“Harry! Wake up!”
“Mo maway!”
“No, Harry, I will not go away. You need to wake up. We need to go!”
Harry rolled over, throwing his arm across his eyes to block out the morning sun. “Where do we need to go?” he asked grumpily.
“Out!” Ginny replied, pulling the quilt down to his feet.
“No! Give that back! It’s cold!” Harry complained, reaching toward the disappearing layer of warmth.
“Harry, it’s August. It’s not cold. And we need to go find our place,” Ginny insisted, beginning to tug the pillow out from under his head.
“Since when did you become a morning person?” Harry grumbled, putting his feet on the ground and stretching his arms toward the ceiling.
“Since Catarina told me last night that I was almost ready. Then she asked where we were going to perform the bonding. I felt like an idiot telling her I had no clue. I’ll go get you a mug of tea. You get dressed.”
“Bossy thing, isn’t she,” Ron mumbled from the floor.
“Runs in the family,” Harry muttered before ducking the pillow that flew up from the floor.
++++
Ginny entered the kitchen to find Catarina standing at the sink staring into the garden; the tea kettle in her hand; the water running aimlessly into the sink.
“Catarina? Is everything alright?”
“Wha – oh, Ginny,” Catarina blinked, looking down at the tea kettle and tap. Placing the kettle spout under the running tap, Catarina attempted to smile reassuringly at Ginny. “Yes, everything is fine. I was just lost in my thoughts. Happens when you get to be my age.”
Ginny grinned at her mentor. “Catarina, you will never be able to convince me you are anything but sharp as a tack.”
Catarina snorted. “So be it. I have you snowed. What are you up to this early in the morning?”
“Harry and I are headed out to find our place,” Ginny answered, reaching for a mug.
“Very good,” Catarina nodded. “Let me know when you find it.”
“I promise,” Ginny grinned. “I’ll come back for the tea when the water’s hot.”
Catarina nodded as she watched Ginny head back into the sitting room. Catarina turned toward the window again. Nathan had left a little bit ago. He said he had several errands to run and not to look for him until at least noon. Normally she wouldn’t worry, but as he stepped off the porch Catarina had noticed something – he had been holding his arm when he left.
+++++
Stepping off the front porch, Ginny felt the dew in the air leave a slick layer of moisture on her face and arms. She smiled at Harry. Harry in the morning - all fuzzy and foggy - was just plain Harry.
“So?” Harry said, coming to a stop beside her.
“So,” Ginny repeated, her hands resting on the small of her back as she looked at the horizon. “We’ve explored all over there,” Ginny said, pointing toward the hill where they had spent several afternoons talking.
“Then, let’s try over there,” Harry said, nodding in the opposite direction.
“Sounds good to me,” Ginny said, holding out her hand.
Harry took it and they started down the hill behind the cottage. The terrain was easy to traverse: the hill side was grassy and not horribly steep. At the bottom, Ginny looked up and realized they had come farther than she expected.
“Hey Gin,” Harry started, “I know you said you were done with forests and all, but what do you think about checking that out?”
Ginny followed Harry’s gaze to a small grove of trees straight ahead. There was something oddly familiar about it, but Ginny couldn’t figure out what.
“Alright, let’s go check it out,” Ginny agreed.
Harry and Ginny entered the cool shade of the trees and found themselves in a circular shaped clearing about ten meters across. The sun rays snagged on the tree tops, sending scattered shadows across the patchy ground.
“This reminds me of the Burrow,” Harry said, looking around.
Ginny wrinkled her nose and contemplated Harry’s observation. “The back of the garden…where we danced?”
“Yeah, kind of. I mean, these aren’t fruit trees, but…”
“It’s peaceful and private. And round,” Ginny finished, smiling.
“I like it.” Harry looked at Ginny hopefully.
“Me, too,” Ginny agreed.
“So…” Harry said, weaving Ginny’s hands into his own.
“So?” Ginny said, a smile flirting with her mouth.
“Care to dance?” Harry said, pulling Ginny closer.
“I’d love to,” Ginny replied, resting her head against Harry’s shoulder and closing her eyes, listening to the music of the morning.
