Chapter 4 Awakening
Harry slowly woke to an unfamiliar weight on his shoulder and arm. The weight shifted slightly causing Harry to become fully awake. Harry was only able to see a mass of red hair. Reaching for his glasses, the mass of hair spoke to him.
“Go back to sleep, Luv, it is still too early.” Harry’s hand stopped before he could get his glasses.
“Ginny! What are you doing in my bed?”
“Bad dream, now go back to sleep,” Ginny mumbled.
“Ginny, this isn’t right. You shouldn’t be in my bed.”
“Luv, all we are doing is sleeping together. NOW go back to sleep, we still have a few hours till breakfast.” Ginny snuggled tighter to Harry by throwing her leg on top of his, one arm tucked under her chin, ad the other laying across his chest and was soon asleep.
Harry unsure what to do with his arms, set one on top her arm that was across his chest, slightly cupping her elbow in his palm. Cautiously, Harry moved the arm that was under Ginny to lay his hand gently on her waist. Harry tensed when Ginny shuddered slightly as his hand made contact. After an eternity, Harry relaxed enough to go back to sleep.
Waking up again, few hours later, Harry was very pleased to find Ginny still wrapped around him and him, wrapped around her. ”Merlin, this is a wonderful way to start the morning.”
“Who’s here, Harry?” Ginny said as she quickly stretched and then returned to snuggling with him.
“No one is here, Gin.”
“Then who are you saying ‘Morning’ to, Harry?”
“I haven’t said anything until just a few seconds ago, Ginny.”
Ginny bolted up leaning on her outstretched arms looking down at Harry. “We did it again. I clearly heard you say ‘Morning’. It was your voice, Harry.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.” Ginny relaxed her arms, once again returning to her snuggling position.
Harry was quiet for a few minutes. “Ginny, why did you sleep in my bed last night?”
Ginny rolled over so that her chin was resting on her hands that were on top of his chest. Looking Harry in the eyes, “Last night was not the first night, Harry.” Moving swiftly, she put two fingers on his lips before he could say anything. “Harry, the first night, I slept in Ron’s bed but you kept waking me up because of some bad dreams you were having. You were yelling, screaming, and thrashing around like a Niffler hunting gold. The next night when it happened, I crawled into bed with you and you calmed down. I went back to my bed after you calmed down. I did that one more night. I wasn’t getting enough sleep doing it that way, so I waited for you to go to sleep and then I crawled in with you. I woke up early enough to get back in my bed. Last night, I decided that wasn’t working for me, so I didn’t worry about getting out of bed before you woke up. Tonight, I’m going to get in bed with you and sleep beside you for now on.”
Ginny felt Harry take a deep breath, knowing he was getting ready to protest. “Harry,” she said before he could, “You haven’t had any bad dreams since I’m been sleeping with you, so get used to it.” Ginny then leaned forward and kiss him. It was not long before Harry forgot what he was going to say to her. Somewhere in the middle of their kissing, there was more than one reason for Ginny’s good mood. It had taken her one week to get Harry used to the idea of them sleeping together.
After breakfast, Harry, Ginny, Hermione, and Ron were sitting in the common room around a table. Hedwig and Pig were sitting on the backs of some chairs along the wall while Crookshanks sat on the floor watching the owls. Harry was worried about what he wanted to talk to Ron and Ginny about. The letter arrived a week ago and Harry couldn’t figure out what to do. “Ron…Ginny, what should I do about this?” as he slid the letter to Ron.
Ron thought the writing on the envelope looked familiar. He opened the letter and held it so the two girls could read it too.
Mr. Potter,
I am writing this letter to tell you that I can not in good judgment allow you to marry my sister. I have protested this engagement to my parents with all my heart. I do not feel you are a stable individual and do not feel you are the right person for my sister.
Also, I feel it is inappropriate for Ministry of Magic wizards to accept gifts of gratitude, so I am returning this key.
Mr. Percy Weasley
Harry watched as Ron’s neck, ears, and face became quite red. “Well Ron, am I the ‘right’ person for Ginny?” Harry asked, mimicking Percy’s letter.
Ron was slowly and deliberating tearing the letter into very small pieces while muttering, “That GIT better not ever come near me again!”
Ginny jumped up, ran up to her room, and came back with quill, ink, and parchment.
Dear Brother Percy,
GIT.
Ginny
She put the letter in an envelope, addressed it, and then walked over to Hedwig. Hedwig raised her leg so Ginny could tie the letter to her leg. “Hedwig, please take this to Percy at the Ministry of Magic. If you happen to leave some droppings on top of his head, that would be fine with me,” Ginny suggested to Hedwig. Hedwig nipped her finger and left out the open window. Harry was amazed at the affection Hedwig showed Ginny. He guessed Hedwig knew about the change of status between Ginny and him.
