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SIYE Time:9:39 on 29th March 2024
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The Veil
By Mutt N Feathers

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Category: Post-OotP, Holidays
Characters:Harry/Ginny
Genres: Drama
Warnings: Death
Story is Complete
Rating: PG-13
Reviews: 113
Summary: In the fall of 1996 Harry finds a book about the ancient holidays just before Samhain, or what has become Hallowe'en. Tradition says communication with the dead is possible. Harry enlists Ginny to help him find out if its true.
Hitcount: Story Total: 59023; Chapter Total: 1105
Awards: View Trophy Room






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Chapter 30:


The walk back to the house turned to the more comfortable subject of Quidditch. Anwen had fun telling Harry about the pick-up games they’d played during lazy summers at the Potters. She and Sirius were always welcomed to stay here, but the pair preferred the small flat they had off Diagon Alley. She also reluctantly told him about her acting career.


"Wait, you had no tongue, no arms, and had been sexually assaulted but were still in the second half of the play?" Harry asked.


"My character, yes. It's a challenge to act without speaking or using your arms. I was given very positive reviews, but that part played with my head. The only reason I stayed sane was because of Sirius, Remus, and your parents," Anwen explained.


“And you did this because it was fun?”


“The other plays were much more fun, that one wasn’t enjoyable for anyone. Playing a nymph or fairy, those were much more my speed.” The pair went through the back door and into the kitchen, where the now empty French press sat on the table. “James Andrew Potter, you left the coffee pot empty again! And no, you cannot fill it with magic!”


"Anwen, hush," he said, rounding the corner from the sitting room. "Henry has been up most of the night, cutting a tooth. I'm sleep deprived." Henry was fussing on James' shoulder, sticking his fingers in his mouth, but then making himself gag and cough.


"You really must be off your game," she replied, lifting her hand and wiggling at Henry's mouth. He immediately took his hand out of his mouth, put his thumb in, and settled down.


“What did you do?” James asked astonished, even as she handed her coffee cup to Harry and took Henry from his father.


"The same charm I did — and taught you by the way —to get this one to calm down while teething. Minor pain-relieving charm, a slight buffering balm, and a sparse chilling charm. We nick-named it ‘Icky Teeth’ at Harry’s insistence. Now, I have the baby, and I’ll even change his nasty nappy, while you make me some coffee. Harry don’t let him cheat and refill the press with magic; it doesn’t taste the same if he does.” Anwen left the room singing to Henry.


“Is she always like that?”


"Like what?" James asked, lighting a fire under the kettle and grinding the beans in the large mortar and pestle that is only used for coffee.


“Sort of know-it-all and blunt. I have a friend very much like her,” Harry said, a twinge of regret that she wasn’t with him.


"Hermione, right?" James asked, and Harry nodded. "I suppose you're right about Anwen, the problem is that she usually is right. As for all that moxie, ever since the day we met her. She told Sirius off the first day time they spoke. Of course, they were destined for each other.” The pair were silent as they waited for the water to boil.


“Dad, do think it would be okay if we were to ask Professor McGonagall to have Ron and Hermione come over as we get rid of this thing in my head? They’ve always been with me for stuff like this, and I just think it would be better if I had them here,” Harry explained softly. He'd been feeling bad that he'd not even considered they weren't here with him.


“I don’t see why not,” James replied, the water finally hot enough to pour over the beans in the press. He set a magical timer to compress at the perfect moment for coffee the way Anwen liked it. “I’ll fire-call Mimi when breakfast is over.”


“You just called Professor McGonagall Mimi,” Harry said with a laugh.


“You called her Mimi, too,” James explained. “Just wait until she gets here, Henry will go bonkers for her. She was your surrogate grandmother. My parents never got to meet you, dying only weeks after your Mum and I were married. The Evans’ died in a car crash. You had Mimi and Dumly.” James took Anwen’s mug and filled it, then his son’s and finally his own. This time he used magic to fill the press again.


“I called Professor Dumbledore Dumly?”


“Yes, and he ate it up. Things were dark, and you and Neville were our hope.” James looked older, sadder for a moment, but then his face turned bright again. “So, how about some flying today?”


"I think Anwen wants to use me as a portal or something. She needs to see what she can about where Tom is," Harry explained. "Can I say let's wait and see how I'm feeling?"