+++++
Nathan Borgin rubbed his arm. He kept trying to tell himself it was all in his head, but he wasn’t convinced of that. His arm tingled, not painfully, more like an annoying itch. Maybe it was just the healing process?, he wished hopefully. And just when did you think you’d get so lucky? he asked himself as he made his way down the aisle of the market.
Nathan glanced at the list in his hand and back at the tins of vegetables. Running his eyes over the labels, he read corn, carrots, beans, mushy peas. He grimaced. He had never liked or understood the concept of mushy peas. Reaching out, he grabbed two tins of tomatoes and dropped them into his basket. Turning away, he heard his mother’s voice in his ears:
“Nathan, make sure you get enough! You’ve lived alone too long. You don’t know how much it takes to feed more than one, especially when two of the appetites you’re feeding are growing boys’. Have you seen Ron eat? How does his mother keep up with him? What I wouldn’t give for that metabolism!”
Nathan turned back to the shelf and grabbed another two tins of tomatoes before heading toward the front of the shop. Shifting the basket into his left hand, Nathan reached behind with his right to grab his wallet. Searing pain shot up his arm, causing him to drop his basket with a crash. Luckily, it was too early in the morning for the shops to be crowded, but the few townspeople who had ventured out for their morning errands curiously watched as Nathan clutched his forearm, tins rolling around in circles at his feet. Grimacing, he nodded an apology to his fellow customers before bending down to retrieve his items. Putting them back in the basket, he turned and walked to the back of the store. Setting the basket against the wall, Nathan stepped into the darkness of the backroom. Taking a deep breath, he cleared his mind.
With a “POP!” he was gone.
++++
Hermione’s mouth moved slightly as she read. Catarina had gladly opened the doors to her study, giving Hermione carte blanche to read anything that struck her fancy. Two hours later, Hermione was half way through the second shelf on the first set of bookshelves, a stack of books she wanted to read collecting at her feet. If Lily had truly been researching how to protect James and Harry, then Hermione had a good feeling some of what she had found out would be in this room. From what Catarina had told them of Mediators, Lily had not been one, so she would not have been able to bond with James. However, the bond she had had with Harry had protected him. Since Voldemort had taken Harry’s blood, that protection was no longer there. However, perhaps the same protection could be found in the bond between Harry and Ginny.
The current text she was reading was a detailed description of blood properties and how they combined. Her eyes focused on the page, Hermione slowly walked to Catarina’s desk. Laying the book down, Hermione felt for the bottom drawer handle and pulled, opening the drawer. Touching parchment, Hermione pulled a sheet out and reached over for the quill resting in its holder on the desk. Glancing up from the book to dip the quill in the ink pot, Hermione held the book open with one hand and was about to start writing when she realized the parchment was used. Embarrassed that she had obviously found some of Catarina’s correspondence, Hermione quickly slipped it back into the drawer. She couldn’t help but glance at the words on the paper as she pushed the drawer closed.
She put her hand on the middle drawer and stopped.
She reached down and yanked the bottom drawer open again, grabbing the parchment on top. She flipped several pages back in the book she had been reading. She stood up, her heart jumping into her throat, her stomach rolling. Grabbing the parchment in her fist, Hermione flew out of the study. Barging through the empty kitchen, she exploded through the screen door, onto the porch and down the steps into the garden.
“You!” Hermione said, her eyes blazing into Catarina’s, her breath coming in angry gasps. “You knew!”
“Hermione? What’s wrong?” Catarina asked, touching Hermione’s arm. Hermione jerked her arm away.
“You knew!”
“Hermione? Are you alright?” Ginny asked as she and Harry came around the corner of the cottage. “Catarina? Has something happened?”
Hermione looked wildly at Ginny. With a cry, she flung herself at the younger girl.
“Hermione! What’s wrong?” Harry asked, peeling her off of Ginny and holding her up.
Taking gulping breaths, Hermione felt her anger usurp the fear. Stiffening her spine, Hermione turned and waved the parchment under Catarina’s nose.
“Ginny, she knew. She knew,” Hermione cried frantically. “They knew about the immortality spell.”
“Hermione, we all know about the immortality spell,” Ron said from the kitchen side of the screen door. Pushing the door open, he stepped out onto the porch and down the steps.