Ron, Hermione, and Harry all laughed as she sat back down. “I take it you think I’m the ‘right’ person?” Harry mimicked again.
“Yes, Harry,” and then Ginny burst out laughing, too.
Harry looked at the key, “Here, a wedding present,” pushing the key towards Hermione.
“Harry, NO!” insisted Hermione, pushing the key back towards Harry.
“Yes!” Harry said with more force and pushing the key back towards her again.
“NO!” yelled Hermione, again pushing the key back.
“Yes, keep it for your kids, then!” Harry persisted, again pushing the key towards Hermione. This finally stopped Hermione.
Ron looked at the key, then Harry, “I don’t know if there ever will be any kids or even a wedding, her parents still haven’t written back.”
Hermione look at Ron with a fire in her eyes, “I told you, with or without their permission, we are getting married.” Ron still didn’t look convinced. Harry watched as Ron and Hermione both reached for each other’s hand and just sat looking at each other’s eyes. Harry looked at Ginny and reached for her hand.
An awkward silent remained for a few minutes until Harry said, “I like to talk about something less important. During our class on Friday, I was able to talk to Ginny, in her mind. This was something different and on a totally new level. It wasn’t a picture or emotion like Aberforth has been teaching us to look for, but communications. I was able to say, ‘Hello’, and she said ‘Hi’ back’ before the connection broke. Have you two experienced anything like that?” He looked at Ron and Hermione, who shook their heads.
Harry informed the two, “Well, we were able to do it again this morning before breakfast. Again, it was only one word each, but it was definitely better, clearer, and easier this time. If you two don’t mind, we would like to try to make this connection with you.”
Ginny finally called a break after an hour. All of them looked rugged and worn out. “Okay, Harry,” she summarized, “you and I can carry on simple conversations; I can hear one word conversations from Ron, but still can’t connect with Hermione. What about you?"
Harry, rubbing his temples said, “Same with me. Ron?”
Ron was scared. “That sums it up for me. I’m sorry, Honey. I just can’t hear you,” Ron apologized to Hermione who looked on the verge of tears.
Ginny asked, “Hermione, don’t you hear anything?”
“No,” she cried. Ron reached over and held her tight.
“Let’s go to dinner and try again tomorrow,” Ginny declared.
A few days later, Harry was sitting in Professor Flitwick’s classroom at a desk by himself. For some unknown reason, he was still having a hard time doing spells without saying the incarnations. So Professor Flitwick suggested he practice using the Summoning Charm on a teacup. The other three had made good progress which was slowly making Harry angry, which was not helping.
Ginny called, “Harry…relax…not…try…so…hard!”
Harry answered, “Okay,” while also thinking, ”Accio.” It was a few seconds before Harry realized he was holding the teacup. Harry tried it again, and was successful. In the next two days, Harry caught up with the rest and was much happier.
Harry’s happiness did not last long. All four of the teenagers were having a hard time catching on to the idea Aberforth was trying to teach them. Frustrated at the lack of understating, he was again trying to get his point across to the four. “I want you each to find a memory that is not very pleasant or very bad. The memory can not be too emotional, something like the first time you have butterbeer, or getting a favorite toy. Once you have this memory, I will teach you to use it as a warning indicator that someone is attacking your mind. Also, it has to be something you are willing to share with the other three in this group.”
It was Ron, who Aberforth addressed a few minutes later. “So, you think you found something Ron?”
Ron, with his ears turning pink, said, “Yes, well…one of the first things Hermione ever said to me was that I had dirt on my nose.”
Harry, Ginny, and Hermione all started to giggle when Ron shouted, “Well it is not something I think of each day and I’m not likely to forget it!”
Aberforth jumped in. “Yes that is exactly what I want each of you to find, a memory like that.”
Harry sat staring off into the distant looking for a memory. After several minutes, Harry stated, “I decided to use the memory of Hagrid giving me my first birthday cake.”
Ginny was the next one to speak, “I think I’m going to use getting my first set of school robes.”
Hermione announced, “I think the first time I saw the Burrow will be mine.”
Aberforth looked at her and quietly said, “Hermione, I don’t think who should use that, you still get excited every time you see the Burrow.” Hermione blushed and Ron looked at her with a sly grin.
Hermione spoke, “Well, I can’t think of anything.”
Aberforth smiled. “Yes everything to you is emotional; you even look at studying to be a very pleasant experience. Aloud, Aberforth suggested, “Hermione, why don’t you use the memory of the dirt on Ron’s nose.”
