The Unforgettable Fire

CHAPTER 17: Happenstance Sets the Stage

Somehow, it seems, when everything is right in the world, the feeling of sedated content will come over you. The pure white mornings of hope and green ideas of love wash over the day like clear waters on pale beaches. Serenity clings to the air like a good dream you can't quite remember and all is good.

So it was for Ginny and Harry. The pale morning broke in through Ginny's window and spread tranquility on the two sleeping lovers. Ginny woke, content and fresh. She had moved somehow in the night and was on her stomach, Harry's arm across her back. They faced each other and Ginny couldn't help but stare.

He was so peaceful, so true, so right. Come to think of it, there was no place she'd rather be than right there in his arms waiting for morning to turn to day. His bright green eyes opened and he stared at her quietly. She liked the way he stared at her; it made her feel needed, loved.

"Good morning," she said softly.

"Morning, Beautiful," he said back.

There was a moment of revered silence while they looked at each other. Then Harry sat up partially, propping his head up with his hand. "I was what it would be like to wake up next to you."

"What is it like?" she asked.

Harry took a deep breath and closed his eyes. Then letting it out and looking at her he said, "Perfect."

"Perfect?"

"Perfect," he assured her. Then he wound a strand of her hair in his fingers and sighed again. "Everything about you is perfect, Ginny."

"Not everything," she replied sadly, waving a scarred hand in front of his face.

Harry grabbed it like it was the Snitch and held it gently, rubbing his thumb over each tip and then kissing her palm. "If anything it makes you even more perfect."

Her face was emotionless for a moment, and then a small smile broke out on it. "I crack my knuckles," she confessed.

Harry frowned. "I hate that," he said with mock seriousness. Ginny let out a twinkle of a laugh and leaned further into her pillow as she exhaled.

"You have beauty marks on your back," Harry commented.

"Hmhmm," she confirmed.

Harry drew a line from one mark to the next, reveling in her smooth, creamy skin. "They're wonderful."

She giggled again. "I need a shower," she said into the pillow.

"What a coincidence," Harry said, "so do I."

~~~

"My Lord," the simpering, squat man said from his knees.

"What is it, Wormtail?" the Dark Lord Voldemort said from his high, stony seat.

"Master," Pettigrew wined, crawling to the hem of Voldemort's robes and kissing them repeatedly. With a sharp kick to the head, Pettigrew stopped and bowed his head to the ground respectfully. "Master," he repeated. "I do not mean to question you, Master, for I know you see all, but, Master, why do we not kill the Weasley girl? Surely she is safer dead."

"Safer?" Voldemort asked. "Safer. Yes, she is safer dead. But she is still more useful alive. She thinks she can take both sides of the war and stay on top? She is smart, no doubt, but not as smart as she thinks she is."

"So we will kill her then?" Pettigrew said conspiratorially.

"Why would we kill her, Wormtail? Such a powerful, smart, and ambitious, not to mention beautiful, young woman belongs in the Death Eaters. She can be a great asset to us Wormtail. And she will, whether she wants to or not."

"But...but Master..." Pettigrew said pathetically, wringing his hands.

Voldemort's eyes narrowed as he looked on his lackey. Then a manic smile broke onto his face. "Ah, I see, Wormtail. Jealousy is a powerful weapon and asset, the same one that brought you to me. I warn you from this one, Pettigrew. Don't be swayed by her beautiful face; do not be swayed by the power she radiates. She is dangerous, a Deadly Nightshade among the thorns. While she thorns are obviously dangerous, her beauty deters the unwary and kills them just as they would have had they been caught by the thorns. No, I would not cross her if I were you, Wormtail."

"Yes, Master," Pettigrew said pitifully.

~~~

Moody looked at the tow across the table from him. They had come downstairs with each other; Ginny'd made sure of that. Harry looked mildly embarrassed, though Ginny went on as if nothing was wrong at all. Glancing at Harry again, Harry made brief eye contact before looking down at his plate. Moody looked at Ginny, who frowned at him and went on eating.

"Alastor," she said, putting her napkin on the table and looking at him seriously. "I have reason to believe that there is some sort of bond between Harry and Tom that Tom is manipulating for his purposes, whatever they may be. I think I can fix that, but I'll need time. Can Harry spare a day of training?"

Moody looked at the two suspiciously. He knew Ginny was responsible, and this wasn't an excuse to go make out with her new boyfriend. But Harry...Harry was a different story. "I suppose," Moody conceded.

Ginny nodded and stood up. "I need to consult the Rowans; I'll be back in an hour or so. Maybe you two can get in some extra training."