"Absolutely. I need to give this to your Aunt, and then take Henry upstairs so I can get some shut-eye while he's sleeping."


“I’ll watch Henry,” Harry said. “I like the whole little brother thing.”


“Most siblings aren’t happy when they get a little brother or sister,” James said, giving Harry’s hair a tussle. Harry put his mug down and then give his father a two-handed one back. They both broke out in laughter.


“Most siblings haven’t longed for one their whole life,” Harry said happily. “I’d like a sister next.”


“I’ll let your Mum know.”


“Actually, Dad, genetics says that it’s your doing rather than hers.”


“The lip on you.” The pair entered the lounge, and it wasn't Anwen who was holding Henry, it was Sirius. Henry's face was against the skin of Sirius' upper chest, the buttons on his Henley shirt open, and the material stretched wide. Henry had grabbed his godfather's hair in his fist, and he was rubbing it as he slept.


“Perhaps the two of you should just have Henry live with you,” James said with a laugh lacing the words. “Your hairy chest there, Padfoot, always made you softer than me.”


“Firmer chest too, mate,” Sirius replied. “Whacking Bludgers makes you strong.”


“Whatever,” James mumbled. “Give Lils and me a few hours rest, okay?”


“I promise. Harry and I have some work to do today, and then I want to walk through what we’re doing tonight,” Anwen answered.


Later that night, two couples were sitting on the floor of the library, the furniture miniaturized or pushed away to the edge of the room. Sirius was sitting behind Anwen, his long legs wrapped around her while she sat in a lotus position, her knees touching his thighs. His arms were wrapped around her midsection, and their fingers were laced together. Her head was resting against his chest, and Sirius swore he heard a sigh of contentment come from her.


Across from them, Ginny and Harry were attempting to mimic the pair, but with Harry in front and Ginny behind. While she was taller for her age and sex, she couldn’t compete with Harry’s lanky frame. She swore he grew in his sleep. Lily had done some charms on extra clothes from James and Sirius’ closets, though she could only do so much. The boy needed new clothes which fit him properly. Harry was sitting with his legs crossed, Ginny’s calves draped over his thighs. Her arms mimicked Sirius’, and her head rested on his shoulder.


“Interesting way to do spellwork, Aunt Winnie,” Harry said.


“You know, I really hoped that with this new generation, we could just go back to my real name.”


“Don’t you like Winnie?” Ginny asked.


“To me, Winnie sounds like whiney. I don’t whine.”


“Except about being called Winnie, Little One,” Sirius returned. He tried to kiss her, but she turned her face away to look at Harry.


“I’m ignoring you,” she said to her husband to kiss her cheek instead. “When I do magic that requires support or an extra magical boost, it helps for Sirius and me to be touching. The more points of contact, the better. There’s also a degree of comfort in having his arms around me as I do things like astral projection. It can be scary stuff, and I am not very good at it yet."


“You have to tell them what inspired you to use this position,” Sirius said with the enthusiasm of a ten-year-old on Christmas morning.


“No.”


"Come on, Luv, Harry will think it's funny."



“No.” This time she gave him an icy glare. “Seriously, no.”


“Did you find it watching porn?” Ginny asked. Harry coughed on nothing more than air, Anwen groaned and hung her head, and Sirius made a noise someplace between a bark and a groan that only he could make. "I was helping to clean Grimmauld last summer. You didn't hide it well."


"Nightstand," Anwen said, laying her left hand out flat. "Locking charm," she followed with her right. "Not hard!" With that, she clapped her hands together loudly. Several seconds later, she spoke again.


"For my dignity and your Harry, can we just forget that these few minutes ever happened?" Anwen asked.


“I never knew the,” he began to sputter, “stuff was even there. I’ll be happy to forget.”


“As I said, this position facilitates the sharing of our magic. I’m going to build up a bit of pliable magic here, and then I’ll let you know when I’m ready to enter your mind. I promise you, Harry, I will be as gentle as possible." The first thing she did was raise her hand, and a bright spark turned into several lights, which then seemed to become birds and flew off in different directions in the house. She then started to rub her middle fingers across the palms of her opposing hand. Back and forth they went, Anwen's breathing becoming slower as she did.


