Chapter 11

The Fake Voldemort

As the second to last week of their stay came to a close, Ginny thought back to that moment when her purity spell had first been engaged. It took a week before she could properly look Harry in the eye again and not until her birthday did she actually believe he was okay with what had happened.

As she sat, she fingered the delicate and beautiful new gold chain that hung around her wrist. Well, it wasn't so much a chain as it was a series of tiny interlaced golden leaves. Harry gave the bracelet to her on her birthday when they made a special promise together. Though they may each wish for more now and then, they would be happy with their physical relationship as it was because they both truly wanted to wait. Not until the war was over would they consider their relationship in a different light or would they reconsider the purity spell. Even then it would probably only be with respect to renew it until their wedding, though this was never spoken aloud.

They had talked about it for some time before agreeing not to take things further. When Harry produced the small chain from his pocket and hooked it around her wrist she knew that there were more important things in life anyway. He told her it looked delicate but was actually goblin-made and unbreakable. They decided it would stand for their unspoken vow and she thought it couldn't be more beautiful or perfect.

Harry had done something wonderful for her birthday, too, with some help from Ron and Hermione. Taking a leaf from her book, he'd explained that he would be her house-elf for the day, much to the chagrin of Hermione. Though not nearly as romantic as Harry's birthday, they had both thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Harry had cooked three perfect meals for her, Muggle-style – which amazed Ron – and he had taken her for a long walk. They even napped together on the sofa in the afternoon. All of this was especially difficult because, though the Teacher liked her very much, he hadn't given them the day off for her birthday. All in all, the couple was just happy to be together and make every day count.

As they walked hand-in-hand back from lunch, Harry watched Ginny out of the corner of his eye. He was always amazed that she chose him. She, who was beautiful enough to give Fleur a run for her money, could have any boy, and yet she chose him. He smiled contentedly as he watched her hair blow in the breeze. Though caught up in a ponytail today for practicing, he still was captivated by it. Unfortunately, they reached the door in only a few minutes and he could be absorbed no more. He had promised to give his all while they practiced and he had been as good as his word.

“Good afternoon, I hope you had a nice lunch,” John said as they entered. “We're not done yet today but I wanted to take a moment and talk about next week's plans. Let's sit down in the Library for a few minutes.” He gestured toward the corner of the room.

Harry always enjoyed the library. It wasn't anything like the one at school, that was for sure. It was quiet and very, very comfortable. He could sit all day and read without worrying he would be interrupted. One of the most frustrating things about Hogwarts' library was the fact that Madam Pince followed everyone around like a vulture making sure they weren't talking too loud or breathing too hard around her books. John told them many times that books can be replaced and they shouldn't worry about having food while they read. Hermione always looked scandalized when he said this.

As they sat down he began to speak. “First I want to briefly review what you've learned so far this summer. We've consistently worked on your ability to allow others into your mind. I believe this will be critical to the downfall of Voldemort, Harry, because you'll be able to combine your magic with your friends. You are a powerful wizard but this will give you both power and longevity, which Voldemort won't be expecting and likely can't match.

“I've also had you doing physical exercise every day. You grumbled at first but look back on it now, you should see the different in your endurance. You learned how to use light balls for illuminating the battle field and we talked some about battlefield tactics. You also learned not to trust your eyes entirely. The things you see around you might not be real and you must be cautious.

“You have learned how to put up an anti-Disapparation ward and hold prisoners to great effect. Ron and Harry, you have learned how to absorb an incoming spell. That's no small feat I can tell you. Hermione and Ginny, you've learned some important battlefield healing spells. They may very well mean the different between life and death, victory and defeat.

“We have dueled countless times and you seem to be learning new hexes every time, though where you're getting them from I haven't a clue!” He smiled as they all looked pointedly at Hermione, who was thumbing absently through a reference on hexes and curses. She looked up and smiled slyly.

“Most importantly, you four have learned to work together. It is not an accident that you are friends and together you fill all of the gaps to make a perfect unit.

“Next week I plan to have you spend some time learning how to disappear; how to hide yourself and how to become nearly invisible. The last day or two we'll spend dueling and I may have some special guests here to help.”

“Professor Dumbledore?” Harry asked with a hopeful grin.

“Well, since you ask, yes, he will be one of the wizards helping out.”

“Bet I don't stand a chance against Dumbledore,” Harry added, “but I sure want to try!”

They all laughed and in a few more minutes it was time to get started again. The afternoon was full of mock-battles, dueling, tactics, and pseudo-healing. To exercise Hermione and Ginny's knowledge, the Teacher randomly called out an injury upon one of them. That person had to continue fighting while injured and hope that one of the girls could help.

Fortunately for Harry, broken bones were nothing new and he barely let them slow him down. At the same time, he was becoming quite adept at firing a barrage of spells and then Apparating quickly across the room.

During a pause in the action while they caught their breath and accepted praise and critiques from the Teacher, Ginny caught everyone's attention with her observation of Harry's performance.

“Could you repeat that?” asked John.

“I said, I think Harry's continuing to fight while he's Apparating,” she said as she caught her breath.

“What do you mean?” asked Ron. “That's impossible. Isn't it?”

They all looked toward the Teacher.

“I've never heard of it being done but that certainly doesn't make it impossible. Harry, would you like to try it for us?”

Harry was standing off to one side looking like a deer caught in the headlights.

“Er, I guess,” he said. “What do you want me to do, exactly?”

“Just Apparate across the room and try to fire off a spell or two at the same time. I mean to say, after you have Disapparated but before you appear again.”

Harry shrugged and began to turn. He was gone before he made half a turn. In the split second before he appeared again, two jets of light rocketed across the room as if emanating from thin air and struck Ron and Ginny down. As Harry reappeared, Hermione cancelled the tickling charm he had cast on his friends and helped them up.

Harry pocketed his wand and turned toward the Teacher, his expression curious but turning to wide-eyed disbelief as he took in the scene. The Teacher was smiling thoughtfully with one hand on his rough chin and the other twirling his wand distractedly.

“Harry,” he motioned toward the others, “it appears you were able to accomplish the task, and with extreme ease.”

“That's an understatement,” muttered Ron quietly.

“Quite,” added Ginny, dusting herself off.

“You managed to charm your friends exactly as I asked you to,” said John. “Have you done this before, Harry? Did you know you could do it?”

“I don't know,” Harry said. “I just… did it. I didn't think about it. That's how I've been dueling all along. If Voldemort can't keep track of me then it's a lot easier for me to go on the offensive. I'm just trying to get the advantage.”

