money from it, so please Mrs. Rowling if you read this
don’t sue me. A comment or two would be welcome
though.
Please, if you read, take two minutes to review.
Harry woke up Christmas morning on the floor of the common room with fur in his mouth. He reached up to shove Hermione’s paw off his face and then looked down to see Ginny, still peacefully sleeping next to him. She had her hand wrapped around his wrist tight enough that his hand was asleep.
She hardly moves, does she? the voices asked. Harry gave her a gentle nudge.
“Hey Gin, wake up,” Harry said. Ginny sat up smiling.
“Hey, Harry, Happy Christmas,” she replied, as she reached out to give him a Christmas hug. The two of them looked at Ron and Hermione. Ginny grinned mischievously.
“Listen to them. They make a lot of noise don’t they,” she whispered, before she started to giggle. Harry snorted. The sound of Ron and Hermione’s purring reverberated in the common room.
“I don’t know. I think Ron may be a little quieter this way than when he is snoring,” Harry replied. “Hermione on the other hand, she is louder than the Hogwarts Express.” That last comment was more than either could take and they both fell to the floor in peels of laughter.
However, a second later Harry was pinned under Hermione’s snarling form, with her jaws clamped firmly around his neck.
“Arrggh, I’m only joking. Get off of me you giant flee bag,” Harry screamed laughing. Hermione snarled at him again. Ginny joined the fray a second later, tackling Hermione from the side. Hermione brushed her away with a swat of her paw. Harry took advantage of the distraction and rolled out from under her and scrambled to his feet. He and Hermione eyed each other warily, with Ginny circling around behind. Hermione let out a terrific roar.
“I know you can tear us both apart like that, ‘Mione,” Harry called to her. “But it’s still fun to wrestle with you.” Hermione leapt at him. Harry ducked under her, but she had landed, turned in one motion and swatted at him knocking him into Ginny before he could turn to face her.
Harry and Ginny managed to untangle themselves from each other and turned together to confront her. Harry darted his eyes to Ron, who had put his paws over his head trying to sleep through the ruckus, and back to Hermione. She let out another roar and the three of them pounced on Ron. The whole fight lasted less than a minute, ending with Ron pinning all of them under his massive body.
“Urrghh get off Ron. We can’t breathe,” Ginny gasped at him. Ron and Hermione transformed to their human form.
“Quit crying, you three started it,” Ron answered, grinning at them from the top of the pile.
“Who’s crying? I could breathe just fine,” Hermione said, wrapping her arms around his neck.
“Yeah, well you’re just a little bit bigger than us, aren’t you?” Harry chided her. Hermione ignored him.
“Good morning, Love,” she said with a smile and gave Ron a quick kiss. Harry and Ginny scrambled out from the pile.
“You two could at least let us get out of the way before you start snogging with each other,” Ginny yelped at them.
“Yeah, I’m happy for both of you, but I don’t need to be that close,” Harry added, while putting his foot on Ron and giving him a shove. Ron toppled over onto the floor.
“Watch it, I don’t need the potion anymore to transform back,” he snarled at Harry and then started laughing.
“If that is the way you want it, neither do I,” Harry replied, with a friendly glare while holding his hands out to Ron and Hermione. They took his hands and he helped them up from the floor.
“Look, presents,” Ginny squealed.
Harry sat on the floor with crumpled up wrapping paper surrounding him. Ron was sitting with his back against the couch leaning against it and Hermione’s leg. He looked to be sleeping. Harry watched quietly as Hermione fingered the bracelet that Ron had given her. He had also given her a picture of himself from the trip the four of them had made to Diagon Alley that summer.
They really were meant for each other, weren’t they? the voices said to him. Harry gave a small sad smile.
Yeah, well, I guess I knew that from the start, Harry replied. Do you think we could not talk about this? I don’t want to be depressed today. The voices were silent. He looked down at Ginny lying in his lap, she smiled up at him.
“You ok Big Brother?” she asked.
“Yeah, I was just thinking it’s going to be a bummer when everyone returns from holiday.” Harry knew that was not what Ginny had meant, and that she knew he was telling the truth and lying at the same time. She gave him a gentle squeeze.
“Thanks for the runestone book and the bracelet, Harry.”
“You’re welcome Ginny,” Harry replied. “Thanks for the ring.” She had given him a ring that had been inscribed with the words (Little Sister) on the inside.
