lips. Harry Disapparated with the tiniest of pops, leaving Ginny standing next to the stairs and wishing she could go with him. He knows I’m with him. I hope the magic in the phoenix will keep him safe… And for the second time that day, she squeezed her angel and sent him her thoughts. Harry now began sending the older students who were fighting on the front lines to the back door when he could. They reported that the disappearances were causing confusion amongst the Death Eaters which seemed to be to the advantage of those holding the village. Hermione and Ron were some of the first to knock on the back door. Both gratefully accepted small flagons of water to take back with them. “I wanted Harry to stay here with you, but he wouldn’t hear of it,” Hermione complained as she downed her third glass of water. “He’s so stubborn…this isn’t supposed to be his big battle! Voldemort isn’t even here. At least, I don’t think he is. But no. Your boyfriend insists on standing with the front lines, trying to get himself killed! It’s as if the Death Eaters are queuing up to oppose him! He’s duelled Mulciber, Jugson and Rookwood already and–“ “–I don’t want to hear any more about it, Hermione. I don’t want to know who is standing in line to take pot-shots at him,” Ginny said firmly. “Please, don’t make me more worried any more than I already am.” “I’m sorry, Ginny. Is everything going all right here?” Hermione asked, changing the subject. Ginny glanced about the shop taking in the groups of students talking quietly amongst themselves or helping each other with various tasks. “As long as we keep busy we’re managing. We’re all worried and scared, so I guess everything’s passable. Thanks for asking.” Hermione hugged Ginny good-bye, took her wand from her pocket and left, leaving Ginny holding her empty water glass. “We’re holding the village,” Ron reported when his sister pressed him for news. “I think the school’s still standing, too.” Ginny thanked him and watched silently as he slipped out the door to rejoin his companions. Harry, himself, reappeared several more times as the afternoon wore on. His clothes were more dishevelled and dirty each time she saw him and Ginny could tell how tired he was just by looking at the set of his shoulders. She began hoping the battle would end soon. The last time Harry knocked at the back door he staggered in, pain etching the handsome planes of his face. Oh, God! Harry hasn’t received my messages! He’s hurt! Ginny thought with more than a little mental agony. She immediately grabbed a wooden box and gently pushed him onto it saying sternly, “Sit down before you fall down, Harry!” He smiled crookedly at her as he accepted a glass of water. “Yes, ma’am,” he quipped tiredly and leaned back against the wall with a sigh. “I’ll be back in a bit,” Ginny told him. She walked over to another student who was sitting nearby holding a piece of sheet against a nasty cut on her arm. All the time Ginny was with the girl she covertly watched Harry. What she saw alarmed and worried her; he was clearly in great pain, protecting his left arm by holding it close to his body. Any move he made looked as if he weighed how much it would hurt to move against the necessity of the movement: any big shift in his position was done mainly with the right side of his body. Ginny finished binding up the girl’s arm and tiptoed over to Harry who had closed his eyes when she left him. He flinched and groaned audibly when she rested her hand lightly on his left shoulder. “You’re hurt,” she stated calmly. “Let me look at your arm.” “No, Ginny. You don’t need to. I’m fine!” Harry’s voice rose ever so slightly with each sentence, a panicked expression flickering across his face. “Like hell, you’re not,” Ginny bristled. “Someone’s jinxed you and you’re too stubborn to admit that you’re too tired to keep your shield up all the time or move quickly enough to get out of the way.” Harry nodded almost imperceptibly but said nothing. “I thought so,” Ginny said reproachfully. “Well, if you aren’t going to let me have a look, at least stay here and rest until I tell you you can go.” “How long?” “I don’t know…fifteen minutes, half an hour. It depends on how hard it is to wake you up!” Harry’s eyes flew open. “I can’t wait that long! Do you realize that Lucius Malfoy is out there, Ginny! So is Bellatrix Lestrange. They’ve escaped from Azkaban and the Ministry hasn’t done anything! I’ve got to stop them! I’m not going to hide here like a scared little animal in need of hunting down!” He made to get up but sat down again when he saw the look on Ginny’s face. Ginny had put her hands on her hips and was regarding him with her sternest expression as she threw his words from that morning back at him. “Can you honestly tell me that you can dodge and move quickly enough to avoid being hit in the condition you’re in right now?” He shook his head in defeat murmuring, “So tired…” She knelt in front of him with her hands resting lightly on his knees. “Close your eyes, Harry. Go back to sleep,” she told him, her voice once again calm and soothing. “You’re dead on your feet and need to rest. I’ll wake you in twenty minutes. Agreed?” “Yeah. Thanks.” He seemed to relax a little as Ginny covered him with a blanket and snagged his empty glass from where he had placed it