“Harry, I've just had a great idea!” cried Hermione. Harry couldn't help but smile at the look on her face. He'd seen it a hundred times before when she came up with, what he was generally loathe to admit, were great ideas.

“Harry, you're getting so good at Apparating that you can use it against Voldemort to—”

“I know,” Harry cut in.

“No wait,” she continued, “the only thing that's bad is that he can still hear where you're appearing. If we got a spell that could imitate firecrackers, or even had some real firecrackers, Voldemort would never be able to find you. You would be impossible to find unless you stood still for very long.”

“Fire-whats?” asked Ron curiously.

“Firecrackers,” answered John with a broad smile. “That's a wonderful idea, Hermione. Firecrackers, Ron, are these small exploding devices that Muggles play with sometimes. They explode with a loud crack when you light them off. The sound would probably be very similar to the sound of someone Apparating. And, as Hermione has observed, if Voldemort can't find you by the sound of your Apparating, you're in a much better position to attack him. At the same time I imagine he'll also be dueling with at least three of your friends, as well.”

Harry turned slightly pale at this and shook his head. “I wish—“

“Harry,” Ginny said softly, “we've been through this before. We're going to be there with you. We're going to help you because we want to.”

And because we love you. I love you , she spoke to him in her mind. He seemed to resign at her words but she could tell he still wasn't happy about it.

“Well, I think that's enough for today. Why don't you all go and have a nice dinner. I would say to take the weekend off but it would be better if you didn't. Harry, on Monday I'd like to see you do this again. So, if you don't mind, practice a bit this weekend, all right?”

He merely nodded as he aimed his footsteps toward Ginny. She waited for him and accepted his arms around her. She closed her eyes and reached out to him with her senses. He seemed tired but no more so than usual. She concentrated a little harder and began to feel some disquiet within him.

“I know you're concerned about us but we really have been through this before. As a matter of fact, it's really got nothing to do with you.” She pulled away from him and took his hand, starting to walk toward the door. “We have to win, not just for ourselves but for everyone in the Wizarding world. Even if you weren't the one chosen to defeat Voldemort, would you still be here?”

He nodded thoughtfully and they paused at the door.

“See? It's not just you, Harry. We love you and want to do everything in our power to help you, but that's really only half the reason we're here. We have to defeat Voldemort. Not matter what it takes, and we'd be here anyway, just like you would.”

He smiled and she knew she was starting to get through to him.

“How is it that you know me so well?” he asked.

She smiled a little and blushed, knowing that it wasn't just the simple question it seemed on the surface.

“You already know, Harry. I've been watching you from a distance since my first year. Whatever you care about, I care about. That's what love is, right?”

He nodded, seemingly lost for words, and then pulled her into a hug. She thought she heard some sniffling but suddenly they were walking again. They walked in the comfortable silence of two people in love until they separated at their house.

“See you in a bit for dinner?” he asked tentatively.

She almost giggled at his question. “Of course. Going to miss me, are you?”

He turned a bit red and ducked his head, but his smile was still evident.

Of course I'll miss you. I love you , he thought.

She returned his thoughts, in kind, and they each went their own way.

 

*****

 

When Monday morning came, Harry groaned as his charmed alarm clock went off. He didn't have one of those fancy contraptions that play music or yell at you to wake up. No, his just buzzed annoyingly until you got fed-up enough to turn it off.

One week left , he told himself. It was a strange feeling. After an exhausting weekend of practice he wasn't ready to face another week. At the same time, though, he knew it was the last and he didn't want it to end. It was freedom, living here. Even though he was preparing himself to fight center-stage in a war against the most evil dark wizard of all time, the reality of it still seemed very far off.

He rolled out of bed, putting on his slippers and dressing gown. Ron was either still asleep or eating breakfast already, because their shared bathroom was dark. Harry took a long, hot shower and tried to ready his mind for the day ahead. Given that it was to be the start of their last week, he was sure there wouldn't be any skiving-off or lazing about. There was work to be done and at the end of the week they would try to prove themselves against the greatest sorcerer in the world: none other than their own Professor Dumbledore.

That thought seemed to spur him on and he dressed quickly and ran down the stairs. A quick breakfast later and once again holding hands with Ginny, they began their walk to the main house. Harry found he preferred walking to Apparating and saved the latter for inclement weather days. He glanced at Ginny and was surprised to see her looking slightly nervous. He could even feel her tension in the air around them.

He squeezed her hand and gave her a small smile. “What is it?”

“I don't know,” she answered. “It's partly that… well, I'm not ready to leave here yet. And then…” She looked up into his eyes and he felt her magic shift around him. He stopped walking.

“What else?”

She looked at the ground. “Maybe I'm just being silly, but I don't like to think about what's going to happen when we leave. I'm going back to Hogwarts and you're going… somewhere, probably Hogsmeade, and we won't get to be together like we are here. I just… don't know what to think about that.” She raised her eyes to his again.

He looked back at her with something in his eyes she'd never seen before, it was warm and gentle, and seemed to be meant only for her. But his voice had stopped working, and he closed his eyes for a moment to collect himself. His mind was jammed and his senses seemed to feel everything around them – it was overwhelming.

“I don't know what I'm going to do,” he said. “I can't imagine myself without… everyone. I know I get to live with Ron and Hermione, and they're great, but…” He cast his gaze away from her for a moment, then decided he couldn't say what he was feeling and turned it back to her. His tone was different though, deep and caring and there was passion in his eyes.

“How are you doing? Are you worried about this year, in school, I mean?” He searched her eyes, and could almost see the answer.

“Yes,” her voice quavered, “I… I don't know what I'm going to do.”

“You'll be the last one at Hogwarts,” he said slowly, “are you, er, are you going to miss Ron… and Hermione?”

Harry couldn't seem to help himself. It was like he was grasping at something that he wanted to exist, but he couldn't tell what it was. He could feel it pulling at his heart but couldn't describe it in words if his life had depended on it. His palms were starting to sweat and he felt warm and shaky.

She found his eyes again and forced him to look at her with her soft smiling gaze, then she moved her head and rested her temple gently against his cheek, her hair shimmered in the morning light with a thousand shades of red, and suddenly, unexplainably, he wanted very much to hold her like this forever. When she spoke again, her voice was smooth, and took on a tone which Harry had never heard before. It was something like warmth and tenderness and it was so real it made him shiver.