“You don’t have to wear it you know,” Ginny told him. Harry looked down at the ring on the pinky of his right hand.
“I don’t think I can get it off, Gin. It went on pretty tight.” He smiled down at her. She stuck her tongue out at him. Harry shook his head laughing at her.
“Viktor’s right, I am a Nutter.” Ginny sat up and gave him a shove.
“You’re my favorite brother. Don’t make me change my mind Harry James Potter.” She gave him a glare that Harry couldn’t quite read until she started to smile again. Ginny stood up, walked over and kicked Ron in the leg on the way to her room.
“Ouch.”
“Come on, let’s clean up and go down to breakfast,” she said disappearing from view. Harry stood up and headed for the boy’s showers. He could hear Ron mumbling behind him about liking Ginny more when she had not been capable of tying him up in knots.
“So what do think is the big deal about the dinner tonight that we have to go in dress robes?” Harry asked, as he pulled them out of his trunk. They were a dark green color; if they had been new would have matched his eyes. He looked over to Ron; his were black with a deep maroon stripe down the back. They were not new either.
“Got me, mate,” Ron shrugged in reply. “Wow, these look pretty good,” he added a moment later. Harry was a little surprised by Ron’s comment. He did not like the color maroon.
“Wonder how Mum and Dad could afford them?” Ron asked more to himself than anyone else. Harry debated whether to tell Ron, then figured he should. Ron looked at him in disbelief when he had finished.
“Are you telling me that you gave my parents all of your money?” he stammered.
“Well it’s really still all in my name. I gave them my account number and told them to use what they needed,” Harry replied, looking at the floor. “It’s nothing compared to what they have given me….What you have given me,” he mumbled. Ron walked over to Harry and picked him up in a huge hug. A second later he dropped Harry back onto his feet.
“Harry, from the first day on the train when you picked my friendship over Malfoy’s, I have been amazed at you. You really are the most amazing person I know….Next to Hermione that is.”
“Next to Hermione?” Harry shot him a look.
“Well, she is a girl, you know.”
“Yeah, I understand what you mean about that. I guess we may as well go and see if she and Ginny are ready,” Harry added.
Harry walked down the stairs following Ron and Hermione. Ginny held his arm tightly on his right. She didn’t wear heels very often, and had almost tumbled down the stairs in the Gryffindor tower once already. She had a long gown on that matched her hair. It seemed to reflect in the light the same way her hair did with every strand a different shade of red that was continually changing.
Ron had been truly amazed at her appearance telling her she was almost as pretty in the dress as she was in her phoenix form. Ginny had actually blushed. Harry had been a little surprised also. He knew Ginny was pretty, and had caught more than one of his fellow students looking twice at her. Lately, he found himself wondering if he or Ron would be more likely to kill her next boyfriend. He knew one thing. If someone dared to hurt her, there wouldn’t be enough of them left for her other brothers to fight over if he got to the bloke first.
Harry had then watched Ron as Hermione had come down the stairs from the girl’s dorm into the common room. She had asked Ron what he thought. Ron could only stare, with his mouth open. It had taken him more than a minute to come up with anything at all, finally telling her that he couldn’t even describe how beautiful she was. Harry had resolved to remember that line when he saw the smile she flashed at Ron.
Harry was a little mad at himself for being jealous of not having that smile flashed at him. It had been more than three months now since his two best friends had started to date. He wasn’t so much jealous that Ron had Hermione anymore, but of what they had together.
Harry wasn’t sure if he would ever find that, and found himself thinking that he wasn’t sure he wanted to find it anyways. It had been one thing to take a chance on Hermione. She was too close to begin with. It didn’t matter if she was his or Ron’s. It was going to hurt the same if something happened to her. But to chance someone new, it was too much to think about most of the time. He honestly hadn’t even noticed a single girl since telling Hermione he loved her.
The four of them walked into the Great Hall to find Ron and Ginny’s parents along with Fred, George, Bill, Charlie, and Mr. and Mrs. Granger. He, Ron and Ginny were engulfed in Mrs. Weasley’s arms a second later, while Hermione’s parents did the same to her.
“Mum, Dad what are you doing here?” Ginny stammered. “I thought you were all busy with stuff for the Order?”
“Well now, you see that was a convenient cover story for keeping the four of you here at school,” Professor Dumbledore answered from behind them. They all turned around quickly to look at him, their curiosity spiked.