Ginny left the table and wandered off into the small grove, leaving a none-too-generous-feeling Moody and an all-but-thoroughly-embarrassed Harry. Concentrating on Harry with both of his eyes, Moody divined what he wanted to say to Harry.

"What are you doing here, Potter?" he said, finally deciding of a threatening line.

"Sir, I -"

"I don't want to hear it," Moody said. "All I want to do is warn you. You think Voldemort is vengeful? You know nothing of revenge until you're being hunted by me in the wee hours of the morning and are bloody and broken, on your last breaths, and all you're wishing is that you'd never touched Ginny. Because I'm warning you, Potter, you sway her from her path, you upset her in anyway, you do something so incurably stupid like get her pregnant, I'll hunt you down and kill you myself, damnation to the prophesy."

The threat had the desired effect, as Harry swallowed hard and nodded shakily.

"Good," Moody continued on a much lighter note, "now let's get an hour of sparring in before the Sprite gets back."

And they did, at great length. Harry was glad when it was over; Moody was threatening to pound him within an inch of his life. Harry had to give Moody credit, what Moody lacked in stature he more than made up for in strength and agility. Wiping his forehead with his arm he followed Ginny as she walked out onto the moors.

"Where are we going Ginny?" Harry asked after he'd gotten his breath back.

She shrugged and kept walking. Harry sighed and kept on following her. So she was going to be all weird and mysterious about it, fine.

She just doesn't know, Draco said in his mind.

What do you mean 'she just doesn't know,' Harry returned. She's leading us.

Just what I said, she doesn't know. Virginia has...connections...

With?

Places, Draco said vaguely.

Right, perfectly clear, Harry said, rolling his eyes.

Fine. I'll explain it to you then. Virginia died. She's still very close to the elements, as she was when she was in heaven. She retained something ethereal, it ties her to all forces of the earth, gives her a strange power. What it will be used for is a mystery, but many assume it will be used to help you.

How do you know this? Harry asked skeptically.

I'm dead too, Harry, Draco replied.

Right, Harry said curtly. Sorry about that.

Well there was nothing you could have done, Draco said casually.

Besides, what's done is done. It's hard to be discontent in heaven, Harry.

"Harry," Ginny said suddenly, stopping in front of a huge oak. "Here."

Harry nodded and leaned against the oak, sliding down the trunk to the ground. Ginny smiled and sat down between his legs, leaning back into his chest and grabbing one of his hands.

"What did you think when you got up this morning?" Harry asked quietly.

Ginny was silent for a while, and then turned her face to nuzzle Harry's neck. "I thought I was in heaven again, Harry."

"What was it like, Ginny?" Harry asked carefully, moving his other hand and putting it on her stomach.

Ginny sighed and leaned back into him deeper. "Good. Everything was clear, clean, and good. No one hurt, no on was in pain."

"Were you happy?"

"Yes," Ginny replied.

"And now, are you happy?"

"Very much so, Harry. Why are you asking this?" she asked him, a sad tint in her voice.

Harry shrugged.

"I can show you," Ginny said, "what heaven is like, if you want."

"I would like that," Harry said honestly.

Ginny sighed deeply. "Close your eyes, Harry," she commanded. "Relax and close your eyes." Harry felt Ginny's body loosening on his and he tried to mimic this. "Good," she said softly. "Now breathe with me, Harry, match your heart with mine." She brought the hand that was on her stomach and laid it over her heart. Harry felt her slowing beat, a magical rhythm. "Breathe with me, Harry. Close your eyes and breathe. Look at the light, can you see it?"

Harry nodded, because, Harry could see the light, and it was beautiful. It was enchanting and obviously good. Some one gripped his hand and he looked beside him and saw it was Ginny. She wore a simple white Roman robe, but it made her look like a goddess. She smiled up at him and began walking. Walking into the light, Harry felt a fuzzy, slightly cool sensation run up his body. The light intensified as he got closer to the source. Then all of a sudden, it flashed brightly and Harry was on Earth, sitting next to Ginny, his hand on her heart.

"Wow," he said after a while. When he had seen inside that light...it had been heaven. There were no words that he had that could describe the phenomenon. One minute he was looking into the light, the next he was the light and all was good. "It was...amazing."

Ginny nodded mutely.

"And you were torn away from that," Harry said softly. "I'm sorry."

Ginny shrugged. "It doesn't matter anymore. I can't go back anyways."

"But -"

"No, Harry. Really, I'd rather have known it and lost it than never have known it at all."

"But -"

"We have work to do. This will be hard during the day; we'll have to do it at night."

"So why did you ask Moody to give me the day off then?" Harry asked, slightly confused.