“Harry,” she murmured and he warmed at the way she said his name, “it's you. It's always been you, and I'm going to miss you.” She continued quickly, “There won't be a day that I won't think of you… promise… promise me you'll think of me.” She lifted her head and looked at him.

He could see the pure vulnerability she had opened up to him and struggled to find a way to express his feelings. He now knew what he was feeling, it was what had been missing for so long, what had been taken away from him so many years ago. It swelled in him like a crescendo of beautiful music, like the sunrise he had shared with her at the Burrow. It lifted his very soul, encouraged him, and gave him peace like he had never known before. Ginny, whom he had known for so many years, now holding her tight against him, it felt so right he couldn't even find the words to tell her.

I love you , he thought. And I won't stop thinking of you, no matter where I am or what I'm doing.

“I love you, too,” she murmured.

They stood there together for several minutes until Ron and Hermione came along, on their way to the main house.

“Hi, Ginny! Hi, Harry!” Hermione said as they approached. “Our last week,” she sighed. “I wonder what it'll be like. I can't wait to duel with Dumbledore, and then there's still the Ministry Ball on Saturday. That should be fun!” She glanced sideways at Ron, who's ears seemed to turn a light shade of pink.

“Yeah,” said Harry, brightening up a bit, “the ball. That is going to be fun.” He never took his eyes off Ginny and he felt her magic shift again, this time becoming bright and warm around him.

“Let's go. Let's go get ready to kick some Voldemort arse,” she said. They all laughed. It was becoming normal practice for them to discuss Harry's defeat of Voldemort in such light terms. It was a way of keeping their purpose in mind but also not letting things get too dreary.

As Harry's Monday morning intuition had been of hard work and busy preparation, so were their lessons the next four days. They barely left the training room, except to eat and sleep and even Hermione was starting to get a little snippy with everyone.

“Okay, we're done for today,” the Teacher said late Thursday evening. “Tomorrow will complete your time here this summer. You'll be dueling and fighting mock battles with Dumbledore, Remus Lupin, and Nymphadora Tonks.”

“Remus and Tonks are coming, too?” Harry asked. His excitement was barely controlled and seemed to be contagious. Hermione and Ginny glanced at each other and smiled, while Ron thumped Harry on the back.

“Give ‘em everything we've got, won't we, Harry?” Ron said, with a clever look on his face. Harry could only agree.

The Teacher continued. “While you won't have time to get a good night's sleep in the heat of battle, I've decided to let you sleep in tomorrow morning anyway. We'll begin at ten o'clock, sharp. Be prepared for anything.”

Harry's smile faltered for a moment when he saw the mischievous look in his mentor's eyes but then he let himself be led from the room and back to his own house, forgetting what he had seen. They ate a late dinner and all sat together in the sun room reminiscing about the summer and speculating on what sort of activities they would be doing the next two days. It was a long, quiet evening and Harry enjoyed the time with his friends immensely, knowing that there wouldn't be many more moments like this.

As the sun dipped below the horizon and darkness fell, they went their separate ways. Harry collapsed into his bed and was asleep within moments, all thoughts pushed aside for the enjoyment of a quiet night's sleep.

Chaos reigned the next morning as only Hermione remembered to reset her alarm while the others simply charmed them off. Harry awoke to shouts from the hallway outside his room to get up and get dressed because it was now quarter to ten.

He never preferred the cleaning charm to a hot shower – it was far too uncomfortable – but this morning he ran his wand up and down, shivering at the scrubbing feeling all over his body. He threw on some clean clothes and ran down the stairs. In the kitchen, Hermione and Ginny were already sipping juice and eating some breakfast. Harry blushed slightly as Ginny offered him a piece of buttered toast. He took the proffered portion and munched it absently as he rummaged through the refrigerator.

“Honestly, you're as bad as Ron sometimes,” Hermione said from behind the door Harry was holding open. He jammed the piece in his mouth and stood up.

“Mmff?”

The two girls burst into laughter and Harry couldn't help but grin. Whether they would believe it, he knew exactly what their response would be and had done it on purpose. He pulled a few pieces of melon from a magically sealed container and sat down next to Ginny, swallowing his last bite of toast.

“Good morning,” he said and kissed her quickly on the cheek. She grinned and turned to him with a dreamy look.

“Good morning to you, too.”

They were both aroused from their greetings by a muffled giggle from across the table.

“Something you'd like to add, Hermione?” Harry asked with a smile.

“I can't help it, you two are just so cute together. I can't believe it took you so long in the first place.”

They were saved a response by the entrance of Ron, who muttered something about ‘not missing breakfast' before opening the refrigerator and pulling out several boxes of food.

“Ron,” said Hermione, “we only have two minutes ‘til we have to leave. Exactly how are you going to eat all that?”

He gave her an annoyed look and said simply, “Eat and walk, Hermione. Eat and walk.”

It was some time before their laughter finally subsided and as they walked out the door, Harry was thankful for a moment of laughter. They walked slowly toward the main house, their tension and nerves increasing with each step.

“So what d'you reckon?” he asked. “Take it as it comes? Or plan ahead?”

“I'd rather plan ahead,” answered Ron, “but this is Dumbledore… and Lupin and Tonks. They don't even have to think about what they're going to do.”

“Yeah, well, neither does Voldemort,” said Harry.

Now it was Hermione who answered. “Yes, Harry, but Voldemort's evil. Pure evil. We already know what he's going to do. He's going to find every possible way to hurt us. In some ways that's easier to deal with than what we'll get today. I mean, Dumbledore's got such a wide range of spells to use. I don't even know where to begin.” She growled in frustration which made Harry smile slightly. He didn't have to feel half so concerned because she was concerned enough for all of them.

When they reached the door to the main training room they took a collective breath and entered as a tight group, wands drawn. It had occurred to Harry as they walked that the battle could begin as soon as they entered the door and they wanted to be ready.

Thankfully all was calm and Harry looked around and spotted his old Headmaster among a group of four gathered at the library door. The group turned to face them and even from across the room their warm smiles were obvious. The foursome picked up their steps and in a moment were greeting each other with handshakes and smiles. As he reached Lupin, Harry almost laughed out loud as he shook his old teacher's hand realizing that the other hand was firmly held by Tonks. He knew he'd have to ask more about that later.

After a few minutes of greeting, John cleared his throat loudly, indicating for quiet. They all turned, some sitting down on the floor and others, like Dumbledore, conjuring up comfortable, squashy chairs to sit on.