“Not that you four haven’t been having a good time. I trust everyone is sleeping well?” he added with a wink. Harry saw his friends faces turn very red, and could feel the heat of his own face flushing also.
“Harry, you’re not having nightmares again?” Mrs. Weasley asked, in alarm.
“No Molly, it’s nothing like that, I’m just making sure that my students are comfortable,” Professor Dumbledore assured her.
“Wait a minute,” Ron said, turning around to look at Charlie and hoping to change the subject. “Why are you wearing a wedding robe?” Ginny squealed and despite her heels, managed to run over to hug him, leaping into his arms. Charlie caught her before her feet hit the floor.
“Who is she, why didn’t you tell us, you prat?” Ginny demanded. Charlie set her down a second later.
“Well, we thought we wanted to surprise you four. Help take your mind off of things,” he replied, smiling at her.
“Well are you going to keep us in suspense all night….Who is she?” Ron demanded. Harry hadn’t noticed that Bill was holding on to something behind Charlie. He pulled whatever it was out into the open. Harry saw an invisibility cloak fall away to reveal a lady wearing a shimmering white strapless dress that trailed just at the floor.
“Professor Tonks?” Harry, Ron, Ginny and Hermione stammered together.
“Wotcher, Harry,” she replied quietly. Then with a brilliant smile she added, “I think for tonight I would like you to call me Nymphadora.” Hermione was the first to recover her voice, though not her brain.
“Yes, Professor To… I mean Nymphadora,” she stumbled.
“Shall we proceed?” Professor Dumbledore asked. Charlie took Nymphadora’s hand and walked her to the front of the hall. Bill took up station on Charlie’s right as best man. It looked like Professor Dumbledore was going to officiate.
Harry found himself looking around the hall in fascination. It was filled with many of the same people who had attended his birthday party. There were also a lot of people he did not know. Harry figured they must have been people Arthur worked with at the Ministry. He jumped slightly when Ron gave him a nudge and pointed to the corner.
“Look who else is here,” he said. Harry looked in the direction Ron indicated to see Bridgette Weasley along with who Harry guessed were her parents. Her father was a tall man with the standard Weasley red hair. The lady holding his arm Harry assumed was his wife. Bridgette was wearing a shimmering golden dress that accented her long blond hair.
“Well I guess we know where she gets her blond hair from,” he whispered to Ron, while returning the wave Bridgette was giving them.
“Yeah, I guess so,” Ron replied. “I think I prefer brown though,” he added after a moment. Ginny snorted, but Harry saw Hermione beam and move closer to Ron, taking hold of his hand.
“Ginny?...” Nymphadora asked. Ginny and the others turned to look at her. “I don’t have anyone to stand as my Maid of Honor. I had hoped that you would.” Harry turned to look at Ginny, who he could tell was more than surprised.
“Go on, Gin,” Ron prodded her.
“Please, Gin?” Charlie asked quietly. Ginny stood up and walked to the front.
“What do I do?” she asked shyly.
“Basically just stand next to me, Ginny,” Nymphadra replied. “By accepting, you are giving Charlie and I your blessing. He tells me that you and he have been close. It would mean a lot to me if you thought I was worthy of your brother.”
Ginny smiled at Nymphadora and turned her gaze to Charlie. Harry saw the shyness dissolve in an instant.
“If he ever treats you poorly Nymphadora, he will answer to me,” Ginny replied firmly. Dumbledore chuckled,
Nymphadora looked taken aback Charlie however, laughed. It was all Harry could do not to laugh too.
“I warned you, Nymphadora,” Charlie remarked.
“Glad to see I’m not the only one she goes after,” Harry said, under his breath to Ron.
“Don’t breathe too easy, mate. She has always been that way with all of us. But she reserves something special for you,” Ron replied.
“Glad I’m the lucky one,” Harry remarked, sarcasm dripping in his voice.
“Better you than me, mate.” Harry jabbed him in the side.
“Thanks a lot Ron.”
Harry sat along the side of the hall watching the reception. Hermione had drug a very reluctant Ron onto the dance floor. He watched for a while as they held each other close then turned to Ginny.
“I’ve never been to any wedding before, Muggle or magical. Tell me about the incantations Professor Dumbledore was doing.”