"I'll admit, I had some ulterior motives," Ginny said slyly. "I need to have a conversation with a certain person you happen to be sharing a soul with."

"You knew about that?" Harry asked in disbelief.

"Of course, I saw it," Ginny said. "How do you think I knew how to help you recover?"

"I don't know," Harry said lamely. "Fine. I'll tell him. He'll possess my body or something."

Ginny squeezed his hand. "Thank you Harry."

Draco, Harry called out cautiously. He felt stupid.

And rightly so, Draco said back. So Virginia wants to talk, okay. Prepare to be possessed by Draco Malfoy! All aboard, let's go!

Harry stiffened and felt his soul turn to lead. It was like swirling down a drain and hitting rock bottom, to feather down mattress to catch him. It was dark and cold. Harry wondered if this was where Draco went.

~~~

"Virginia."

It was strange hearing that name on Harry's lips. Strange hearing Harry's voice with Draco's speaking pattern. She was facing Harry...well, Draco, not really wanting to touch something every inch of her body called an abomination of the universe.

"Draco," she replied, trying to sound level.

"Well, you asked me, Virginia," Draco said.

Ginny licked her lips and folded her hand in her lap. "Draco, I love Harry."

Harry's face did a very Draco thing. It smirked. Crossing his legs in front of him, Draco smirked and leaned back into the trunk of the oak. "Good. I always knew you could do it, Virginia."

"What do you mean?" Ginny asked, suddenly very cautious.

"I've learned a lot of things, Virginia," Draco said, blowing a bit of dark hair out of his face. "One of which is, I did horrible things to you. Slytherin did horrible things to you. You weren't supposed to be like this, not at all. You were supposed to be a Gryffindor."

"But the hat -"

"- was fooled by Reonet. Yes I met her too. She needed you to be in that house. Oddly enough, it saved your life a few times, though you don't realize it. Also, it is odd that you would turn out to be such a fantastic Slytherin. I mean had you lived a hundred years ago or so." Harry plucked a small flower from the base of the tree and played with it as he spoke. "I didn't deserve you. I didn't deserve your loyalty. I couldn't love you, not the way Harry does."

"I couldn't love you," Ginny said thoughtfully. "It was all a charade, wasn't it Draco?"

"A very good one," Draco said. "I don't regret it. Do you?"

Ginny was quiet for a while. "No. No I don't. I can't regret it. It's part of me, Draco. How do you regret something that is part of you?"

"That's my girl," Draco said fondly. "I knew you'd see it my way."

"I have another question, actually," Ginny said.

"I know," Draco replied. "The answer is; I have no idea what I'm doing here. In heaven, they say jump, you say how high? You're not missing much on the ethereal home front. I suppose I have some purpose in infiltrating or some information that might be useful. But until December I'm a useless sack of soul, hanging out in the Boy Wonder's body."

Ginny snorted. "Heaven's communication skills need to be worked on."

Draco raised his eyebrows and yawned. "I forgot what it is like to be tired. I better go; Harry's getting nervous in here."

"Draco?" Ginny said.

"Hm?" he replied with another yawn.

"I'm learning...how to love. Maybe one day I'll love you too."

"Virginia," Draco said, almost plaintive sounding.

Ginny smiled. "Goodbye, Draco!"

Ginny could tell Draco hesitated before leaving. Ginny sighed and looked up at the sky. A few hours till night, she thought. A nap would be nice.

"Ginny?" Harry's voice said, disrupting her thoughts. "Ginny?"

"I'm here, Harry," she said after a moment. She crawled over to him and snuggled into his lap, putting her head under his chin. This feels right, Ginny thought thickly, sleep coming over her body. Very right.

~~~

September 13, 1997

Dear Diary,

It's hard to believe that I should be at school right now, fulfilling my Head Girl duties. Things could be normal. I could be sitting at my vanity and Draco could be lounging on my bed. I could be taking Advanced Potions and Advanced Charms. I could be wrecking havoc on Hogwarts grounds with moral shattering essays or paintings. I could be playing Gryffindor in Quidditch (and winning thanks to the absence of Harry Potter, last year and all). I could be sneaking about with sly looks on my face, fraternizing with anyone I could.

But I'm not. I'm here, at Moody's, learning far more valuable things than I will ever learn at Hogwarts. I'm here; producing Arithromatic equations and doing ground breaking work in Transubstantial Transfiguration. I'm not bored; I'm not even getting tired of it. Producing equations has become a daily part of life now. I would actually consider doing this for the rest of my life...if I have a rest of my life that is.

Upon closer inspection, I would rather live the rest of my life with Harry. I want to give him a son, I've decided. Or a daughter. Both even. A few of each even. It would make him very happy.