“First of all, to our newcomers, thank you so much for answering my request for assistance. It is with great appreciation for your abilities that I asked you here today and I have no doubt that you will have need your abilities before the day is done.” He looked at the four teenagers with a gleam in his eye and Harry couldn't help but notice an old familiar twinkle in Dumbledore's eyes, too.

Turning back to the adults, John began again. “Be warned. These four have learned a great deal this summer.” He paused for a moment and then spoke very slowly. “They have learned more than you realize and you would do best not to underestimate them, for that will be Voldemort's downfall.”

His eyes turned to Harry, scrutinizing him with the most minute detail. “Some of the magic they possess I have never before encountered and will probably go into the history books as entirely unique.” He appeared to shake himself back into the present and smiled at them all.

“At first I was going to participate today but then I thought better of it. I decided I'm too close to the situation and know your abilities too well. It would give me an unfair advantage, which I'm not sure I could wholly repress.”

“But John,” interrupted Hermione earnestly, “that would be all the better. We don't know who we're going into battle against. Wouldn't it be better to fight with the greatest disadvantage? That way we would have to use our skills in every extreme because we know you're aware of them. This is supposed to be as real as possible, right? Voldemort will use any advantage given to him and we should try to be prepared.”

John was thoughtful for a moment and then nodded his head slowly. “You know, Hermione, I think you're right, which is certainly not unusual. So unless the others have any objection, I may change my mind and join your illustrious Headmaster.” He turned to each person in the room and received no negative response.

“All right, I'll participate. The rules of engagement are simple. Stay within the boundaries of the peninsula. You may use the land, the catacombs and the houses. Since we're in decent company I'm sure none of you will use Dark Magic but that won't stop your enemy from using it. Now, does anyone have any last questions or thoughts? Yes, we will stop at dinner time, Ron.”

The room was quiet for a moment before Lupin spoke up. “Harry, even though we're your friends, I don't want you to think that way today. If you have the opportunity, take it, even against someone who is down. The Death Eaters show no mercy. I'm not saying that you shouldn't show mercy, I'm only trying to say that it should appear in the form of containment, not murder.” His last words were spoken with a quiet and bitter voice.

“On the other hand, Harry, though we know you well and care for you deeply, we will likewise press any advantage we have. As I understand it, the purpose of this exercise is to prepare you for battle against Voldemort. He will use all possible magic to hurt you,” he paused with a grimace, “and we will do the same. I apologize in advance.”

With this statement the mood in the room became somber. Each person looked the other in the eye, trying to decide if they really had it in them to hurt someone they love. Finally, John stepped forward again.

“Each of us will carry one of these portkeys. Should anything too serious happen, you need only press and rotate the handle. It will recall all of us to this room. You will hear a notice when it is time to stop for dinner. Then we'll relax and discuss what you did right and what you could have done… uh, different.”

Harry looked around the room. It was now or never.

“Okay. I'm ready,” he said.

 

*****

 

By early afternoon Harry was dirty, tired, and discouraged. Aside from lengthy stretches of boredom, not much had happened yet and in some ways it was harder than an outright fight.

Immediately upon setting out that morning the four had separated; Ron and Hermione had set off into the woods while Harry and Ginny tentatively entered the catacombs. Having been unwilling to separate at first, Harry changed his mind when Hermione reminded him that they could all still work together. They had a gift of communication that Harry had all but forgotten about.

Through most of the morning and into the afternoon they talked off and on trying to keep track of their enemy's location. Ron and Hermione had had a few brief spats with Lupin and Tonks but nothing else to speak of. Harry and Ginny had sometimes glimpsed and heard the swish of a cloak around corners in front of them but had yet to encounter anything interesting.

It was in this state of boredom that Harry suddenly felt a substantial and apparently unfounded dread. It crept up on him like a quiet darkness and slipped its smooth fingers around his heart. He turned slowly to Ginny.

Her face was solemn as if seeing a great evil elsewhere in the world. A light sheen appeared on her forehead and Harry squeezed her hand.

“Do you feel that?” she asked in a hoarse whisper, her eyes already seeing the truth on his face.

“Yeah,” he whispered. “What… what do you think it is?”

“I don't know. Harry, I'm a little scared. I think maybe that's not what you're looking for in a girlfriend, but… there it is.”

He smiled grimly as he laced his fingers into hers and lifted his wand slightly.

“I love you, anyway,” he said softly, just to reassure her. Then slowly, so as not to attract any notice, he raised a shield around them. It was very tight, almost invisible except around their hands and faces.

With his shield in place and his wand raised, Harry felt slightly calmer, though he couldn't shake the feeling of dread in his stomach. He squeezed Ginny's hand and she seemed to understand him, though her hand shook slightly. Gathering up his strength, he cast a powerful spell down the hallway and through the very rock of the walls around them. It reverberated mutely with a deep bass tone.

Harry's eyes shown for a moment as if seeing the very makeup of the catacombs and all of their secrets. He breathed in a muffled gasp.

“He's here!” he said, hoarsely. His own hands started to shake.

“Who's here?” Ginny's asked next to him.

“It's him. It's Voldemort! I thought he wasn't supposed to be able to get here!”

At that very moment a ball of fire shot straight at them from down the hall. They dropped to the ground and rolled against one wall. As the fire blazed past them its light somehow seemed to linger behind and the hall remained illuminated in a deathly red.

From the floor they raised their eyes, suddenly and fearfully aware of a long, drawn face approaching them. It had eyes like a snake and no hair covered its scarred head. There was no mistaking who it was. Voldemort had found them.

Without a moment to hesitate, Harry jumped to his feet and launched several high-speed spells down the hall. At the same time he yelled for Ginny to run. She didn't need telling twice and together the two of them set off at a sprint.

Not twenty yards down the hall they jumped through an unlocked and previously unnoticed door. Without even turning around they slammed it shut and paused, panting for breath.

“Looking for me?” a voice hissed from the shadows behind them.

Before they could even register shock, Ginny screamed and with a flourish she blasted the door back off its hinges. Their hands gripped together as they tore off down the hall again.

“You can't run forever!” a vicious voice cackled far behind them. They jumped into another open room. Harry scanned the walls around them with lit wand as Ginny sealed the door.

“I think we're trapped, Harry!” she cried as she began to search the room.

“Maybe we could blast our way through another wall,” Harry suggested. He was starting to feel a bit of panic set in now that they had a moment to catch their breath.

“Harry, what if… what if he's not real?”