“Well,” Ginny replied, “the bright light you saw at the beginning was part of the betrothment ceremony. The brighter the light the better, it is supposed to be an indication of compatibility between the people being married. The second one, where you saw the smoke, that is supposed to be an indication of how strong the marriage will be. The smoke is supposed to form a ring. The more perfect the circle, the stronger the marriage is supposed to be. If the smoke forms into the symbol for eternity, then it means that the souls of the couple were meant to be together. It is believed that they will reunite after death.”
“Did you see what shape the smoke took?” Harry asked.
“It formed an almost perfect circle,” Ginny replied, smiling brightly. “Mum and Dad had a perfect circle. They’re pretty happy with what happened for Charlie and Nymphadora,” she added. Hermione dropped down in the seat next to them.
“What happened to Ron?” Ginny asked. “It looked like he was actually having a good time out there.”
“He had to go to the bathroom, but then he stopped to talk to Professor Dumbledore about something,” Hermione replied, with a wave of her hand. She then indicated to a glass. “Is this yours, Harry? May I have a drink?”
“Actually those are for you and Ron. I thought you might be getting warm.”
“Thanks, Harry.” They all turned when Professor Lupin sat down next to Ginny.
“So what do you think of the wizard wedding ceremony? And please call me Remus for tonight.”
“I’ve never been to any wedding ceremony before, but it was really neat to see,” Harry replied.
“Did you see Remus? Their smoke ring was almost perfect,” Ginny asked excitedly.
“Yes, it was quite impressive,” Remus replied softly, while looking at Harry. Harry was quiet for moment or two before he asked the question that had come to his, Ginny’s and Hermione’s minds.
“Remus, what shape did the smoke take for my parents?”
Remus smiled, and then reaching behind his neck he undid the clasp of the chain he always wore. As he pulled it off, Harry saw that there were was a ring on it.
“I think that it is time for you to have this, Harry. I searched the rubble for days to find it. It was the band your father gave to your mother.” Harry took the chain and held it in front of him. The ring dangled from it. It was made of gold with one small diamond set into it. The inside of the band had one word inscribed on it (LOVE).
“The smoke formed into the symbol for eternity for your parents, Harry.” Harry just stared at the ring before turning to look at his friends. Hermione and Ginny were both crying.
“Here, Harry let me help you with that. I seem to remember someone did this for me once,” Hermione said, taking the chain from him. She walked around behind him, then reached around him to slip the chain around his neck.
“There,” she said, fixing the clasp and hugging him from behind, “Happy Christmas, Harry.” Ginny leaned over to hug him at the same time.
“Happy Chirstmas, Harry,” she added, Harry broke out of their grasp and stood up to meet Remus.
“Thank you Remus,” he whispered, as he hugged him.
“You’re welcome, Harry.”
“Thanks, all of you,” Harry said with a smile. Hermione and Ginny beamed at him.
“Come on Harry, if Ron won’t dance with me, then it is your responsibility as his best friend to do so,” Hermione said grabbing his hand and dragging him to the dance floor. Harry tried to protest, but Hermione wouldn’t let him go. She forced him through two songs, before he managed to untangle himself from her. He was on his way back to the table when Nymphadora caught him for a song.
“It’s bad form to refuse the bride on her wedding day, Harry,” she told him when he tried to avoid her.
Harry seemed to be getting passed around the floor by all the women in attendance. He danced with Mrs. Weasley, then Mrs. Granger, and a number of ladies he didn’t know before he made it back to the table. He had no sooner sat down, when he heard a voice behind him.
“Erm….Harry.” Harry turned around. It was Bridgette. “I was wondering if you would dance with me?” she asked shyly.
Harry, caught off guard, didn’t answer. A few moments later Ginny answered for him.
“Men. Of course he will.” Ginny kicked him. “Just make sure I get one dance with him before the night is over, will you Bridgette?” she said.
Ginny stood up and whispered in Bridgette’s ear before she walked over and grabbed Charlie pulling him to the floor. Bridgette watched her go and saw Ginny flash a smile at her before disappearing into the crowd. Harry stood up.
“Well are you coming?” Harry asked, holding his hand out to her. “I’ve learned that I should just do what Ginny tells me too, or she gets very angry,” he said, smiling at Bridgette. Bridgette seemed to snap back out of a trance.
“Are you ok? What did she say to you anyways?”