Funny how time changes things. A very wise man told me something, "Time heals a lot of things." While time can't ever heal a broken heart, or at least I think, time can heal what has happened to me. You see, I never had my heart broken; I never had a heart to break.

Hm...Dumbledore said that...

Anyway, I've come to the conclusion that I am very different now. Very different indeed. There is still something inside of me, something terrifying, but when Harry is there, it goes away. Well, it's quieter at any rate. I need to study it, decide what it is and how it works. Only then can I feel safe. Only with Harry do I feel completely safe now.

Moody is supportive. In fact, his direct words were, "I'm never walking in that room again, you little bastards. Put a Silencing Charm on that damnable room because if I hear you fucking like rabbits at night I'll wring your little necks, prophesy or not."

Gallantly put if I do say so myself.

Harry and I do sleep in the same room, bed, whatever. I sleep now too. I sleep more than I should probably. But I don't need to feel the universe to calm myself anymore, I have Harry.

I have Harry.

Funny that I'd be saying that. Funny that I'd be saying I wanted to give him children. Funny that I'd want to. After all the things I said to him (which I apologize many, many times for, actually it was fun) he still loved me. That was why it was him. I mean, that and the prophesy.

Ah, the prophesy. It's getting closer, so much closer. If I didn't have Harry I'd surly go insane. Sometimes it just gets so loud...