Harry paused in the middle of a step and turned slowly to her.

“What do you mean?”

“You remember the last time we were down here? There were all those Death Eaters. They weren't real. Maybe Voldemort's not real.”

“Okay, but if that's true, what do we do about it? Moon him?”

Ginny giggled. “No, I don't think that will help but it's something along those lines. Maybe we just need to believe that he's not here. Or maybe it's a Boggart. Maybe it's John pretending to be Voldemort.”

“Yeah, well, if it's John he's got one hell of a Halloween costume.”

A thud and a crack at the door stole their attention.

“I think we're about to find out,” Ginny whispered.

A moment later the door blasted in on them. A tall figure either stepped or glided over the rubble and came to a stop not more than ten feet from them. Its forked tongue tasted the air and its slotted eyes opened slightly, staring at them with an insane glare.

“ Riddikulus! ” Harry shouted.

Voldemort only laughed, his face contorting into an ugly sneer. “Not today, Mister Potter!”

“ Accio mask!” Ginny yelled.

Again, nothing. Only the gleam of red in the Dark Lord's eyes.

“Perhaps you would like to try something else?” he hissed. “Or perhaps your pitiful magic is no match for me.”

Harry gritted his teeth and tightened his grip on his wand. “You're ridiculous,” he said, “and I think you should give up, because I've already won.”

Ginny stared at him in amazement while Voldemort hissed violently. Between them, Harry extended his hand slightly, unnoticed by either of them.

“That's right!” continued Harry. “I've already won.” He closed his eyes. “You can't beat me. If you destroy me you will die also. If I kill you, I will go on living. Either way, you won't live to see the outside of this room.”

With a sudden movement, Harry lifted both hands into the air and pulled violently down. Red eyes, green eyes, and brown eyes all watched as a crack appeared in the ceiling and with an enormous boom! a boulder fell, crushing Voldemort beneath it, ending things before they could even begin.

Harry breathed out deeply and Ginny jumped to his side, grabbing his arm to support him.

“Harry? What did you do?” she asked.

Harry pocketed his wand and scrubbed his face with his hands. He was about to start his explanation when a horn sounded. It was muted, as if many miles away, but they knew what it meant. They were done. The game was over for today.

“C'mon, I'll explain later,” Harry said.

As if the dark, wet tunnels and closed rock chambers were obeying some hidden command, a dim light filled every room and hall as they walked. It seemed to be leading them and Harry was fairly sure he trusted it to get them back to the start.

They climbed uphill for a few minutes and then came to a narrow stair set deep into the wall. Voices sounded from far above and Harry gestured Ginny to start first. She accepted with a tired smile and began to climb up. If Harry hadn't been so very tired, he might have even noticed just how nice the view was as he stepped in behind her.

 

*****

 

With a crunch, Ron bit off a piece of carrot and began chewing. This, of course, didn't deter him the least from the story he was relating with great animation. Hermione, seeing that her boyfriend was doing an excellent impersonation of a pig, glared at him with such a fierce gaze that he stopped talking almost immediately. With a nature beyond what Harry had every comprehended before, Ron apologized and swallowed his food before continuing.

“So I was fighting with Remus from across the path when Tonks jumped out. Hermione took her down with one hex. One hex! Can you believe it? I was going to compliment her when this git,” he stuck his thumb out at Remus, “decides it's time to really start fighting. Now, I'm just getting warmed up and I start launching curses and hexes so fast I thought my tongue was going to get tied up. He got me with a particularly nasty stinging hex and then Hermione got all fired up. You should have seen it! She was great!”

Ron looked at Hermione with a broad grin and Harry could see her face turning red.

“Well, I wasn't that great. I just used a standard leg-locking curse mixed with Tarantallegra . The result was kind of… surprising.”

“I'll say,” added Remus with a smile. “I won't be able to walk properly for days.”

“I'm so sorry!” said Hermione, looking at him with pity. “I probably should have come up with something else but–“

“No, you did very well, Hermione,” the older man said. He turned to the group. “Then she conjured up some quite strong cords and bound me up. Quite fine work, I tell you. I must learn that, Hermione, if you have time before we leave.”

“So, meanwhile,” Ron continued, “Tonks is sneaking around this huge tree when Hermione goes back to start looking for her. Just when she's bringing up her wand at Hermione's back, I got her.”

“What'd you use?” asked Harry.

“His fist,” said Tonks, still nursing a bruised cheekbone. Remus looked at her and gently touched the purple spot.

“I could fix that up in just a moment if you'd let me, you know.”

She merely took his hand and smiled at him. The others looked away and went back to their food. Harry found himself getting more and more absorbed in his steak when he caught his own name in the conversation.

“Harry took out Voldemort,” Ginny was saying. “I don't quite know how he did it, or really what exactly was even happening. Harry? What did you do?”

Harry finished his bite and swallowed hard. He didn't really feel like talking about it, if he was perfectly honest with himself. Voldemort's face still shown red in his thoughts and he shuddered at the memory.

“I… well, Ginny had a theory that it wasn't really Voldemort at all, that it was some sort of figment of our imaginations. That would explain why he just appeared in the first room,” he glanced at Ginny, who seemed struck by the thought. “We tried Riddikulus , in case it was a Boggart, and we tried to take his mask, in case it was just one of you in disguise,” he smiled apologetically at John and Dumbledore who merely nodded in understanding.

“I finally just decided to see what I could feel of his magic. I can feel Ginny's magic, you know. So I thought maybe I could tell if it was really him. I distracted him with some crazy talk and tested the room while he wasn't paying attention. I figured a powerful wizard like him would be easy to find. What I got was nothing, nothing at all. I could feel Ginny really strong next to me but there was no one else.

“That just proved to me that it wasn't even real. Then, I don't know… I broke the ceiling and crushed him with the rock. That's when the horn came and we were done.”

John stared at him. “You just broke the ceiling and crushed him?” he said faintly.

Harry's face reddened slightly. “Well, yeah. I had to do something. If he hadn't come into the room at all I was going to blast a hole in the wall. There was a big room next door and I think we could have gotten back to the main tunnel through it.” He took a bite of his potatoes.

They all stared at him. Dumbledore recovered quickly and seemed to almost laugh.

“Harry! You really are a remarkable young man. I hope you'll consider teaching one day. You would be the best in the school.”