“Oh…um…she told me that if I hurt you, she would turn my hair green for the rest of my life,” Bridgette replied, still trying to follow Ginny with her eyes.
“Great, how am I every going to find a girl if my little sister threatens everyone who even asks me to dance?” Harry glared into the crowd trying to find Ginny.
“She sounded like she meant it, Harry.”
“She did,” Harry said angrily. “Don’t worry; I’ll make her promise to leave you alone. We’re just dancing anyways right?” Harry asked seeing the alarmed look on Bridgette’s face.
“Usually if a girl asks you to dance, she at least likes you a little bit Harry,” Bridgette replied quietly. Harry looked at her in surprise.
“Bridgette, I’m not sure I’m ready for a girlfriend,” Harry replied. Now it was Bridgette who was taken aback.
“I didn’t say I wanted a boyfriend Harry, I would just like to get to know you a little better.”
“Oh….look, I’m sorry. I’m terrible with girls,” Harry said sheepishly. Bridgette smiled back at him.
“Yeah, Luna told me that.” Harry shook his head.
“It seems that a lot of people know me better than I know myself,” he mumbled.
“So are you going to dance with me or not?” Bridgette asked, blushing again. Harry held his hand out to her.
“Yeah, I am.” Bridgette took his hand and stepped onto the dance floor with him.
“You’re supposed to lead you know,” she said after a minute, smiling shyly up at him.
“I don’t know how.”
“Here, let me show you,” Bridgette replied.
Ron sat down next to Hermione. She smiled at him.
“Hi, Love, where have you been?”
“Hi, ‘Mione, I was just talking to some people I haven’t seen in a while out in the hallway,” Ron replied
“About what?” she asked taking his hand.
“Oh, nothing much.” Hermione thought he sounded uncomfortable with the conversation.
“Looks like Harry is having a good time,” Ron commented, changing the subject while pulling Hermione onto his lap.
“Yes, he has been getting passed around most of the night now,” she replied. They sat together watching quietly for a while.
“Looks like Ginny is going to cut in on them. She is so protective of him. I hope she doesn’t scare Bridgette off,” Hermione said. “Has Harry ever expressed an interest in her?” she asked a second later.
“Not a word. I think I would know too. I figured out he liked you pretty easy,” Ron replied.
“Don’t remind me, I hate remembering that I hurt him,” Hermione said quietly.
“Me too, ‘Mione,” Ron sighed. They sat quietly again for a moment before a concerned look came over Hermione’s face.
“What?” Ron asked.
“Ron, there is someone hiding over there,” she said quietly.
“May I cut in?” Ginny asked, tapping Bridgette on the shoulder.
“Oh….sure, Ginny,” Bridgette replied cautiously. She started to pull away from Harry, but he held her hand a second.
“I’ll take care of it, ok?” he asked her. Bridgette nodded in reply.
“I think my parents want to get going anyways, Harry. I’ll see you when term starts again?”
“Sure,” Harry replied.
“Thanks for dancing with me, Harry,” she said, flashing him a smile before she walked off. Ginny stepped into Harry’s arms a moment later. She smiled up at him.
“You looked like you had fun,” she commented. Harry smiled back.
“Yeah, it was nice to dance with her.”
“She taught you how to lead I see,” Ginny remarked a minute later.
“You scared her Ginny. That wasn’t very nice,” Harry said firmly.
“That was the general idea,” Ginny replied curtly.
“I have no idea if I even like her, but I want you to promise me you will not turn her hair green, or curse her in any way.” Ginny scowled at him. Harry glared back at her.
“And you will apologize to her.” Ginny’s eyes flashed dangerously at him.
“I’m not letting you go until you promise,” he growled at her when she tried to get away from him. “It works both ways, Ginny. Live up to my expectations.” Ginny gave just a little in his arms.
“Fine, I promise I won’t turn her hair green or curse her in any way” she replied sulking.
“And?”
“And I will apologize to her when term starts,” she sighed in defeat. Harry smiled at her again.
“Now, am I still your favorite brother?” he asked.
“No you’re not,” Ginny grumbled, but moved in close enough to rest her head on his shoulder. They moved together comfortably for quite some time before Ginny spoke again.
“Will you sit with me again tonight, Harry?”
“Yeah, Gin, we better take advantage of the common room while we can. After term starts, it is going to be mostly up to Ron and Hermione,” Harry replied.