Anyway, I suppose I should go find Harry now...probably wondering what I'm doing...gods I love that man...

~~~

Ginny Weasley couldn't sleep. No matter what she did, sleep refused to take her. Counting sheep didn't help. Making love to Harry, while tiring, wasn't doing its normal job. Add the fact that there was a pounding in her head that was threatening to split her open, sleep wasn't an option at this time.

"Where are you going?" Harry asked sleepily as she lifted his arm off her stomach and moved to the side of the bed.

"No where, go back to sleep," she said before kissing him on the forehead. He smiled and turned over.

Frowning, Ginny made her way down stairs, slipping a light coat on so she could walk comfortably around outside. It was going to be a long night. Looking into the moon, Ginny sighed and stepped off the porch. The night air seemed a bit chillier than normal lately, fall was coming she knew. A cool breeze whipped past her and Ginny "felt" something in the trees beyond.

Ginny's frown deepened as she neared the grove near Moody's house. The Circle, she thought. She picked up the pace, ignoring the chill of damp grass on her bare feet. Something wasn't right she knew. That shine that the Rowan's had wasn't bright enough to see, especially when there was a full moon.

She stopped at the edge of the forest and reached out through the universe. Old. Power. Worry. Ancient. Power. Anxiety. Hope. Need. Power. Lost. Hope. The universe was sending these messages to her in its own, ethereal way. Ginny paused before entering the grove; she could be in trouble...

Cold steal bit at her throat and she was pinned quickly against a large Rowan. She couldn't move, some magic held her under the blade.

"A girl, in the Holy Circle of Rowans? Tisk, tisk child, you shouldn't be here," a smooth voice said slowly and tauntingly into her ear.

Ginny struggled as best she could, but something was subduing her power.

"Odell," another voice hissed. "Let her down."

"No," the first voice, Odell, said. "I want to know who she is. Speak girl, before I relieve you of that capability."

Ginny sneered. No one treated her like this. "Show yourself, or are you too scared, bastard?"

The man snorted. "Scared. Hardly. I doubt you even deserve to look upon me."

"Try me," Ginny gritted out through clenched teeth. If she had her wand...

A moment passed and whoever or whatever was holding her stepped out into the light, out of the Rowan's great, dark shadow. An elf? Ginny said to herself in disbelief. It was though, an elf. Tall and elegant, the elf-man stepped out of the shadow to reveal piercing blue eyes and flaxen, almost platinum hair. He had a disdainful look on his face, as though there were some horrid smell in his nose.

"Let me down elf," Ginny commanded. "Alastor will not be happy about this. Neither will Harry."

"I think she may be the one, Odell," the second elf said. He stepped out into the light too to reveal similar blonde hair and blue eyes. This one was a bit taller and slighter of frame. A bow was strapped across his chest and there was a royal air about him, same as the first. "Just look at her."

"I am, brother," Odell said. "And all I see is a human I want to kill. She shouldn't be intruding on this sacred land. This is elf land, she has no place."

"Those who worship the Old Ways are always welcome here," a feminine voice said. The most beautiful woman Ginny had ever seen stepped out of the shadows. Ginny wondered how many damn elves there were. She gracefully floated beside Odell, her long fingers laying light on Odell's knife hand. She smiled briefly at Ginny. Welcome Virgin From Light, a voice said into Ginny's head. Ginny frowned, but stayed silent.

"Come brother," the woman said smoothly, "you know it to be true. Lower the sword before her guardian comes."

"Too late," a deep voice growled from the edge of the trees. Harry! Ginny rejoiced. Standing strong and outlined with a faint green aura, Harry looked like a regular god, walking the earth and saving helpless damsels. Not such a helpless damsel are you, Gin? Oh, well. Harry, come and get me so I can finish him off! Ginny marveled at Harry's broad chest muscles as the contracted his hands gripping tighter on his long, silvery blade, he was preparing for an attack. "Let her go, elf," he warned.

Odell just smirked, his blade moving farther up Ginny's neck. "The Green Knight, I presume," Odell said in his slow, regal voice.

"Odell, stop this," the woman said warningly.

"Be quiet, Cetia!" Odell snarled.

"It's all right, Cetia," the other male elf said, "let him get himself killed. The clan will be better without his hot head."

Ginny struggled once again at her bonds and looked at Harry pleadingly. "Harry - "

"Don't speak, girl," Odell said, pressing the cold blade closer into her skin. Ginny raised her head away from the blade.

"I'll give you one last chance, elf," Harry warned. "Let her go, I don't wish to fight an ally in this war. But if you don't let go of Ginny right now, I'll slit you from navel to nose, elf. Now kindly or unkindly, let Ginny go."

Odell snorted. "Boy, you don't know what you're talking about." With his free hand, Odell drew a long, silvery sword and laughed. "Come and get me, boy."

Harry frowned. Ginny could tell this wasn't a fight he wanted to fight. Drawing his sword up like a lance, Harry charged Odell, swift as lightening thanks to his Quidditch, lightning-fast reflexes. Ginny watched as a smile crept on Odell's face. He raised his sword and blocked Harry's blow. Their swords screeched together and Ginny grimaced. But Harry's two arms were stronger than Odell's one, and Odell was forced to sweep his sword off to the side to deflect the blade of Harry.

Letting go of Ginny, Odell moved away from the tree and he and Harry began to circle each other. Eyes flashing dangerously, Harry made the first move, sweeping gracefully into an attack formation and grinding his blade against Odell's. Ginny took a moment to admire Harry's bare chest as it reflected the moonlight before struggling against her bonds again.

"Here," the woman elf, Cetia, said. "Let me help you with that."

Murmuring some unheard words, Cetia released Ginny from her spell and Ginny came tumbling to the ground. Or would have at least, had a pair of strong arms not caught her. Looking up, Ginny saw that it was the taller elf man, Odell's brother.

"I'm Cephiet," he said. "I apologize for our younger brother; he is...a bit out of control right now."

Frowning and looking out at the two men fighting, Ginny nodded. "Is he going to kill Harry?"

A small laugh escaped Cetia's lips. "I am sorry," she said. "That wasn't very sensitive. No, he won't kill him. I don't even believe Odell will win. Look for yourself."

Ginny did. It appeared as though Harry had Odell on the run, backing him up step by step. Odell backed into a tree but nimbly shot out of the way from Harry's blow. Stopping a hair from the magnificent Rowan, Harry's blade followed Odell swiftly and Odell barely had the time to block the mighty swing. That was when Ginny noticed that there were other people - well, elves, in the woods. All appeared to be watching the fight with mild, disengaged interest. Most had flaxen hair, same as Odell, Cephiet, and Cetia. Most had bows, as Cephiet, and some had their bows in ready position.

"Do you yield?" Harry shouted as Odell was flung to the ground under the weight of Harry's sword.

"Yield! Never!" Odell shouted. A bluish sort of shield formed around his body, then shot away from him, in arrow form, right at Harry. Ginny gasped, but it was in vain as a similar shield of green formed around Harry.

"Yield!" Harry commanded. When Odell shook his head, a great burst of power pushed off of Harry's being and headed straight at Odell. It broke his blue shield easily and flinging him into the trunk of a Rowan a good twenty feet away.

Hefting his sword onto his shoulder and looking at her through his thick, dark hair, Harry called out to the elves. "Any one else want to tell me I can't have Ginny back?" When no one spoke, Harry snorted and said, "Come on, Ginny, let's go."

Ginny looked up at Cetia, who nodded. She dashed over to Harry and wrapped her arms around his sweaty chest. She thought he smelled wonderful. She kissed him on the cheek and smiled at he put an arm around her waist and led her out of the forest.

All of a sudden Harry froze and groaned, putting one hand on his stomach. His sword fell from his shoulder and landed with a clang on the ground. As if in slow motion, Ginny watched as Harry fell to his knees and his eyes roll into the back of his head.

"Harry!" Ginny screeched. Immediately she caught him, but he was too heavy for her and she fell to her knees too. Pulling Harry onto her lap she felt tears sting in his eyes. She couldn't see any wounds, not any blood. What was wrong with him? Ginny turned sharply to the elves, many of which had begun to file out of the trees observing the scene with lazy eyes. "What did you do to him?" she asked; her voice dangerously low.

"We've done nothing, Virgin From Light," Cephiet said calmly. "In fact, I'd be surprised if this didn't happen. The magic he used to defeat Odell was old and strong, not many mortal men can wield it."

Ginny raised her chin and looked Cephiet in the eyes. "What are you doing here?"

Cephiet smiled lightly at her, not answering, Ginny could tell it was deliberate. "Ulophet, Niphrodel, take the Potter boy and get him fixed up. Come with us, Virgin From Light."

Two able looking elf men came and picked Harry up from Ginny's lap, allowing her to stand. Ginny looked carefully at the elves. Reaching into the universe, she felt their sincerity. They wouldn't harm her.

Ginny nodded and pulled her robe around her before following the tall elf, Cephiet.