Harry forced a smile and went back to eating while the others talked. Only two months ago he would have balked at the thought of teaching. He hadn't allowed himself any thoughts of life beyond Voldemort. But after letting Ginny into his life he was starting to reconsider a few things. It went sorely against the grain but he had to admit that there were some things in life that he wanted to do. He wanted to know what it would be like to try out for a professional Quidditch team. He wanted to know what it would be like to enter a classroom and have all the students listen to his every word. If he was truly honest, he wanted to know what it would be like to spend every day of the rest of his life with the red-haired girl sitting next to him.

As if sensing his mood changes, which, if he was right, she probably was, she took his hand and rubbed her thumb over his fingers. Almost immediately a soothing calm began to seep through him. He knew the feeling and loved it. Ginny's magic. She was sharing it with him and it, like she, was trying to comfort him during a difficult time.

The rest of the evening was spent discussing their activities during the day. Each side gave detailed descriptions of their actions and they compared notes of whereabouts and plots. It turned out that Dumbledore had indeed entered the catacombs and was leading them into the depths of the rock with the intent to corner them. His plan was working quite well until the arrival of Voldemort. After much intense discussion they finally agreed that Harry and Ginny had actually handled the situation very well.

“You see, Harry,” Dumbledore was saying, “if you had let your imagination run away with you, Voldemort would have won. I'm certainly proud of the thoughtfulness of Miss Weasley.”

“As am I,” added John. “You learned a valuable lesson today. Don't take things at their face value. Have you ever wondered why your esteemed Headmaster isn't afraid of Voldemort?”

They nodded along.

“If I may, Albus?” John asked and the white-haired man nodded.

“He sees things not as they appear but as they should be, as they were meant to be seen. He sees the good and the possibility in everything. It's a wonderful trait for a teacher to have and Hogwarts should feel privileged.”

“What you mean,” said Hermione, “is that instead of Voldemort, he sees Tom Riddle, as he could have been. I can understand that but how do you get around the evil that Voldemort uses?”

“With pity,” Dumbledore said heavily. “He was an exceptionally bright young man. Probably the brightest ever to attend Hogwarts. His potential was limitless and he chose to waste it. Indeed, it makes me very sad. And so I pity him but I do not fear him.

“At the same time I have an advantage that you four do not. I am old and have lived my life to the fullest. I have accomplished many things, some of them very great, if you pardon my humility, or lack thereof. I would dearly love to see Harry finally complete what he has to do so that he may move on with his life. That is the one thing that still remains. But if I were to die today, I would be prepared. I know that's a difficult concept for you but someday you'll understand. I am afraid neither of life nor death.

“Harry exhibited some of those same characteristics today, from what he described of his trials. He spoke of what he thought was crazy but perhaps it wasn't all that strange, was it, Harry?”

Harry just continued to look the old man in the eyes.

“Yes, I see that you're starting to understand me. You didn't show fear so Voldemort didn't know how to react. He only understands fear and hate. He cannot understand love and acceptance and compassion. You had him stumped, Harry, which is why you were able to get the upper hand. Yes, I believe you learned a very valuable lesson today.”

There was silence for a few moments as everyone took in his words. Finally, John stood up and began to send their plates out of the room with his wand.

“Well,” he sighed, “I think we've had enough for today. Will you stay around until tomorrow Albus? Remus? Tonks?”

They all nodded.

“I thought we were continuing this tomorrow,” said Harry.

“I changed my mind today, Harry. You four are as prepared as I can make you. You don't need any more teaching from me. Besides, I daresay you'll need most of the day to repack your things for the trip home. And isn't there a ball tomorrow night?”

He turned away with a wink and left the room. Remus led Tonks away with a request to look at her bruise while Dumbledore followed John into his office.

“I guess that's it, then,” said Harry, looking and feeling a little disappointed.

“Yeah, but that's okay,” said Ginny as she pulled him into a hug. “You can spend tomorrow with Remus. You haven't seen him in quite a while.”

The thought brightened up Harry's face and he followed his friends as they walked slowly back to their house.

 

*****

 

The next morning found them with some unexpected guests. The four older adults had walked over from the main house and were enjoying comfortable seats in the sunroom when Harry found them.

“Good morning, Harry,” said Remus. “I hope you slept well. No unusual dreams, or anything?”

Harry couldn't pretend he didn't know what the man was talking about.

“No, not at all,” he said with a sly smile. “I had far better thoughts to occupy my mind with last night.”

As if on cue, Ginny walked into the room, rubbing her eyes on her sweatshirt sleeves. She stopped suddenly and appeared surprised to see so many faces looking at her with highly amused smiles.

“Er, good morning?” she asked.

“Hi,” Harry said, taking her hand. “We were just hoping that you slept well last night, that's all.”

“Oh,” she said as she laid her head on his shoulder with a smile. “I slept just fine, thanks.”

Harry hugged her for a moment before turning back to their visitors. A sudden inspiration had just struck him.

“Have you had breakfast yet?” he asked them.

“Nope,” said Tonks with a smile. “Are you offering?”

Harry laughed. “As a matter of fact, I am! Let me just see what we've got.”

Remus stood to follow but Harry insisted that he stay with the others. With only a slight hesitation he sat back down.

“Harry, you know your father couldn't cook at all. Should we be worried?”

“Right,” said Harry from the kitchen, “well… I learned how to cook when I lived with the Dursleys. About the only thing I got out of that place,” he added.

“Harry,” said Dumbledore, “I hope that someday you'll be able to forgive an old man. I should have found a better way.” He sighed deeply.

Harry's head appeared around the doorframe. “There was no other way. I think I've finally accepted that. I just wish you would have come by now and then to say hi and maybe knock some sense into my aunt and uncle. Or you could have sent Remus, he's a bit less threatening, although I always enjoyed the looks on their faces when you did come by.”

“I am sorry, Harry. And when this is all over I hope you and I can spend some time working together and really getting to know one another.”

Harry blushed slightly and made to go back into the kitchen before turning back.

“I'd like that,” he said, then disappeared.

A little magic, a little mess, and about ten minutes later, an enormous pile of serving dishes levitated their way into the sunroom onto the magically enlarged table. Ron and Hermione had come down (Ron most likely because he had smelled food) and they all sat down to eat.

The conversation was light with everyone keeping busy with the sumptuous food Harry had prepared. The sun was bright through the windows and with a casual flick of his wand, Harry opened them, letting a light breeze pass through the room. They ate and talked and laughed, reliving memories from the summer and their time together at school.

As Harry began to clean up, John asked the question they had all been avoiding.

“Well, Harry, when are you going back home?”