“Yes, I know we all know about the spell. But they knew what it meant.” Hermione turned her back on Catarina to face Harry and Ginny. “The spell calls for Ginny’s blood to be combined with Harry’s in Voldemort’s body. Ginny, Harry is your bond. If you can bond with Harry’s blood, it is possible for you to bond with Voldemort.”
Ron gasped. Harry went still. Ginny blinked at Hermione. “No,” she said shaking her head. “No, that can’t be. I can’t bond with him. My bond is Harry.”
“Ginny, don’t you see,” Hermione pleaded. “You don’t bond with Harry. You bond with –“
“My blood,” Harry finished coldly, his eyes finding Catarina’s. “Did Nathan know?”
“Harry, we didn’t know this until recently. A Blood Bonding is still the best way to protect yourselves –“
“How long have you known?” Ginny interrupted, her voice rising.
“Almost two weeks,” Catarina replied softly.
“Two weeks? You knew for two weeks?” Ron broke in, taking a step toward Catarina. Hermione reached out her arm to restrain him, but Ron hastily shrugged it away. “You knew and you didn’t say anything?” he said disbelieving.
“Ron, I didn’t know when I agreed to this that Ginny bonding with the Dark Lord was a possibility,” Catarina said desperately.
“Does Dumbledore know?” Harry scowled.
Catarina nodded slightly. “He suspected.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?” Ginny choked, tears forming in her eyes.
“Ginny, you had to learn without the pressure of knowing what might be. You would have felt rushed. You would have been too concerned with how quick-“
“Don’t tell me how I feel,” Ginny ground out. “You have no idea how I feel.”
“Yes, I do, Ginny,” Catarina replied. “I didn’t want you to have to do what I did.”
“It wasn’t your choice,” Ginny cried.
“No, it wasn’t, but it is the decision I felt was best.”
“This was NOT YOUR DECISION TO MAKE!” Ron shouted, stepping in between Ginny and Catarina.
Ginny grabbed Ron and dragged him out of the way. “Ron, stay out of this!”
“No!” Ron exclaimed. “I won’t stay out of this! You’re my sister and Harry’s my friend!”
“Ron!” Hermione stepped over, putting her hand on Ron’s arm. “Shouting isn’t going to help! We need to figure out how to make sure Ginny can’t bond with Voldemort!”
“She can’t,” Catarina whispered.
“What do you mean I can’t?” Ginny looked at Catarina, a sinking feeling was pooling in her stomach.
“Because Tom is already bonded. To me.”
The silence thickening on the porch was cold and harsh. Ginny tried to process what Catarina had said knowing deep down, somehow, she had known. It all suddenly made awful, terrible, horrific sense. Next to her, Harry had gone completely still, his expression unreadable. Into the silence, Ron’s fury exploded.
“To you? He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is BONDED TO YOU?” he shouted incredulously.
“Ron! I never loved Tom Riddle like Ginny loves Harry!” Catarina spat. “It was a different time, I was young. He was powerful. You don’t understand.”
“I DON’T UNDERSTAND? YOU – YOU AND – AND HIM – AND I DON’T UNDERSTAND?!”
“When I met Tom he wasn’t Lord Voldemort! He was just a boy with ambition. And he was my bond.”
“AMBITION! HE ISN’T AMBITIOUS! HE’S EVIL!”
“Ronald! Calm down!” Hermione broke in. “We don’t know why she did it –“
“WHY? WHY SHE DID IT? WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT?” Ron shouted.
“BECAUSE SHE DIDN’T HAVE A CHOICE!” Harry bellowed angrily.
Ron whirled around to face Harry, his fists clenched at his sides, his face glowing red.
“SHE DIDN’T HAVE A – HAVE A –,” Ron sputtered. “HOW CAN YOU SAY SHE DIDN’T HAVE A CHOICE?”
“Because we are born with our bonds, Ron,” Ginny choked out, tears falling freely down her cheeks. “I was lucky.”
Catarina stepped toward Harry and placed her hand on his arm. Harry jerked it away.
“Don’t touch me,” he growled.
“Harry, I would like to explain,” Catarina said in a low voice.
“You have no right to explain anything to them,” Ron broke in.