~~~

"So," Cephiet concluded, "Alberforth the Wizard told us this, and we came to our friend, Alastor Day Star. We knew we could help, even though we are a small number. We do need to find Alastor Day Star, where is he?"

Ginny licked her lips and looked into the fire. Casting her gaze to the stars, she reached out to them. They told her the elves spoke the truth, but they were hiding something. Ginny opened her eyes and looked at Harry. He wasn't conscious, but a warm cloak covered him and he was near the fire.

"I don't know exactly. He left Harry here to protect me when he went out of the country. He couldn't tell me where he was going," Ginny replied honestly. "Have you considered going to Hogwarts and finding Albus Dumbledore? He is, after all, Alberforth's brother."

There was a slight pause before Cephiet replied. "We do not wish to speak to him...I -"

"Oh, tell her the truth, Cephiet," Cetia said in a commanding voice. Ginny had long deduced that they were twins and Cetia, while she hid in the background and let he brother make most of the decisions, was the dominant twin.

Cephiet fixed his sister with a penetrating gaze. The returned it with a roll of her sea blue eyes and a toss of her head. Cephiet sighed and turned again to Ginny. "The elves of my clan cannot approach Albus Shadowmaker. He has...he has a power we don't like, or rather, can't be in the presence of. We are weak to him and would surely do his bidding were he to ask it of us. He knows this and respects it, carrying his messages through Alastor Day Star."

Ginny shook her head. "No, Dumbledore has that power over everyone. It isn't just you."

Cephiet looked to Cetia for support. Cetia sighed and said, "It isn't exactly like that. Albus Shadowmaker is a special type of wizard, a Shadowmaker. He would not have anyone know this, for it would mean his expulsion from Hogwarts and the end of his influence over the Ministry. He needs this influence to make sure that people are aware of Voldemort Evening Star."

"Excuse me," Ginny said in a flustered voice. "But what is a 'Shadowmaker?'"

"My child," Cetia said in disbelief, "the Shadowmakers were the race of wizards that caused the Dark Age of Magic. Surely they taught you of this in school?"

Ginny shook her head. "Yes, I mean, we know of the Dark Age of Magic, but not the Shadowmakers. But Dumbledore...he can't be a Shadowmaker. They must surely all be dead?"

Cephiet snorted and poked a stick into the fire. "Dead?" he spat. "Dead? The Shadowmakers never die. Their souls find new bodies to inhabit. A Shadowmaker can only truly be killed by another Shadowmaker, then they absorb the dead Shadowmaker's magic and power. At the beginning of the 20^th Century, four of twelve Shadowmakers existed, Albus Dumbledore, Grindelwald, the one who would become Voldemort, and a nameless killed by Voldemort in his younger years."

"You must be mistaken," Ginny said, shaking her head. "These Shadowmakers sound evil, Dumbledore isn't. He's a bloody Gryffindor for Merlin's sake."

"Another Shadowmaker," Cetia said. "There are good Shadowmakers, just as there are good wizards. But they are very rare, very, very rare. But they tend to be more powerful than evil Shadowmakers."

"But they are all powerful enough to enslave elves, whole races and clans of elves with a single word," Cephiet said sternly. Ginny saw several elves nod their heads.

After a moment, Ginny looked into Cephiet's eyes. "What should I do? Do you want me to talk to Dumbledore?"

Cephiet and Cetia exchanged a look. Ginny was pretty sure that the elves were telepathic. She took a moment to glace at the sleeping Harry before Cephiet spoke. "You would do this for us, Virgin From Light?"