Hermione slipped around the corner, with Ron close behind her. She could just make out two figures hiding in the shadows.
“Shhh, they’re right there,” Hermione hissed at him
“What are they saying?” Ron asked. They both listened quietly. It appeared that the two figures were arguing, and it was starting to get heated.
“Your brother invited you. You may never get another chance. Now get out there,” a female voice growled in the dark.
“I can’t do it. Not after what I said to them, Penelope. I was such a prat. I couldn’t even go see my father in the hospital when he was bit by that snake.”
“I’ll kill him,” Ron growled moving forwards. Hermione grabbed at him.
“Ronald, wait.”
“Let me go, Hermione,” he hissed at her
“I will not, and don’t you dare take that tone with me, Ronald Weasley,” Ron stopped dead. Hermione touched her hand to the side of his face.
“Just wait Love, I know what you want to do, but you’ll get your chance,” she whispered. Ron relaxed again at her touch and let her take the lead.
“Percy, I stood by you when you walked away from them because you thought you were right. We both know we were blinded by ambition. Now prove to me that you are brave enough to do the right thing.”
“Follow me Ronald,” Hermione said, as she grabbed his hand and pulled him into the entry.
“She’s right Percy, you may never get another chance,” Hermione said curtly. Percy and Penelope spun to face them.
“Hermione…Ronald…how…how very good to see you,” Percy stammered.
“The feeling is not mutual,” Ron snarled back at him. “And my name is Ron, not Ronald.” Percy stared at the floor.
“Well are you going to leave like a coward or go in? I suggest you choose,” Ron snapped at him.
“You’re not going to throw me out?” Percy asked quietly.
“I don’t have the right, Charlie invited you, if you want to go in you can,” Ron said dangerously. Percy managed to look up and meet Ron’s eyes.
“If it was your choice you would throw me out?” Ron felt Hermione squeezing his hand as hard as she could.
“I would at least listen to your apology. Remember that letter Percy, when you said you would graciously accept Mum and Dad’s apology? I think I want to hear yours before I decide if I’m going to kill you. Now go in or leave,” Ron demanded, before he drug Hermione past Percy and back into the Great Hall.
Harry held onto Ginny while the song finished. Ginny, with her head on his chest and her eyes closed, hadn’t noticed that a few of the women in attendance had started towards the two of them, intending to cut in on her. Harry had been keeping an eye out for them though.
He had started to notice that while all the men in attendance wanted to dance with the bride, there seemed to be two men of honor, who the women wanted to dance with. Charlie and him. They seemed unwilling to cut in when he had danced with Bridgette and Hermione. He was tired of getting passed around, and was more than willing to let them think he and Ginny were an item.
Apparently it was too much of a social gaff for a grown woman to cut in on a young girl and her apparent date. A simple shake of his head at any who did approach, and he was safe from eyes trying to get an up close glimpse of his scar. Bridgette had been one of the few who had not even looked at it.
“Oh my God,” he gasped, as Ron drug Hermione back into the hall followed a second later by Percy. Penelope was close behind him.
“What’s the matter Harry?” Ginny asked turning to see what was wrong. And then she screamed.
The music screeched to a halt, with everyone stopping to stare at Ginny. They then followed her gaze and saw Percy. Harry heard a crash and saw that Mrs. Weasley had dropped her glass in shock. Mr. Weasley was a shade of purple that Harry had never seen before.
“How dare you come here!” Ginny screamed, advancing on Percy. Percy turned white. Harry having been the subject of her wrath a number of times grabbed hold of her, picking her up so she couldn’t pull him forward.
“Put Me Down, Harry James Potter!” she yelled. Harry held firm. Others were rushing to help him restrain her, Ron and Hermione got there first followed by Charlie. Charlie grabbed hold of her face, turning it so she had to look at him.
“Ginny calm down,” he said. She stopped her violent struggles enough that Harry was able to hold her without fearing she would break loose.
“What is he doing here?” Ginny hissed dangerously at Charlie.
“I invited him.”
“Why?” she screamed at him.
“So he could apologize, Ginny. You don’t have to forgive him, but if he is here you do need to listen,” Charlie told her quietly. The two of them stared at each other for a moment before Charlie straightened up again.
“You can handle her now, Harry?” he asked. Harry nodded at him setting her back down, but not letting go. She was still trembling with anger.
