Fantastic job, Connie!!
I loved this post; I take back what I said earlier, this is my favorite post. Great job; I loved how you are making this Christian and bringing God into it! I take it the pastor (Josiah (?)) is a wizard? I love what he did to the boys and how he did the total opposite to the girls.
What Harry said is totally true: about all of it. We are talking about gender roles in AP Lang right now, and what he said is complete truth. We put all the roles of "manliness" and everything on the men, allowing them not to show anything, while us girls show everything for everyone (and are taught to do so). YOu did a wonderful job writing that. Thank you for making Harry not aa stereotypical guy. I love what he said about the heart on the sleeve about both genders.
Wonderful and fantastic, Connie!!
-Rachel


P.S.- of course I will comment on the wedding!

Oh I like the chapter!
Aw Harry you are too kind to Ron,
and the deep things everyone said. *swoons* So nice!
PAMS!

Eviee <33

Great Update Connie!

Hey everyone, good day to each of you and I hope everything is going your way. Thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoy this chapter. Next chapter is Chapter 20; "Bat Bogey's Fly At The Ministry"

narnia_potter; Hey Rachel, thanks for reading and commenting. I'm thrilled you loved this chapter so much. As far as my making this Christian; God being an ever present part of my life I must be very careful not to offend any reader, or go against SS rules on writing religion; but I had to write the way a pastor would be. No, Pastor Josiah is a Muggle, but he is certainly aware of witches and wizards. I couldn't bring myself to have a pastor having an unfair advantage over sinners; especially since the Bible teaches against witchcraft and sorcery. JK Rowling fictionalized this, so we get to have a bit of leniency in writing it ourselves. Because males and females are so very different in their way of thinking, Pastor Josiah needed for the guys to make sure they were building their marriage on a solid foundation. If they came away from the war with bitterness and contempt then the foundation they laid for their marriage would be insufficient to build a lasting and loving marriage on. With the girls, he needed to make sure they were going to furnish their marriages with a loving bond that would adhere and unite themselves and their husbands to be, as one for the rest of their lives. I think JK did a wonderful job creating Harry to be special in every aspect of his being. I would not and could not write him as a typical guy, because he just isn't, and if I wrote him to be a typical guy then he wouldn't fit into the story. And besides; he is my hero, and heroes aren't typical.
Thanks for all your sweet and kind words Rachel.

Ladybug; Hey Eviee, thanks for reading and commenting. I enjoyed writing this chapter, and was a little concerned that I went a little overboard with what Harry was telling Ron. I'm so glad it was excepted, because I wrote what I believe to be the truth. Thanks Eviee.

Droo; Hey Droo, thanks so much! I might be sending you a chapter from my next ff. It is darker and a bit steamy in places, but certainly not inappropriate. I just don't know for sure if it should have to be placed in +16. Thanks Droo.



Chapter 19

A Bit Of Cloak And Dagger

When the couples turned up at Diagon Alley, Harry rested with his back against the Jewelers’ store. This way of traveling was beginning to take its toll on Harry. He looked around silently.

“Come on Harry; let’s get inside out of the sun. You’ll feel better,” said Hermione.

“Hang on a second; let me get my breath.” He was breathing hard, but he was more concerned with looking about. Then they went in and started looking at ring sets.

“Ginny, hand me the diamond you picked out this morning for your ring, and then pick out any band set you want.” She handed it to Harry and started carefully searching each trio of bands. Hermione went right to a set she had already picked out. She showed it to Ron, and he asked her was that the one she wanted, or the least expensive for him to buy.

“I know they’re expensive, and …”

Ron kissed her temple. “Choose one you love as much as me,” he said with a smile.


“I know you wouldn’t be able to afford that one. But, ok I’ll look around for another one. I choose that one over there. The third one from the left and two rows down.” she said excitedly.

“So, you had a different one in mind all along huh?”

She smiled and squeezed his hand as she pulled him over to look at the ring trio she picked out. “Only close to a year and a half. Aren’t they gorgeous? The diamond is modest enough, but also noticeable. I don’t want any women looking at my man, but they can look at my ring,” she laughed. And look, your band matches my wedding band. See the tiny diamonds. They look like they’ve been sprinkled into the gold when it was being smelted.”

“Oh yeah, that’s great. I love it.”

Ron looked over at Ginny and Harry to see how they were doing. Harry wasn’t looking at the rings, but out the windows. Then he turned slowly, his eyes taking in the store. He looked at Ginny and smiled when she asked if he liked the ones she was pointing out. Ron thought his behavior was odd and was going to be upset if he didn’t indulge Ginny with his attention. It was obvious Harry was losing his strength and worn out, but, this was a special time for Ginny and he wanted it to be memorable for her.

“Harry? I think I’ve made up my mind. What do you think of these ones?” She pointed to a trio set. I think the diamond I picked out will be able to fit ok.”

“Harry turned around noting his surroundings. He smiled at Ginny. Her happiness was glowing all around her. She was beautiful. He looked at the trio set. Yeah, those are perfect Ginny. But, Honey there's no need to worry about the fitting; the band can be adjusted to fit the gem. Are you still sure this is the one you want?”