Harry sent the last plate into the kitchen where it began to wash itself along with the others. With a sigh, he plopped down into his seat again and looked at his friends. He raised his hand to his teacher and asked, “Give us just a minute?”

Harry closed his eyes and reached out with his mind to his friends. Having become somewhat accustomed to it now, he marveled for only a moment at how much easier it had become over the summer. Regular practice must really have done its good.

“Ron, Hermione, Ginny, are you all there?”

“Yes,” came the silent answers from his friends.

“I, er… well, I thought maybe we'd go back to the Burrow to get ready for the ball, unless Hermione wants to see her parents today? I don't really have anywhere else to go.”

“No, Harry, I told them I'd see them tomorrow. I planned on staying at the Burrow tonight and going home tomorrow.”

“The invitation said we should arrive at the Ministry no later than eight tonight,” said Harry.

“Well, these two are going to need a couple of hours to get ready, I expect,” said Ron, nodding toward Hermione and Ginny.

Harry tried not to laugh but couldn't avoid a smile. “So if we get to the Burrow by four that should give us plenty of time.”

“That sounds great, Harry,” said Hermione.

“Works for me,” added Ginny.

“All right,” said Ron, “you girls had better get to work. All Harry and I have to do is throw a few things in our trunks.”

“Watch it Ron or you'll find yourself at the wrong end of my wand.” Ginny raised her wand with an evil smile. Ron just laughed.

“You see,” said John to the others, “it's fortunate for the teachers of Hogwarts that these four didn't discover this little talent while they were at school together!”

Several enthusiastic nods and chuckles followed this comment.

“Right,” said Harry, finally speaking out loud. “We're going to leave here at four. That should give us enough time to unload our things at the Burrow and get ready for the ball. By the way, are any of you going?”

“I will be the only one not attending tonight, Harry,” said John. “I'm afraid I rarely leave here these days. If I were hurt or killed, the passing of this land to someone else would be very difficult. However, if you should find you need me, just let me know. The floos are always open here.”

With a few parting words the four adults began their walk back to the main house. Harry found himself standing in the kitchen with his four closest friends, wondering sadly if he would ever come back to this place again.

“You're going to miss it, aren't you?” asked Ginny.

Harry just closed his eyes and accepted Ginny's arms around his waist. She always seemed to know what he needed.

“It's okay, Harry,” said Hermione, “you're not alone. Remember, we're going with you.”

“Yeah,” he answered, brightening up a little. “That's right. We're doing this together.” He sighed. “I guess we'd better get started then.”

They didn't move for a moment while the words I couldn't do this without you hung unsaid in the air and in their hearts. Slowly, they began to clean the house and gather their belongings.

 

*****

 

By mid-afternoon they had cleaned the whole house and piled their trunks by the fireplace. Having lived so long with the Dursleys, Harry still marveled at how much easier everyday tasks were made with magic. Of course, he still had to rely on Ginny to make sure he didn't overlook some article of clothing and only Hermione knew the really powerful spells for cleaning the dust from every corner.

As they sat together on the porch that afternoon he couldn't help but smile at how well things had turned this summer. His two best friends had finally realized they loved each other, the Teacher had shown them more advanced magic than even Harry had anticipated, and best of all, his arm was now filled with tingles just because he was holding hands with Ginny.

After relaxing for a while they walked slowly up to the main house and said goodbye to John and the others. Their teacher seemed as content as always, wishing them luck and telling them they were always welcome in his home. In his heart, Harry felt that he would be back here someday. He couldn't place the reason why so he just concentrated on having a few last moments of peace with his friends.

At about a quarter after four they began shoving their trunks into the blazing green flames of floo powder. Harry watched as Ron and Hermione disappeared into the flames. He promised Ginny he would be right behind her and then for a moment he was alone.

He let his eyes wander around the room for a minute, as if saying goodbye, and then stepped into the fire himself. Having never been favorable toward traveling by floo, Harry found that he hadn't missed the experience these last few months. Traveling internationally required every ounce of one's concentration and the trip seemed to last for minutes on end.

Just as he was about to give up and launch himself out of the closest fireplace, the Burrow swam into view. With a last gasping breath he fell outward toward clean air and friendly faces, not even bothering to attempt standing up. He felt his head bump against something and looked up to see Ginny's face smiling down at him.

“Still not a fan of floo powder, Harry?” she asked with a grin. Then, with a sound like a great vacuum cleaner, she ran her wand over his clothes removing all evidence of their trip.

“Welcome home, Harry!” Mrs. Weasley said from nearby. Harry smiled broadly at her meaning and accepted her hug with as much joy as ever.

“Thank you, Mrs. Weasley,” he said as she released him.

“Now, Harry, one of these days you're going to have to learn to call us Molly and Arthur.”

Harry's forehead creased slightly as he thought he saw her wink at Ginny. To make matters worse, Ginny started blushing furiously and turned away to hide her face.

Harry was relieved from saying anything by the arrival of Mr. Weasley, who had been carrying their trunks up the stairs.

“Hello, Harry! Still don't like traveling by floo, do you ‘ol boy?”

“No,” Harry laughed. “As a matter of fact, I'm thinking of having Professor Dumbledore teach me how to make Portkeys. I may still fall on the ground at the end of the trip but at least I'm clean!”

“From what I've heard, you could probably do it!”

“Well,” said Mrs. Weasley, “you can go unpack some of your things, if you like. I'm whipping up a few little things here and there for you to snack on. No supper tonight. I imagine they'll have some mighty tasty food for everyone at the ball tonight.”

With these parting words, Harry turned and made for the back door. An idea had been forming in his mind for a while and he had every intention of acting on it. His broomstick had been locked up all summer and he was longing to get out and fly. He'd really missed the feeling.

“I'll come with you if you want the company,” said Ginny. He accepted happily and they walked together out to the broom shed.

The feeling of the air whipping past his face and the rush of adrenaline in his veins was wonderful. He swooped and spun and dove to his heart's content. Ginny seemed to be having nearly as much fun, judging by her screams of delight and excited smiles.

As dusk began to fall, Harry looked at his watch and was shocked to see that it was half-past six already.

“Ginny! Look what time it is!” he shouted, pointing at his watch.

With a yelp she turned and rocketed toward the house, throwing her boom unceremoniously into the shed and waving once at Harry before disappearing inside. Harry smiled to himself as he drifted lazily above the trees. The sunset was beautiful and nothing but the knowledge that he should be getting ready, too, made him leave it behind.