Hermione spoke up softly, “I can use the same memory as Ron?”
Aberforth smiled. “Of course you can, but it will be your memory. You telling Ron he has dirt on his nose, while his will be you telling him he has dirt on his nose.”
A week later, the four were once again sitting in the common room. They had been practicing their new ability again. Three of the four were now able to carry on conversations easily. Hermione was still not hearing any of them nor were they able to hear her. Exhausted from trying to help Hermione, Ron, Harry, and Ginny were leaning back in their chairs. All of a sudden Ginny spoke tiredly, “Hermione, don’t say things like that. You are just as good as we are! You being Muggle born has nothing to do with it.”
Hermione went pale. “What did you say?”
“I said you are just as good as we are,” Ginny repeated.
“But Ginny, I didn’t say anything!” Hermione shocking voiced.
“Yes, you did. I heard you,” Ginny insisted.
Hermione voiced showed a touch of anger, “No I didn’t. Tell her, Ron.”
“Ginny, she didn’t say anything,” Ron confirmed.
Harry looked very happy. “She did it! All we need to do is get her to repeat it!” By the time they went to bed, all four were easily taking to each other in their minds.
The next morning, Ron and Harry were already seated in the Great Hall. Harry and Ron both had just fixed Ginny and Hermione plates when they walked into the Hall. There was only the one house table in the Great Hall. The table always knew how many people would be eating that meal. When they arrived earlier, Harry was glad to see the table only had four seats today. After the girls sat down, giving and receiving kisses from their fiancées, Harry asked the rest what they should do with this new ability they had developed. Harry mentioned his thought that they could use it against Voldemort. He then asked if any of them was experiencing a new level or direction in this ability. When no one answered, he went on to tell them that in the last couple of days, he always, without asking, looking, or reaching with his mind knew exactly where each of them were.
Hermione gave Harry a look that said she didn’t believe him.
Harry grinned, “Hermione, last night, you went to the bathroom twice.” Her face showed her shock. “No, I wasn’t in your mind. I was asleep. Also, on the way down here, you both ducked into a classroom to avoid Peeves. It is like having a Marauder’s Map permanently inside my head. The thing is that I know how to teach it to you if you will give me a few minutes.”
Ten minutes later, all three agreed with him. This was a new level and very useful. Harry was pleased. “That is what I mean, let’s use this against Voldemort. Ron, how about developing some strategy of plays like in Quidditch, centered on this talent. Ginny, once Ron has his plays figure out a way of practicing them. Hermione, can you look in the library for anything on this ability we had found and what else we might develop?”
None of the others said anything. They had long ago agreed that Harry was the leader and they would follow him!
A side benefit of this new ability was that they made very rapid progress in Occlumency and Legilimency class. On Wednesday of their last week, Aberforth had told them there was nothing else to teach them. He told them to practice and it wouldn’t be long before they would be very accomplished in Occlumency and Legilimency.
Before they left the classroom, Aberforth handed Harry a heavy sack. “Harry, this is everything that Mundungus took from 12 Grimmauld Place that I could find. The Order finally caught up with him the other day and modified his memory so he can’t find your house anymore.”
Harry choked, “Thanks.”
Aberforth bid them good-by and hoped they would visit him on their free weekends. When Aberforth returned to the Hog’s Head, he found Albus sitting in his portrait.
“Well, how did it go today?” inquired Albus.
Aberforth shook his head disbelieving, “Albus, there is something special about those kids. You know we were making little progress for the first three weeks.”
When Albus nodded, Aberforth continued, “This last week, even I couldn’t get into any of their minds. This progress has been remarkable. There’s nothing more I can teach them,” Aberforth proclaimed.
Albus grinned, “Thanks Aberforth. I’ll come back later and visit with you.”
Professor McGonagall was sitting in her office reading one letter after another from a huge stack on her desk. She caught Dumbledore returning to his portrait out the corner of her eye. “Aberforth just told me his latest report,” Dumbledore volunteered.
“What does he have to say?” asked Minerva.
Dumbledore beamed, “He called them special! And from him, that is high praise.”
Minerva grinned, “Excellent. Do you think it is time we can let them go the Burrow?”
“Yes, Friday after class should be fine,” Dumbledore confirmed.
“I’ll let Bill know. He is arriving tomorrow to take over for Remus for a few days. Oh Albus,” Minerva began with mixed emotions. “I have confirmation that two-thirds of the students are returning next year, but I just received word that a second year Ravenclaw, Doris Thomas, was killed along with her parents last night,” she said sadly.
“Why is it always the innocent,” Dumbledore groaned.
A/N Chapter 5 The Duel