“It’s ok, Gin. You’ll get your chance. You just don’t want to do something you’ll regret and be standing in his shoes,” Harry whispered. He looked up to see Dumbledore smiling at him.
“Fire in that girl, isn’t there?” a thought came into his head. It sounded like Dumbledore’s voice.
Dumbledore is a Legilimens, the voices reminded him.
“If you only knew,” Harry replied silently. He could see Dumbledore chuckling at his response. Charlie had walked over in front of Percy. Nymphadora joined him.
“I invited you because you are my brother. I wanted to give you a chance to apologize and for the others to forgive you. That you came is enough of an apology for me. Though it will be a long time before I trust you again, you have my forgiveness.” Charlie gave Percy a hug, then hugged Penelope also.
“Thank you, Charlie,” Percy replied softly. Nymphadora approached next and gave them both a hug also.
“Thank you for coming. May I get you anything?” she asked. Percy shook his head.
“I think you should say what you came for now, Percy,” Charlie prodded. “Mum and Dad are over there. Everyone else who needs to hear it is here also.” Percy looked around and then back at the ground.
“I wanted to say I was sorry. I put my career ahead of my family….I chose to follow a path to money because I was tired of not having any….I think I always knew you were telling the truth….But I was blind, and when it was proved that the He-Who-"
“Voldemort, Percy,” Dumbledore had interrupted him. “You show great courage to come tonight, do not fear something as simple as a name.”
Percy tried to continue.
“Yes well, when it was proved that….“
“Say it,” Dumbledore demanded. “You want my forgiveness - that is the price.” Harry watched the exchange in awe. Percy stared back at Dumbledore ashen faced.
“When it was proved that Voldemort,” Percy managed to squeak out, “had indeed returned, I should have returned to you then….But I was too ashamed at what I had done….How could I ask forgiveness when I sent back your Christmas gifts, mother? When I couldn’t visit my father in the hospital? When I turned my back on all of you and urged Ron to turn his back on Harry? When I called Professor Dumbledore a senile old fool?
“And when I didn’t come that first day, it became harder each day that followed. I am sorry. And I hope that some day you will find it in your hearts to forgive me…. And maybe trust me again,” Percy finished speaking and looked back down at the floor. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley approached Percy.
“Charlie I would like to thank you for having the courage to invite your brother today. It is late, and I think your mother and I will be heading home now. You have a beautiful bride; cherish her with all your heart.” He said all of this while staring stonily at Percy.
“As for you, you have been an arrogant pigheaded prat much of your life.” Harry could see Percy flinch with his fathers words as if he had been hit and that he was near tears.
“You will come home tonight and we will discuss things further,” Mr. Weasley said to him.
“Yes, father,” Percy replied. Mr. Weasley led his wife past them. She stopped to look at Penelope.
“Thank you for finally talking some sense into him, Penelope.” She then touched Percy’s cheek and allowed her husband to lead her away. Bill approached next, along with the twins, who still wouldn’t look at Percy.
“Bill, Fred, George,” Percy said quietly.
“You’re lucky it was Charlie who got married Percy. I would not have invited you,” Bill said. Percy started to look down.
“Don’t look away from me. I’m trying to see into your eyes,” Bill snapped at him. “I thought you might actually have been on Voldemort’s side you know.”
Harry saw Bill look down a Percy’s arms. He was glad to see that Percy had short sleeves on his shirt, and no discernable mark that could have indicated he served the Dark Lord. Though that didn’t necessarily mean anything, Voldemort would hardly mark a spy in such an obvious manner.
“What were you thinking?” Fred asked quietly.
“I wasn’t thinking,” Percy replied.
“We know you weren’t Percy,” George snapped.
“I’m sorry. I can’t do any more than tell you that.”
“Your apology is accepted Percy, but it’s going to take a long time before we trust you.”
“I understand,” Percy replied, as they moved away. Ginny shrugged Harry off and walked over to Percy. Harry followed, resting his hand on her back to lend her comfort. She stood in front of Percy with her arms crossed glaring at him. Percy swallowed deeply. When Ginny spoke the calmness of her voice sent a chill up Harry’s spine.
“You didn’t believe Harry when he told you Tom was back?” Percy looked confused.
“Tom?” he asked hesitantly.
