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Darkness Rising By hgromance
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Category: Post-OotP, Alternate Universe
Characters:Albus Dumbledore, Draco Malfoy, Harry/Ginny, Hermione Granger, James Potter, Lily Potter, Luna Lovegood, Minerva McGonagall, Other
Genres: Action/Adventure, Drama, Romance
Warnings: Death, Disturbing Imagery, Intimate Sexual Situations, Mild Language, Mild Sexual Situations, Sexual Situations, Violence
Rating: R
Reviews: 245
Summary: ON HIATUS FOR NOW. Sequel to Innocence Lost. Read that one first. Harry's fifth year. More surprises are in store for Harry and company. Harry has to learn how to handle an evil teacher, an evil wizard who wants him dead. He finds the answers to why he and Ginny can practically feel the others' emotions. Oh, and Harry's parents are alive? He has a sister?
Hitcount: Story Total: 108187; Chapter Total: 5593
Author's Notes: For the sake of my stories, Ginny's birthday is close to Harry's. We see the conversation between Lily and her sister in this chapter. We also get to see the location Harry and Ginny choose for the ceremony.
I have been having computer trouble so if I don't update quickly, you'll know why.
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Chapter 7
Two days later, a small celebration was held in honor of Ginny's and Harry's birthdays. It was actually a little late for Ginny's but so much had happened they postponed the celebration. Lunch was filled with all of the couple's favorite foods. Dessert consisted of treacle tart, strawberry shortcake and a giant cake that almost looked like two separate ones connected at an angle. The design of the upper half was a snitch. The lower half's was a quaffle.
After dessert came presents. From the Weasley parents, Harry received a wand holster that strapped to his arm. It conveniently shrank to fit underneath clothing. Ginny received a t-shirt and a pair of shorts. From the twins they received joke products. From Ron, both received a grab bag of Honeydukes chocolates. From Bill, Harry was given a gold chain and pendant. The pendant loosely resembled a light bulb with two short, slightly curved lines coming down below the base and the 'bulb' part was merely a loop with a slight thickening on each side.
"That symbol is called a Sa. It's an Ancient Egyptian symbol of protection. I've added my own wards to it. Wrap you hand around it and visualize where you want to be and it'll take you there, regardless of any wards preventing such actions."
Harry slipped the chain around his neck. "Thanks, Bill."
Ginny received a jeweled cat statue, representative of the Egyptian Goddess of cats, Bast. It was about four inches tall, was painted to resemble a Siamese cat in a sitting position, and wore a kind of gold headgear that rested between the cat's ears. Tiny red jewels bordered the headgear and an intricate pattern was stamped into it. Around the cat's neck lay a wide, gold neckpiece stamped in the same intricate pattern as the headgear. Just above the cat's paws on the forelegs were a single thin gold bracelet with tiny red gems along the center.
"I love it, Bill. It's so beautiful. This will go in my Bast collection. Thanks."
From Charlie, Ginny was given a Welsh Green dragon snow globe, that ironically enough, played a muggle tune, Puff the Magic Dragon. Harry was given a set of dragon hide covered Quidditch pads for his arms and legs. Hermione's gifts were next. A book on defense was Harry's. A bottle of exotic perfume that somehow reminded Harry of strawberries was Ginny's.
"Harry," Sirius cast a sheepish look towards James, "I was going to give you James' journal for your birthday so you could get an idea of what he was like in school and after he and your mum began dating. I don't think I will now. I haven't had a chance to find anything else."
"That's okay, Sirius. Just you being here is enough."
From Sirius, Ginny received a pair of Quidditch gloves.
Harry turned to his parents and sister. "Mum, Dad, all I've ever wanted was the chance to get to know you. My first year here, I came across an enchanted mirror and it showed me the two of you. I didn't see Cherish, maybe because I didn't know about her, I don't know. Looking into that mirror, I could almost feel you next to me. I could have looked in that mirror forever but Professor Dumbledore told me it didn't do to dwell on dreams and forget to live. He was right. When I showed that mirror to Ron, he thought it showed the furture. Guess he was right, too. I still find myself wondering if it's all a dream. I keep expecting to wake up any day now and realize it was a cruel dream and that I'm back with the Dursleys. Having you here is the best birthday present I could ever get."
Unable to say anything more and with a few tears running down his face, Harry hugged his parents. After a moment, James said something to cause Harry to laugh. Wiping his face, Harry hugged his sister.
"Sorry to interrupt," said an extremely mocking voice, "but we're tired of being cooped up here and we're leaving."
The group turned to see Petunia and Vernon standing just inside the doors to the Great Hall. Their heads held high, their expressions haughty, they waited for a response.