“Yes. Oh Harry, I love them. Do you like the husbands’ band?”

“Yes, I do. It’s very nice. I’m really glad it’s not flashy. I wouldn’t have been comfortable with it.” He squeezed her to him in a one armed hug, and kissed the side of her head. “Sir, are you the proprietor?”

Ron looked around. He didn’t see anyone. He was beginning to think Harry was losing it, when out of the shadows stepped a man he hadn’t noticed before.

“Yes, I am Mr. Green. I own this establishment. I was only observing so the young ladies could make their decisions without pressure from me trying to sell them something out of their means.” He turned to the girls. “Have you made your choices?”

“Yes, I have,” they said at the same time.

“Ok, let’s see what we have. Shall we do yours first madam?” His voice was oily and he was very generous with his smiles and compliments, as he tended to Hermione. Hermione was beaming with the attention she was getting over her choice. He assured her she had picked the best rings suited for the quality of lady she was.

“Now, what have you picked young lady?” He was in front of Ginny now. She smiled shyly at the man, and pointed to her choice.

“Oh but surely you want something more eloquent to compliment your obvious beauty. This is a charming little set, but,” he moved over to higher priced ones. “These ones would look stunning on your dainty hand.”

Harry spoke up and handed the jeweler the diamond Ginny picked out. “Please replace the stone in whatever ring she picks out with this one.”

He took the gem, and looked at it carefully. This is exquisite and the artisan who cut it did a very good job, but please Mr. Potter, I could have done a much nicer job of it. If you ever have the need to get another diamond cut, allow me the honor of doing it for you.”

Ginny told him she would be very happy with the one she picked out.
The man rapped his wand on it and the diamond came out and then he rapped it again, and Ginny’s diamond went in.

“Thank you sir, I’m sure the craftsman did the best he could sir, and I’ll not forget you.” Harry made a slight shift in his stance and then grabbed Ginny’s hand and urgently told Ron that he and Ginny was going to go on to Hogwarts. He did a spell and duplicates replaced the ring sets Ginny picked. “Finish up here as if you came in by yourselves. I’ll explain later. We’ll meet at the Burrow after you get back from telling Hermione’s parents about the wedding, and Gin and I go to Hogwarts.” He pulled out his invisibility cloak.

“What’s going on Harry? What happened?” he looked at the jeweler who now, he sees is not moving and has a hazed look on his face. “I had to put a memory charm on him. He won’t remember Gin and me being here. And neither will the man in the back.” They looked shocked and peeked around the corner to the man in the back room. “He was in South Africa when I was at the Dealers Exchange legalizing my ownership of the mine. This sneaky jeweler knew me by name, and he knew this was a diamond from my mine.”

“But Harry, that doesn’t mean anything. I think you’re just used to everything bad happening and you…”

“Hermione stop. You always doubt me. I have some sort of complex or I’m imagining things,” he said annoyed. “When I took over ownership of the mine I went there and put an enchantment on it. Everything that comes out of it has my mark on it. Every diamond here, excluding Hermione‘s first one she picked and the ones in that same case, has my mark on it. They are getting these diamonds from the black market.”

Ron took the ring from Hermione and looked at it closely. “I don’t see anything Harry. That man in there could have been at the exchange on legitimate business, and as far as this guy knowing you; well… you’re a very famous person Harry. Everyone knows you. You can‘t prove any of what you just said mate.” Ron was trying to sound reasonable, but he was mostly defending Hermione.

“Again with the proving,” he said with an undertone of impatience. Hermione, when did you first see this ring? You said you already had it picked out.”

She thought and said it was about a year and a half ago. “That’s the same time I became the owner. Look… when I got home and you all could see me, none of you knew me. You didn’t recognize me. I had to prove who I was, and then you all said it was hard to believe it was me, because I looked so different. How is it then that the people I’m closest to didn’t know me, but this git who I’ve never seen before, knew me the minute we walked into the room?” Then he waved his wand across the diamonds and an image of a lightning bolt like the one on his forehead was shimmering in the air over all the diamonds Harry had just mentioned. “How is it that all these diamonds are here when I haven’t started exporting them yet? I’ve been modernizing the mine, rebuilding the shafts for safety. This will more than likely be the first case we solve after our Honeymoon.” He tapped the counter and all the lightning bolts disappeared.

“Now, Gin and I have got to get out of here before they come around. We’ll see you at the Burrow later. You two stay here and make like you came in by yourselves and go on about how wonderful Ron is for splurging on your ring or whatever. Just make it look like nothing else was going on. Oh this won’t do.” He pointed his wand at the proprietor and moved him so he was in front of Ron and Hermione. He took Ginny; they got under the cloak and just made it out the door when the two men came around.

Ron hesitated then fell into a performance like he’d never given before. He radiated a smile that would melt a glacier. “Yes, she is a quality woman, and that’s a fact. Mione Dear, are you sure this is the ring you want? Maybe a bigger one would be better. Anyone you want is fine by me.”