Ginny nodded. "What should I tell him?"

"I'm coming," a familiar voice said. Odell walked out of the shadows, his sword in hilt.

"Odell!" Cetia scolded. "You shame yourself! Go back with the clan!"

"No!" Odell said forcefully. "I will protect her...her guard is hurt."

Ginny frowned at him. "I neither want nor need a protector."

"Yes -"

"Odell!" Cephiet shouted.

"I can do this!" Odell shouted back. "You'll just send Antaries in my stead! I'm a better swordsman and bowman a thousand fold and you know it!"

At this point their argument went telepathic and Ginny could only read facial expressions. All three family members seemed very mad. The rest of the elves just watched them with mild curiosity. To tell the truth Ginny was intrigued by the three, they seemed to her to be the first elves she'd ever met that weren't terribly insipid and dull.

"Fine!" Cetia practically screeched. "Fine! Let him go! I hope Albus Shadowmaker takes us from him permanently."

Cephiet sighed heavily. "Virgin From Light, do you accept Odell Enorian as your protector and journeyman?"

Ginny looked at the steely face of Odell and frowned. She didn't like his temper and didn't like his predisposition to violence. But what could she do? They were going to make her take someone, Harry was unconscious otherwise he would come. Taking one last look at Harry she said, "What message should we give Dumbledore?"

Ginny swore she could have seen a smile cross Odell's face...but then it could have been a shadow. Cephiet looked at Cetia and she nodded. "You," he said, "will tell Albus Shadowmaker this: The elves are massing in the South. The Black Woods of Germany are teeming with eager wood-elves. The Alps are full with mountain-elves happy to take up arms against Voldemort Evening Star. On the wide fields of France the plain-elves rally in his support. He need only give the word and we will be at his side. Not only elves rush to his side. The centaurs in Greece are willing to send one hundred of their number to his cause. Also, there are Death Eaters in his company. The Astronomy teacher that returned to him is an adherent of the Evening Star. Whispers of attacks upon the peaks of the Andes are numerous and loud in the South. Tell him this, Virgin From Light. Harry Potter should be fully healed by your return to us."

Ginny nodded quickly. "I will tell him this, Cephiet, and return. Hopefully Alastor will return soon so you can speak to him."

Ginny knelt by Harry and smoothed the hair away from his face, kissing his forehead before she straightened. A wind sang through the trees and Ginny sighed. Was her work never done?

"I need to change into something different," she said briskly as she walked by Odell.

Out of the corner of her eye she saw Odell roll his and follow after her over the meadow. She ignored him and took the steps to her room two at a time. Pulling on some black pants and shirt, she put on her gloves and boots, grabbing her cloak before rushing out of the room. She found Odell looking interestedly at Moody's house, his furniture and pictures. Ginny remembered the elves still lived in the elements, refusing to modernize like the rest of the world.

"Demetrios and Orion," she said from behind him, earning a flinch out of him. He turned around quickly and she grinned evilly at him, she knew he felt out of place in a house. Then she walked away to the kitchen to get a drink.

"I know who they are," Odell said. "Everyone knows who they are."

Ginny filled a flask up with water and put it at her side. "They were my teachers," she told him.

His eyes widened. "You were trained by Demetrios and Orion Duladain?"

Ginny nodded. Odell's jaw worked up and down a couple of times before he shut it. Ginny raised her eyebrows at him. "Ready?" she asked. "Do you Apparate?"

He nodded.

"Good," Ginny said, closing her eyes and let the magic work.

Almost immediately she felt a disturbing push as she appeared on solid ground, the castle and gates no where in sight. She frowned and saw Odell frown too as he appeared next to her.

"He must have moved the Apparition Shield back for safety purposes," Ginny suggested.

Odell frowned deeper. "We'll have to cut through the Forbidden Forest then."

Ginny nodded, pulling her cloak around her tightly.

~~~

"Odell?" Ginny asked. "You know where we're going, right?"

They had been walking for hours now and it was light out...well, sort of light, the forest was naturally dark. It was still kind of creepy though, being in the forest at all. The trees all seemed wild and ravenous for sunlight, all fighting to be the tallest and the broadest. Every once in a while Ginny would hear an animal cry out and she'd look around her in vain. Odell would snort but stay silent. Ginny noticed he wasn't a very talkative journey companion. In fact, a snort was about the most she'd gotten from him since the house.

"Yes," he said in a wavering voice.

Ginny stopped dead. "You mean to tell me you don't know where we're going? What sort of elf are you!?!"

"Sea-elf," Odell answered with a straight face.

Ginny buried her head in her hands and sat on a nearby rock. "We're lost. The centaurs won't come for us. We're going to die out here."

"How do you know the centaurs won't come for us?" Odell asked.

"Lord Saiph prophesized it, that is how I know," Ginny spat. Then she sighed. "Okay. The woods are south of the school, right? All we have to do is go North and we're bound to reach the end of the Forbidden Forest. Then we can follow it to Hogwarts." Ginny brought out her wand and said, "Point Me!"

The tip of her wand swerved to her right and she put it back in her pocket. "Weren't even headed north," she grumbled under her breath.

She heard Odell's light step behind her and she looked over her shoulder. "So tell me about yourself, Odell. Are you rude to everyone or just figureheads in major prophesies?"

He ignored her.