They got one from Dumbledore first. "You're free to go anytime you'd like. Be aware the danger has not yet passed. You are still safer here than anywhere else."
Petunia's nose wrinkled in disgust. "We don't think so. Now that the boy is an adult, we'll have nothing more to do with him and no reason for anyone to come after us."
Lily calmly walked over to her sister and in a voice sickenly sweet with a devilish undertone said, "You can't leave yet. We never got to have our talk."
Petunia and Vernon stepped back toward the doors but with a wave of her wand, Lily shut them and conjured chairs for the Dursleys. Both tried to get up but found themselves stuck.
"He was just a baby. A baby that was left on your doorstep to raise and care for." Lily's voice started out deadly calm but grew louder the angrier she got. The dishes on the table began to rattle. "How could you treat him that way?! I know all about the little things you used to do to him and all the little things you refused to do for him. Just because you hated me didn't mean you had to take it out on him. HE WAS AN INNOCENT CHILD!" Cracks appeared in the windows and sparks flew from Lily's wand. Reigning in her temper, Lily spoke quietly. "Your petty jealousy turned you into someone hateful. I had hoped we could put our differences aside and start anew but I see now that's not likely to happen. For the record, Mum and Dad didn't dote on me. You just chose to see it that way."
Lily sighed, knowing she had to be the bigger person here. Turning, she located a small red and gold button. She got confimation from Albus and tapped it with her wand. It glowed momentarily then returned to normal. She held it out.
"Here. In case you're ever in trouble. Pinch it and say my name. It'll take you somewhere safe." When Petunia hesitated, Lily said, " Go on, take it. Just don't lose it."
To everyone's surprise, Petunia's hand shakily reached out for the button. She placed it in a front pocket then looked as if she was trying to forget she'd taken it.
"As Albus said, you're free to go but it's a long walk to the nearest village which is a wizarding village and there's no transportation out of there right now."
"We could arrange for the Hogwarts Express to take them to King's Cross if they wish." Dumbledore offered with a bit of his typical eye twinkle.
"What's that?" Vernon asked gruffly.
"It's the train that picks up Hogwarts students and takes them from King's Cross to school and back. You'd walk through the barrier at Platform 9 3/4 once we opened it again."
Everyone could see the battle being waged within the Dursleys. Their desire to be away from anything magical warred with the thought of haivng to walk to a wizarding village to catch a train magical children use and then be let off at a magical part of King's Cross, at which they'd have to exit through a magical barrier to get to the normal part of the station.
Apparently that would have been too much for Vernon spat, "Fine. We'll stay here a while longer.'
The two stalked to the door, threw it open and marched out.
James slowly approached his wife and wrapped his arms around her to help calm her down. He knew one of Lily's hopes had been to reconcile with her sister. He couldn't help thinking it was for the best but he was wise enough not to say it. He'd been on the receiving end of his wife's temper too many times not to have learned when to keep his mouth shut.
As they made their way back to the others, James glanced at his son. Ginny's hair had been pulled over one shoulder and though Harry's attention was on his friend, Hermione, his hand was combing through Ginny's hair, over and over, as if he couldn't get enough of the feel of it. He briefly wondered if his son had learned that valuable lesson about keeping his mouth shut.
After a little more conversation, they all went their separate ways. Harry and Ginny walked down by the lake to exchange their gifts. Ginny received a gold charm bracelet with a snitch, quaffle, bludger, and beater's bat for charms. The last one, she was told, was her Christmas gift.
"I love it, thanks, Harry. Help me put it on."
After affixing it around her wrist, Ginny gave Harry his present. Upon opening the box, he found a slim case like a picture frame only this one played memories instead of showing photos. One of the memories she'd used was the walk they had taken that led to their first kiss. When that memory played through, the scene faded and another came up. The Yule Ball. A few dances, a short walk, and some heated kisses later, the scene changed a final time. It was their first Valentine's Day spent in the Come and Go Room's version of the Burrow. The cycle repeated.
"Wow, thanks, luv. This is brilliant! How were you able to use your memories?"
"Dumbledore made 'copies' of my memories to put in that and still retain the original ones. Don't ask me how, I couldn't tell you."
"This is really great. I'll put it on the table by our bed." Harry's face reddened a bit.
Ginny's face also reddened. "I like the sound of that, 'our bed', but it's taking some getting used to."
"Yeah, I know. I like the sound of it too." Harry looked around a moment. " We should probably decide on where to have the ceremony.
Loking around, a thoughtful expression came upon Ginny's face. "I have an idea. There was a clearing not far from the spot we shared our first kiss. That's likely to be big enough."
A smile spread across Harry's face. " I like the sound of that. Let's go take a look.