“What was that?” Harry whispered. “What’s she doing?”


“That was her Patronus, calling the family. Now she’s grounding herself. It’s something she learned from the Yogi that she studies with. He’s a wizard too,” Sirius answered. Harry and Ginny both nodded.


The family came from around the house, all of them taking seats around the edge of the room, except for Remus, who had a large sketchbook and a pencil who sat beside Anwen's right side. The four Potters an Eva cast a protection spell around the room.


“It’s just a precaution, Harry. Anwen’s been known to blow out walls if we aren’t careful,” Sirius explained.


“Would you please be quiet,” an exasperated Anwen whispered. “Okay, Harry, I’m going in. Let me know if I hurt you or bother you in any way. This is not intended to be painful.”


Anwen drew her up, so her palms were facing Harry. She then twisted them like she was opening a book. With gentle waves, she directed her now visible and glowing magic toward the young wizard. After a few moments, she spoke.


“I’m in, Harry. Are you doing okay?”


“Yeah, all fine.”


“Okay, I’m going to try to slide into the Horcrux,” she said in the same voice she’d spoken previously. Then added softly, “Hold on, Luv; don't let me go."


“Never, little one,” Sirius replied. “Never again.”


Anwen continued her wave-like motions, and her magic began to glow around the scar. Harry's face was slightly contorted, but he wasn't in any apparent distress. With a determined push and somewhat more rapid breathing, Anwen forced her way into the Horcrux. Wanting to spend as little time as possible there, she pushed herself through the darkness and hatred. Reminding herself of how loved she was, she moved forward. Her physical body leaned back against Sirius even as she began to pant.


“This might be too much for her,” Lily said.


“It’s not,” Andrew said. “It’s just hard work. Let her be.”


Anwen never heard their brief conversation, but instead forced herself into the void the Horcrux was connected to. She recognized the feel of Tom's mind, although she'd never truly invaded it when he was captured in hers. It was prickly and hard, all jagged edges ready to tear memories to shreds. She felt dirty and violated just by being here. The memories of her attack slammed into her, reminding her of the emotions of worthlessness and loathing she wore like an ill-fitting sweater. It was not a time she ever wanted to revisit. Suddenly she saw Sirius falling through the veil, a memory through a follower’s eyes, and she heard the lurid laugh of Bellatrix Lestrange. Anwen felt as if she was gutted, but it was no longer real — Sirius was holding her body right now. Grabbing onto his magic, she pushed forward.


Forcing Tom’s eyes open, Anwen was assaulted by the dilapidation around his body. He appeared to be inside a stone room, and looking around, all she saw were discarded, broken, and forgotten things. This wasn't going to help them as much as she hoped. Reaching for the pencil Remus had, he put it in her hand and then placed the sketchbook under her hand.


Her body was now laden with sweat, and Sirius could feel the heavy pull on his magic. Remus braced his friend's shoulder with his hand, hoping he could steady him so he could be there for her. Suddenly her hand began moving, and an image began to take shape. It was the only thing Anwen believed they might have any chance of finding. Sirius watched as his wife drew, and shock quickly passed into him and through the connection.


“Anwen, I know where this is! You can come back now,” He said, and gasps rounded the room. “Anwen, come back,” he said softly, and the glow left Harry’s scar, left her hands until it finally left Sirius and then her. She collapsed in his arms from exhaustion. “Prongs, come look at it.”


Remus handed the drawing to James, who then gave it to his mother. “Of all the places,” she whispered.


“I’m sure father gave it to him during the first war, but it’s been empty since nineteen-eighty-one,” Sirius said, his breaths regulating as he calmed down from his own exhaustion from Anwen’s exertions. “Do you have a Pepper-Up or something for me?” Lily had already begun plying her small friend with potions to replenish her, although sleep was what Anwen most needed. Sirius hoped there was something to help him, or he doubted he could Disapparate or even carry Anwen to their room.


“Hold on, she’s in serious condition, Sirius,” Lily said sharply.


“She’s always in a serious condition when I’m around,” he joked, and everyone groaned.


“Could someone please tell me where Tom is?” Harry asked rather loudly through his own pants for breath.


“Oh, sorry about that, mate. He’s hiding in the basement of Stargazer’s Summit. The ancestral home of my father’s side of the family.”



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