“Ron, I have every right to explain to them,” Catarina argued at him. “It’s up to them if they want to listen.”
Ron closed his mouth and narrowed his eyes at the witch. Hermione stepped forward and wove her fingers into his. “Ron, I think we should hear her out.”
“Did you love him?” Ginny whispered.
Catarina shook her head. “Our bond was based on strong emotions, but not love. He was different. I was different. It made sense at the time.”
“Made sense? How could bonding with Tom Riddle ever make sense?” Harry asked scathingly.
Catarina sat down on the rocker, clasping her hands in front of her. “Ginny, do you remember the first time you saw Harry?”
Ginny blushed slightly and nodded.
“Do you remember the connection you felt? The pull?”
Ginny nodded again.
“That pull never goes away, does it? It is always there telling you are tied to Harry. If you had never met Harry, you would have never known that pull. But you did and now it is a constant in your life. It will become one in Harry’s, too, once you’re bonded.” Catarina sighed and stood up, leaning her palms against the railing. “Tom Riddle stood behind me in the queue to be sorted. Even at –“
“You went to Hogwarts?” Ron asked disbelievingly.
“Even at a young age,” Catarina continued, ignoring Ron’s outburst, “there was an aura of power around Tom. I was sorted into Ravenclaw and Tom into Slytherin. At first I thought the need I felt to be around Tom, to know him, was a silly girlhood crush, but it didn’t go away.
“I tried to deny it, but I knew. How could I not? I had grown up in a family of Mediators. My mother had taught me everything she knew, everything my grandmother had taught her. I didn’t want this to be true. I couldn’t tie myself to one who seemed to sink deeper and deeper into the Dark Arts year after year.
“In the end, it was my mother who brought it to light. I had managed to keep her from visiting Hogwarts until my seventh year. She found us in the library working on a joint essay for Potions. Tom and I had been paired together by Professor Winton. Ten minutes after meeting Tom, she knew. And instead of keeping it to herself,” Catarina uttered bitterly, “she asked him if he knew what a Blood Bonding was.”
Catarina stood. Walking to the porch railing, she leaned her forehead on a post and closed her eyes, reliving the embarrassment mingled with fear and excitement. “Tom became my shadow for the next two months, asking question after question about Blood Bonds. He was interested and attentive. Self confidence rolled off him and enveloped me. He made me believe I could do anything when he looked into me.” Catarina sighed wearily and opened her eyes.
“My mother was the most incredible witch I had ever known,” she said, turning to face them. “She was my mentor and I aspired to be just like her. She and my father shared a bond like yours.” Catarina nodded toward Harry and Ginny, who stared at her, pale as the morning mists. “I wanted that. I thought I could have that. But it wasn’t meant to be like that for me.
“Tom and I bonded during the Christmas holidays when the school was quiet and almost empty. Almost immediately, Tom’s motivations for bonding were made perfectly clear. I knew I had made a mistake and I distanced myself from him as best I could.”
“Catarina? What did he want you to do?” Ginny asked quietly.
“Heal him,” she said bitterly.
Hermione’s eyes widened suddenly. “When did you leave Nathan at Hogwarts?”
Catarina faced Hermione’s knowing gaze. “At the beginning of his fifth year.”
Hermione nodded slowly as the timeline fell into place in her mind. “You left your husband and Nathan because of Voldemort. You were afraid he would come after you to help him as he rose to power the first time.”
Catarina nodded.
“But why didn’t you return to your family after he lost his power?” Hermione asked, obviously confused.
“I received an owl from Dumbledore telling me to leave London,” Catarina answered. “I fled as fast as I could, but I wasn’t fast enough.”
Harry felt his stomach drop as he clenched his fists at his side, the sensation of huddling on the cold, damp grass covering the grave of Tom Riddle Sr., flooding back. He could see Cedric’s lifeless body lying on the cold, damp earth. He could hear Voldemort bragging about journeying further down the road of immortality than anyone - how he should be dead but wasn’t. Something had kept him alive. Something…or someone.
Ginny gasped as she stepped backwards, away from Catarina.
“He found you,” she whispered shocked. “He found you and you kept him alive!”
“Ginny, please,” Catarina reached out for her apprentice, but Ginny pulled her hands out of reach.