~~~

Three hours later...

"Who was your best friend growing up? Did you go to school; Orion and Demitrios never said anything about an elfin school. What about your parents? What were they like? Are they alive? Your sister and brother, they are close. Do you ever feel left out? Are you the youngest? Do you have any other siblings? I have six older brothers, all of them are prats. Especially George and Fred, they're twins and very mischievous. Were you mischievous as a child? How old are you?"

"Oman Rah! I can't take it any more! Shut up!" Odell finally shouted. A few birds flew out of the trees and squawked in an irritated fashion. "Don't you ever be quiet?"

Ginny sighed and allowed a small smile of victory to cross her face. "Well I had to amuse myself somehow, you weren't complying."

"Well just shut up! I wish I had killed you, annoying girl!" he shouted.

"I have a name you know," Ginny reminded him. "It's Ginny Weasley."

"I don't care!" Odell said angrily. "Just be..."

"Oh," Ginny said, looking at what he was looking at. It was Hogwarts, they were out of the woods, so to speak. "Do you want to stay here, or come with me to meet Dumbledore?"

"I'm coming," Odell said sternly. Then he treaded on without her. Ginny frowned and followed him.

Ginny'd barely taken seven steps when a familiar voice sounded across the yard. "Virginia Weasley," the voice drawled.

Ginny stopped dead. "Odell," she said, getting his attention. Immediately he drew his sword and was at her side.

"Speak, boy," Odell said, pushing the tip of his sword into the neck of the man.

"Virginia, fallen in with the elves?" he said dryly. "How...interesting."

"Julius Flint," Ginny said finally.

"Quite. What are you doing here?" Flint asked, pushing the blade of the sword away from his neck with the tip of his finger. "Nice sword. Unfortunately I've been threatened with worse, elf."

Ginny sized Flint up. He'd grown a bit since she'd seen him. His shoulders broader. He looked more like his brother, without the teeth. Flint's dark eyes glinted maliciously as he approached Ginny.

"Beautiful as ever, I see," Flint said casually. "A consort of yours, whore?"

Ginny snorted. "Arrogant as ever, I see," Ginny said in a tone that matched his. "And no. I've got other people to play with. Where are you off to, Flint? If I remember correctly, this is class hours. Off to rape some Hufflepuff third year, perhaps? You like their small hand all over you, don't you?"

"You -"

But he didn't get to finish his sentence; Odell's sword was far too close to his airway for that. Odell had the broad side of his sword pressed most uncomfortably at Flint's neck and his hands behind his back.

"Watch out, boy. No one touches her while I'm on duty," Odell ground out. Ginny had to give it to him; Odell knew how to scare a man shitless. Swiftly Odell brought the blunt side of his sword on Flint's head and he promptly passed out.

Odell snorted and put his sword back in its sheath. "Thought you were supposed to be a virgin."

"Virgin From Light, not Of Light," Ginny mumbled under her breath as she led the way up the stairs of the castle. It was so familiar, so right, she couldn't wait to pass by the library. Focus, she reminded herself. You have a mission.

Glancing at Odell, Ginny was happy to see he was thoroughly enamored with the moving paintings and stairwells, and captivated by the new sights and sounds. She had to guess he'd never much left a ship or a port town, and they probably weren't technologically inclined.

Soon they were at the stone statue of the gargoyle and Ginny was just about to start guessing passwords when the passageway opened to reveal a very worried looking Albus Dumbledore.

"Come in, come in," Dumbledore said, ushering them inside his office. Ginny saw that Odell was in awe with the kindly old man. "Do sit; would either of you like a lemon drop?"

"Yes," Odell answered quickly after he obediently sat. Ginny frowned, Cephiet wasn't kidding; Odell was like a teary eyed house elf in the presence of Dumbledore. Ginny could have sworn that she saw a small frown on Dumbledore's face, but she couldn't tell it was so quick.

"I assume you have news from the elves," Dumbledore continued. "I would dearly like to hear it, Miss Weasley.

Ginny told him everything.