on one of the display shelves. Ginny’s mind whirled as she limped over to the box of medical supplies. She had to find a way to help Harry as she had every other student who had come through the shop doors. She searched every bottle and jar inside, only to become discouraged when she found only one bottle marked “Headache Powder” that had very little left in it. Maybe this will work and maybe it won’t, she thought as she measured the powder and poured it into Harry’s glass; there was enough for a triple dose and Ginny hoped that it would be enough to dull his pain for a while at least. Next, she searched the shelves for something liquid and sugary to take away the powder’s bitter taste. Finding nothing, she cancelled the security spell on a jar of black cherry hard candies and grabbed a small handful. Oh, Mum, I hope I’m doing this the way you taught me. I need to get this right! she thought as she pulverized the candy and dumped the sparkling sugar crystals on top of the headache powder. She added water and mixed up the drink as she remembered her mother showing her, smiling when the water turned a deep red and smelled of cherries when she sniffed her concoction. She glanced at her watch. Harry had five more minutes of sleep time left, so she found her bag and began rummaging through it. She found what she was looking for at the very bottom; a vial of the Draught of Peace potion to which she had added arnica, comfrey, thyme and meadowsweet, herbs known for their pain relief properties. She carried it just in case her back muscles began to spasm, which they did occasionally when she was very tired, like right now. The effect of this altered potion was a great sense of calm as the pain disappeared. She almost dropped some into Harry’s drink, but then thought better of it. If Harry was going to go back out into the fighting he would need to be especially sharp-witted and this potion tended to leave the drinker a little fuzzy-headed. However, she slipped the vial into her pocket to offer to Harry if he seemed to be inclined to be cautious now that he was hurt. She didn’t think she would, though. “Harry, wake up,” she crooned several minutes later. He opened one eye, then ran his hand over his face. “What’s that?” he asked eying the glass of red liquid suspiciously. “It’s a pick-me-up, Harry. Lots of sugar,” Ginny told him smiling. “Mum used to make these for Ron and me out of pulverized candy when we were little. I made you one. It’s black cherry flavour, my favourite. Now drink up. The sugar high will give you extra energy.” Harry took a big gulp. “It’s got something bitter in it,” he said warily. “What is it?” “Headache powder. The bottle said it was for general aches and pains as well as headaches,” she informed him. “If you insist on being too stubborn to let me treat you properly, the least I can do is ease your pain a little.” Harry downed the rest of his drink and shrugged off the blanket. “Thanks, Ginny,” he said getting slowly to his feet and using his right hand to hold his injured arm close to his body. He stood over her, his eyes pleading. “Please try to understand why I must go back out there, Ginny. There are things I need to do today and I can’t do them sleeping here.” Ginny nodded mutely, a huge lump rising in her throat and threatening tears. She stood on tiptoe and kissed his cheek. “I know, Harry, I know,” she whispered. “Be safe.” As Harry returned the kiss, Ginny pointed her wand at his arm and murmured, “Levo doleo.” Harry’s mouth turned up in a relieved smile as some of the pain left his arm. He flexed his fingers a little. “Thanks. That helps,” he said sincerely. They walked to the door and Stewart and Imogene let them out. As Harry Disapparated, Ginny closed her fingers around the unopened vial of potion and breathed, “Be safe, Harry…I love you...” End of Part Fourteen A/N: With the completion of this chapter there are only five more to go. They are mostly complete; just a few scenes left to polish up toward the end. When I began this story nearly three years ago I had no idea where I was taking it except that I felt that Harry needed some closure with Sirius and a visit to the style going out of Hogsmeade seemed in order. Also, I wanted to write a more confident and competent Neville who was learning his own strengths as well as his much-maligned weaknesses. Luna soon followed and her role in the battle just naturally attached itself to Neville’s after Harry ordered Ginny to stay behind and protect Honeydukes. Once I knew where I was taking the story the rest was easy although, keeping a believable timeline turned out to be the most challenging aspect of these last chapters. As always, I’m sending a heart-felt thank you to Aggiebell for persevering through beta-ing of this chapter even though the power cord on her laptop decided to blow up the day after she received it! Thank you also to my new Brit-picking consultant Heliona who agreed with Aggiebell that “Sweet Mother of Gryffindor!” was definitely too American for words and was also something Ginny wouldn’t be caught dead saying! I really appreciate your help in this matter. I also appreciate all the wonderful reviews you are writing. Please let me know how you liked it. I always s write back. |
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