“I need to go now,” Ginny said, her voice unnaturally high. “I just need to go.” Turning, Ginny ran to the porch, up the steps and through the screen door.
“Please, Harry,” Catarina pleaded.
“Don’t talk to me,” Harry growled, turning on his heel and following Ginny into the cottage.
“Why couldn’t you have just killed him?” Ron hissed.
“Because of the prophecy,” Hermione answered sadly.
Catarina shook her head. “No, it wasn’t because of a prophecy. I couldn’t have, no matter how much I wanted to. Mediators can’t kill their bonds. It goes against our nature,” she whispered, tears coursing down her cheeks. “We can only heal them.”
+++++
“Nathan.”
“Lord Voldemort,” Nathan nodded to his host sitting at the desk in the study. “Lucius,” he greeted his former housemate standing to the left of the desk.
“Lucius seems to believe you might be able to help with a piece of vital information I need,” Voldemort hissed.
“Oh?” Nathan replied casually. “And what is that?”
“I need to know where your mother is.”
“My mother left me at Hogwarts when I was fifteen.”
“Yes, Lucius has told me as much.”
“She and I are not on speaking terms.”
“Which is why you will have no problem telling me where she is. No mother simply walks away.”
Nathan glanced at Malfoy. Lucius’ arms were crossed over his chest, a smug expression of triumph distorting his pocked face. “Mine did,” Nathan answered coldly.
“No, she didn’t,” Malfoy leered, walking around the desk to face Nathan.
As Nathan looked into Malfoy’s crazed eyes, he knew Voldemort knew.
“Yes,” Voldemort hissed, “he lies, too. I don’t like to be lied to.” Raising his wand, Voldemort pointed it at Nathan’s chest.
“Crucio.”
Nathan fell to the ground, writhing and screaming in agony. He felt the claws of the trap ensnare him and the curse lift. As tears of pain leaked from his eyes, he heard Malfoy laugh shrilly before Voldemort turned his wand on him.
++++
Ginny lay on her bed, her face buried in her down pillow. A sob emerged from her gut, the ache starting in her back and spreading to her shaking shoulders. Her heart felt as if it had been ripped out, leaving a gaping numb emptiness in her middle. Convincing Ron and Hermione to go home without her and Harry had been one of the most difficult things she had ever done, especially because she was pretty certain Harry disagreed with her.
Ron had argued and Hermione had clutched her hands together, shooting both she and Harry worried looks. Neither one even cast a glance in Catarina’s direction. In the end, Ginny had put her foot down, stating truthfully this was the safest place for them for the time being. She couldn’t Apparate (well enough or legally) back to the Burrow. They didn’t have a Portkey (although Hermione offered to attempt to charm a fruit bowl for them). The fireplace wasn’t hooked up to the Floo Network and Harry didn’t have his broom. Ginny knew deep down these were just excuses to stay until she sorted this out. She was not one to run from hard decisions or tough situations and now wasn’t the time to start. So she and Harry had watched as Ron and Hermione Disapparated back to the Burrow, leaving them standing alone on the porch, Catarina watching over them from the window above the kitchen sink. When the dust settled, Ginny had whirled around, flung open the screen door and ran to her room, the tears she had held at bay spilling down her cheeks.
She felt Harry’s presence before she heard him. Lifting her head, she watched through her tears as Harry closed the door and sat down on the edge of the bed. Ginny pushed herself up and leaned against him. Ginny took a ragged breath and sniffled.
“You okay?” Harry asked.
Ginny sniffled again then shrugged. “Yeah, I’m okay.”
“Ginny, I think we should go back to the Burrow.”
“Have – have you changed your mind?” Ginny asked her brow furrowed.
“No, not about the bonding,” Harry said. “I just think we should do it there, that it would be safer there.”
“But Harry, we are as safe here as we would be there.”
Harry abruptly stood up, shoving his hands in his pockets. “Look, Ginny, I’m supposed to watch out for you –“
“I can take care of myself!”
“I know you can, Ginny. I just think –“
“Maybe that’s your problem, Harry Potter! You’re thinking!” Ginny sputtered, swiping at the dampness on her cheeks. “Harry, I told Hermione and Ron the truth. There isn’t a safe way for us to leave today. And I need Catarina.”