“Tom Marvolo Riddle,” Harry supplied quietly. “That was Voldemort’s given name.”
“Oh….” Percy said, flinching visibly at the sound of Voldemort’s name.
“You didn’t believe him, Percy?” Ginny asked again.
“No, Ginny I’m sorry, I wanted to believe Fudge, because he was going to help my career,” Percy replied.
“Did you forget what happened to me my first year in the chamber, or did you just choose to ignore that too, Percy?....Because I would like to forget….If you can show me how to forget how much it hurt to be violated like that. To be….” Ginny struggled to find the words she wanted. “To have my soul raped, because that is what Tom did to me. Then I would like you to show me how to forget that it happened too, Percy.”
Percy looked stricken. Harry himself had gone white. He could feel absolute rage emanating from Ginny into his hand where he was touching her.
“Ginny, I…” Percy started to move towards her in an attempt to hug her. Harry even with his Seeker reflexes couldn’t have stopped the lightning response of Ginny’s hand slapping across Percy’s face.
“Don’t you dare touch me, Percy Weasley. It’s taken me years to accept what Tom did to me. It might take me longer to forgive you.” she hissed at him before storming off. Percy held his hand on his face in shock. He looked at Harry. Harry followed Ginny with his eyes while addressing Percy.
“Like Charlie said to you before, it will be a long time before I trust you, but I forgive you too. Right now, I need to go after Ginny,” he said. Harry started to move away and then paused a moment, his eyes boring in on Percy he allowed the power of his magical aura to surface. Percy watched in fascinated horror, realizing that the power Harry possessed was at least at the level of Dumbledore and that Harry was more than just a little angry with him. “Don’t, hurt her again,” he said before running off after her. Percy stood there shaken by both Ginny having struck him and Harry’s brief display. He slowly turned and found himself facing Ron and Hermione.
“Well I guess I’m the only one left now….You’re lucky Ginny already hit you. Because if I did it, you would be in St. Mungo’s for a week,” Ron said.
“Ronald,” Hermione said softly, “I think the others have punished him enough.” Ron struggled to maintain control of himself. He didn’t think he could do it without Hermione next to him.
“You better go see Mum and Dad, Percy. I’m going to go help Harry with Ginny.” He started to move past Percy and Penelope.
“Ron,” Percy stopped him, “are you and Hermione a couple now?”
“Yes we are.”
“And is there something with Ginny and Harry?”
“No Percy, there isn’t. Harry has basically been adopted, he calls our parents Molly and Arthur, and they call him son. Ginny and Harry, they’re kind of like the twins only closer,” Ron replied. “I would advise you not to cause any harm to Harry, Ginny would kill you in a second.” They looked at each other for a moment.
“No, I’m not joking,” Ron added. Percy swallowed hard.
“Thanks Ron.”
“Go home Percy,” Ron said, and pushed past him with Hermione in tow.
Harry caught up with Ginny as she was going into the Gryffindor common room. She stood in the middle of the floor, her arms wrapped around herself. Ginny looked up at him as he walked in. Harry paused a few steps from her.
“Hold me?” she pleaded in a whisper. Harry closed the last few steps between them and wrapped her in his arms. She broke down the second he touched her. Harry pulled her down on the floor with him, placing her head in his lap.
“Come on, Gin. I think you need to sleep again tonight.” A few minutes later, Ron and Hermione joined them.
“You ok, Gin?” Ron asked. Ginny just nodded her head and took Harry’s hand in hers.
“Harry, do I still have to apologize to Bridgette?” Ginny asked a few moments later.
“Yes, Ginny, you do,” he replied. Ginny sighed.
“How about for slapping Percy?”
“No, Ginny, I think you can let that go.”
“Good, because he deserved it.”
“Go to sleep, Ginny,” Harry said quietly, as he brushed her hair from her face.
Author's note:
First of all, it is not my fault. Remember it was Ginny who pushed him into dancing with Bridgette. That is what she wanted me to do. Who am I to ignore the wishes of the characters? Besides, I didn't really feel like ending up on the wrong side of the bat boggie hex.
Second, I need to thank Ashwinder for giving me permision to borrow her ideas. The concept of the smoke rings, and the light ceremony used in the wedding come from her story, The Long Road Home. If you have not read her stuff yet, it is excellent. Make sure you read, Ginny's Gift, first as it is the prequel to The Long Road Home.