"I just wish it could have been done at the Burrow. It would have been even more special, " lamented Hary.
"I know, luv, but we can make it permanent there. We work with what we have."
Harry nodded and wrapped his arms around his very special angel. For a long time, they stood there, enjoying the peace and quiet. Enjoying each other's company and completely in tune with the other.
Ginny breathed deeply and Harry's unmistakable scent filled her before she sighed and pulled away from him slightly.
"We should tell Dumbledore we've chosen the location for the ceremony."
"Yeah, we should."
The pair, arms wrapped around wasist, ambled back to the castle. They notified Dumbledore of the location they wanted and even took him there. He agreed it was a lovely spot."
Then Ginny left saying she had to go get fitted for robes. Ginny wanted a Muggle dress and was prepared to do battle over it. Since the color should be a shade of red, as Dumbledore had explained the day before, they had to find the perfect color as well. So, in other words, don't expect her back for a while.
++++
Harry spent the time Ginny was gone with Hermione, Cherish, and Dudley. Ron insisted on being anti-social.
"I still don't understand what his problem is," Harry said for the umpteenth time, with more heat than necessary. "He acts like I betrayed him by creating the Union between Ginny and myself."
At the girls' raised eyebrows, Harry realized what was happening. "Sorry," he said with a sheepish grin. "Ginny must be battling her mum over something. She told me she wanted to wear a muggle dress."
"Ginny will probably get her way. I think she is more stubborn then Mrs. Weasley."
"Besides,' added Cherish, "all she has to do is point out that the ceremony is for her, not her mum."
Harry's eyebrows raised at that flippant remark. "Would you do that to Mum?"
Cherish colored some but her chin lifted. "Maybe."
"Well, don't go getting any ideas just yet, okay?"
"Spoken like a true big brother," teased Hermione.
"Isn't Cherish the same age as Ginny when you started dating, Harry?" asked Dudley, getting in on the teasing, "What if she comes to school and finds someone to fall in love with? What then?"
"Then I don't want to even think about that."
The four laughed. Harry could see one aspect of where Ron was coming from but he still felt Rone was acting immaturely. He hoped Ron would come around soon.
"So, Harry, how are you going to explain Cherish's presence?"
Harry shrugged. "Haven't thought that far ahead yet, really. I reckon we need to talk to Dumbledore. I imagine Mum and Dad will be making their presence known soon."
The friends continued to to chat about everything until Ginny returned looking for all the world like the cat that ate the canary. Apparently she'd gotten her way.
++++
Every morning, Harry and Ginny continued to work with Dumbledore. By the end of the first week of August, Harry was able to pull Ginny's magic but she was unable to stop him. Ginny had yet to be able to pull on Harry's magic.
One afternoon, instead of playing Quidditch with the others, Harry had to go get a set of dress robes. James wanted to go but couldn't so Sirius went instead.
At Malkin's shop Harry got school robes in addition to his dress robes. He lost count of the number of styles and colors he tried on. Finally, he decided on a simple yet elegant design of black robes, pants, and tie with a white shirt.
Afterwards, the two window shopped before returning to the school.
++++
In the week leading to the ceremony, Dumbledore discussed with the Potters when and how they should make their public debut. It was decided that the three of them would meet with a trusted reporter to tell their story. It would also be sometime after the ceremony.
While sitting in the common room, Molly turned to Lily, "Have you decided on where you'd like to stay?"
Dumbledore had declared it safe to return to the Burrow, which is what the Weasleys planned to do the day after the ceremony.
"Um, no, not really. We haven't thought about it much."
Sirius piped up. "You can stay with me at Grimmauld Place. It may not be the happiest of places but there's plenty of room." Seeing the hesitation in his friends' eyes, his voice became almost pleading. "Please. It's the least I can do for you, James, when your family took me in years ago. I'd be honored to return the favor."
James and Lily relented graciously. "But only until we find a place of our own."
"Naturally."
"Well, I guess we do, then," joked Lily.
++++
Finally, it was the night before the ceremony. To say Harry was nervous was an understatement. He didn't think he'd ever sleep. He and Ginny were lying facing each other in his bed. Ron, Fred and George were all sound asleep.
"Relax, Harry," Ginny whispered. "Everything will be fine. You're going to want to get some sleep."
"I know, I just can't seem to stop thinking about tomorrow."
Ginny became playful, something Harry picked up on.
"What you need is a distraction," she said and let her hand wander to areas it had never wandered to before.
Harry gasped at the feel of her hand there. "Ginny?" he barely was able to say.
"Shhh."
Harry allowed his own hand to wander and Ginny gasped.
"Shhh," he said.
Quietly, they thouroughly distracted each other before falling into a deep sleep.
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