“Where is everyone?” he asked as he stepped into the kitchen a few minutes later. Mr. Weasley was already dressed for the occasion in robes of deep brown and he looked up from the paper he was reading.

“The ladies are all upstairs doing goodness-knows-what and Ron's in his room.”

Harry started toward the door.

“I know you need to be getting along but might I have a word, please?” the older man asked.

Harry turned and nodded, stiffening a bit as he leaned against the doorframe. He thought he knew where this was leading. With Mr. Weasley's connections at the Ministry he was probably going to be asked if having Aurors follow him around all night was okay, or if he wouldn't mind having a private chat with the Minister during the course of the evening.

“Now, Harry, you know I think of you as a son and that I've only ever had your best interests at heart.”

Harry nodded glumly. It was just as he had suspected, or maybe worse.

“Well, for a moment I'm going to have to suspend those feelings. I'm going to ask you something and I need you to give it some thought and give me an honest answer. Will you do that?”

Again, Harry nodded. His robe was starting to itch around the neck and he lifted a hand to adjust it.

“Harry, what are your intentions toward my daughter?”

Harry's hand dropped, along with his jaw, and he walked slowly over to the table. With a hand running distractedly through his hair he debated how to answer the question. He wanted to tell the truth but he didn't want Mr. Weasley to think he was rushing things, either.

“I… I—“ he stuttered.

“Maybe first you should understand where I'm coming from. You see, Ginny's been… she's had a fascination with you since she was a little girl. I know the two of you became friends at school but I suspect that she never really dropped her fancy for you. She's my only daughter and I just want to make sure she's treated right.”

“I understand, sir, and I'll stop dating her if that's what you want. I know you're probably worried that she'll be crushed if I die fighting Voldemort.”

“Harry, that's not—“

“But just know this first. I struggled for a long time… a very long time about my own feelings. I've felt this way about her since at least the beginning of last year, and probably years before that if I were really going to admit it.” His eyes became far away as he looked back into his past, remembering her in every way he'd every known her.

“I think it has been a long time that I've loved her but I can't put a date on it. This summer I finally decided to let go of my worries and see if she could still like me. It took me a long time to decide that. I was worried about what would… will happen when I fight Voldemort but she – and Ron and Hermione – have always said they would be there no matter what. So I decided to give it a try.”

His voice became softer and a smile crossed his face. “And look what happened. I don't think I could give her up for anything. In fact, I'm afraid I'm going to have to disappoint you and say that I won't even do it for you. I apologize and I plan to leave tomorrow. If you'll put up with me for one more night, that is.”

Harry wasn't sure but it looked like the older wizard was trying to gather his wits back about him.

Finally, Mr. Weasley reached a hand across the table and grasped Harry's arm. He was smiling. “Harry, you haven't disappointed me at all. In fact, you've impressed me. I don't know the battles you've been through, physically or emotionally, but I'm glad you finally decided to let her in. She's a remarkable woman and I have no doubt that you'll treat her right.

“And as far as Voldemort is concerned, we're all in danger. Ginny as much as any of the rest of us. As much as I don't like the fact that she wants to be with you in the end, I know that what she can offer you might make the difference between defeat and victory.

“So,” he continued with a twitch of his smile, “you're in love with my daughter?”

Harry felt his face heat up. “D-did I say that?”

Mr. Weasley was now chuckling quietly. “You did, indeed.”

“Oh. Well, I do. I guess there's no point in denying it now.”

“You'll do fine, Harry. Just fight with everything that's in your heart and you'll make it through all right. And take care of Ginny, okay?”

“I will,” Harry answered. Inside him something was bubbling up that he seemed to have no control over. His hands were sweating and his neck was hotter than ever. He could feel the words spilling out before he could stop them and his eyes widened as he spoke.

“I-I plan to take care of her for a long time. I'd like to take care of her forever, if I make it through all this. Er, do you think she would… I mean, if I asked her… but first I guess I should ask you. What I'm trying to say is… would you, if it were okay for me to ask her, would you let me? I guess it seems kind of soon, doesn't it? And I don't plan to anytime soon but I'd still like to know what you think because that would make all the difference in the world… I mean, if you said it was okay—“

“Relax, Harry,” Mr. Weasley said with a smile. “I agree, it is too early, but at the same time, I give you my permission to ask my daughter to marry you. That is what you were trying to say, right?”

Harry nodded, his voice seemed to have failed him.

“Good, then. Now you really do have something to live for. And speaking of living, you should probably get and put your robes on. It sounds like the girls are almost done and we'll be leaving soon.”

The next thing Harry knew he was in Ron's room, thankful for the breeze blowing in the open window as he pulled his robes around his shoulders. He had no idea what just happened and was beginning to doubt it was real. Perhaps he'd just fallen asleep and had a strange dream, that was all.

As he and Ron reached the bottom of the stairs, Mr. Weasley greeted them and gave Harry a small wink. Apparently Harry hadn't been dreaming after all. He flushed again and adjusted his robes needlessly. Fortunately, the girls chose that moment to appear and Harry promptly forgot everything else in the world.

He'd never seen anything so beautiful in his life as Ginny Weasley coming down the stairs with a smile just for him. He couldn't have described the color of her dress against her skin, all he knew was that it was perfect. She was the very definition of perfect. Most of her hair was done up on the back of her head but several curls were fell down the sides and back in a way that made his heart skip. She wore long gloves that covered her arms to the elbows and slippers that looked perfectly delicate. Her dress swished musically as she descended toward him and his eyes began to hurt from lack of blinking.

“Hi, Harry,” she said as their hands met.

“Hi,” he said, breathlessly. “You look… extraordinary.”

“Thank you, you look quite handsome yourself.”

“Well, shall we go then?” Mr. Weasley's voice from across the room brought Harry back to his senses and he looked around.

“Hermione!” he cried upon seeing her. “You look wonderful!”

“Thank you, Harry. I believe Ron was trying to find those very words just now.”

Ron did in fact appear to be trying to speak but without any success.

Mr. Weasley held out a piece of parchment. “For such a special occasion and with such a guest of honor, we'll be traveling tonight by Portkey. This was arranged specially for you by Dumbledore, Harry.”

“Then I'll have to thank him tonight!” laughed Harry.

Then, all together, they reached out and put a finger on the magically-enhanced ball invitation. As the clock struck quarter-to-eight, Harry felt that old, slightly-less-uncomfortable-than-before feeling tug at his navel and in a flash they were gone to the Ministry.

 

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