“Why? Why do you need her? She said you’re almost ready!”
“I don’t feel ready!”
With a bang, the door flew open and bounced against the wall. Catarina rushed in, a piece of parchment clutched in her hand.
“Ginny! Harry!” Catarina stopped and gathered her wits. “Dumbledore has just sent an owl. Nathan is missing. Albus thinks Tom has him.”
Catarina stepped further into the room and clasped the parchment in her hands in front of her. “When I agreed to do this, I never expected the two individuals Nathan wanted me to meet and help would be such extraordinary young people. Perhaps I should have guessed that when Nathan insisted this be your choice, but it had been so many years since I had known him, I didn’t pick up on his commitment to you.
“Ginny, my reasons for not telling you were selfish, I admit. Selfish for me, and selfish for you. I wanted you to learn without feeling like you had to. I wanted you to love this process, to understand it, appreciate it. I also wanted desperately to teach someone, to share my knowledge with someone,” Catarina pleaded.
“I’m not asking for forgiveness or understanding. I just want you to know, I have not mislead you in my teachings. Everything I shared with you, my notes, my books, and my knowledge is what my mother taught me and what her mother taught her.
“If Tom has Nathan, it is only a matter of time until he discovers where I am. If you are going to do this, you need to go now. Please believe me! This is the best -“
“How did he find you?”
Catarina caught her breath at Ginny’s question. “As long as I live, he will feed off my life. Once your bond is performed, the pull you feel for Harry, he will feel similarly for you. I have been lucky. He has left me alone for almost seventeen years.”
“Why?”
“The blood I am bonded to within him has been polluted,” Catarina paused, her cheeks growing pink. “No offense, Harry.”
Harry blinked at her for a moment before realizing she was referring to his blood in Voldemort’s veins.
“The pull is still there, just not as strong.” Catarina reached out to touch Ginny on the arm. “Ginny, you must go. Now.”
“But I’m not ready!” Ginny cried.
“Yes, you are,” Catarina said, smiling at her. “You are ready.”
Ginny bit her bottom lip and glanced at Harry who was staring at Catarina with a frightening intensity. She placed her hand on Harry’s arm. Harry looked down at Ginny and took a deep breath. He nodded.
Giving Ginny a fierce hug, Catarina released her. “Where are your notes? The blade?”
Fumbling with the latch on the trunk at the end of the bed, Ginny opened the lid and retrieved the rosewood box. Harry took it from her and slipped it under his arm. Clutching the notes, Ginny turned to face Catarina again. Quickly leaning forward, Ginny gave Catarina a kiss on the cheek. Pulling back, Catarina smiled proudly at her.
“Go.”
Ginny looked back at Harry and took his hand. Tightening her grip on the notes, Ginny led Harry past Catarina and out the back door.
Catarina placed her hand on the screen, feeling the coolness of the metal mesh against her palm. She watched as the pair walked down the hill, suddenly realizing she had no idea where they were going. Pushing the door open, she raised her other hand to wave at Harry and Ginny, but stopped at a sound in the kitchen.
Deep inside she felt a pull so strong and cold she almost folded in half. Clutching her chest, she slowly stepped back into the hall, closing the backdoor quietly. She turned and exhaled.
Walking purposefully down the short hallway, she straightened her shoulders and dropped her hand to her side. Clearing her mind, she entered the kitchen and stopped.
“Nathan,” she nodded to her son, keeping her expression unreadable. She noted the painful way he held himself and cringed inwardly. “And you must be Lucius Malfoy.”
Turning to the third being, Catarina caught her breath, forcing herself to exhale slowly. He turned to face her.
“Catarina.”
Catarina held her head high as she answered calmly.
“Hello, Tom.”
++++
A/N – Thanks to Kissmegrint for her wonderful help with commas, spelling, punctuation, etc, even throughout her school testing. I do so appreciate it!
Thanks to wvchemteach who pushed it back over and over again until I got it right.
Next chapter…the Blood Bonding. On that note, the next chapters are written. I'm just waiting for this one to be validated and I promise, I'll put the next one in the queue. I know the queue is moving, it's just a little slow right now. So keep checking back - thanks!