Hermione smiled and thanked him for his generosity. “I’m very happy with this one. I love you so much Ron.”

They paid for the rings and walked out of the store as if they didn’t have a care in the world. Then they walked into a bakery as if they were going to make a purchase. But they went on through, and out the back door and Apparated to her parent’s house.

"She is a quality woman" Not sure if I would like being called that... would make me feel like... I dunno... meat?

Great Update though!

This is wonderful, Connie!

It is Christian enough to be recognized and appreciated, in my opinion. It is very good.
That makes sense (what you said about sorcery).
And you are right in saying Harry is definitely not a normal guy.

Very good post!! I really have no idea what to say about it: just that it is great!
-Rachel

Hey everyone, thanks for reading along with me. This is a short chapter but I hope you still like it. Next Friday will be Chapter 21, 'A Delay In The Story'

Droo; Hey Droo thanks for reading and commenting. I'm glad you picked up on this; I wondered if anyone would comment on it. I wanted to throw Ron into a situation where he had to take charge instead of tagging along with Harry or yielding to Hermione. Things are changing for Ron pretty rapidly and I wanted him to be successful in the change, but at the same time, I didn't want to change his character. So when Harry and Ginny leave and the proprietor comes out of his stupor Harry put him in, Ron is put on the spot trying to remember what the last thing he and Hermione were saying to the man before he moved onto Ginny and Harry. Ron remembered the slippery way the man handled Hermione and so he sort of tries going into being cunning, smooth and tough. The only thing he did wrong was saying woman instead of lady as the proprietor had done. Ron was acting on how he interpreted the way the jeweler handled his business.
Thanks Droo.

narnia_potter; Hey Rachel, thanks for reading and commenting. Your comments don't have to be long or eloquent, or anything but what you just said. I'm thrilled you think it's great.



Chapter 20

Bat-Bogey's Fly At The Ministry

Ron and Hermione arrived at the Burrow laughing. Hermione said, "When we got to my parents house Ron simply told them that he had asked me to marry him, and that he had a very good job and would be able to support me and everything. He even has a place of our own! I don’t know where, but at the moment I don’t care.”

Everyone looked at Ron in surprise. They couldn’t believe he would just tell them he’s marrying their daughter.

Ron laughed awkwardly. “The thing is… well, a few years ago, four actually, I went to them and told them that I loved Hermione, and wanted their Blessing to marry her. But then I added that I needed to make some things happen in my life and I didn’t know how to do it. But, just as soon as I did, I wanted to marry her. They said they would be delighted for me to be their son-in-law. Only, if Hermione got tired of waiting, and found someone else they would try to convince her to wait, but they wouldn’t stand in her way of happiness.” Ron looked around as everyone was pounding his back saying how proud they were of him, though he seemed a bit preoccupied.

“Where’s Harry and Ginny? They should’ve been back here by now. Then he noticed Kingsley, Minerva, McGonagall, Hagrid and Neville. Hermione read the faces and asked again. “Where’s Harry and Ginny? Has something happened?”

They are at Hogwarts. Poppy is tending to his head bleeding and his ripped muscles there under his navel.” Then in the same breath she practically shouted, “Here they are now!” They all ran out and heard Madam Pomfrey scolding Harry with almost the same amount of energy that Molly can use when she gets riled.

“…and all this Apparating all over the place, fighting at the Ministry! Honestly child! How on earth did you stay alive without me these past four years?”

Ron took Harry off Ginny’s arm and helped him to the couch to lie down.

Harry grinned weakly at him and said, “She missed me.”

“What happened? You were fighting at the Ministry? How did … Who would be fighting at the Ministry? He looked at Kingsley for his answer, but Harry spoke instead. I wasn’t fighting; I merely tripped up the guy. Ginny is the one to thank for the quick recapture. He smiled and winked at her, then closed his eyes.

Ron whirled around and shouted in his loudest whisper. “Somebody bloody well start talking! What happened?”

Kingsley spoke up to answer Ron. “Harry sent his Patronus saying he was coming to make a report about something that happened in Diagon Alley. He and Ginny came to the Ministry to make a report, and tell me that the man who he identified this morning as being in South Africa was at the jeweler’s store. I told him to Apparate in the maintenance service hallway that runs behind all the offices and chambers. It’s only used by the maintenance people and if we’re transporting an inmate we don’t want the public exposed to.”

Ron interrupted with a short comment more to himself than anyone else. “Wish I’d known about that hallway five years ago.”

Kingsley laughed heartily and continued. “So here we are moving a man we just brought in and questioned to a cell, when he broke loose, and started running full blast down the corridor, where it happened that Harry and Ginny just Apparated to. Harry spun with his wand drawn and pushing Ginny out of the way at the sound of running and the shouting to stop him. Harry didn’t have a chance. The man ran full force into him and knocked him to the floor before he could even see him. The man got up quickly, but Harry was out cold. Ginny took aim and let loose her wicked Bat Boggy Curse. When Ginny brought Harry to my office, I was going to send him to St. Mungos. However, when he came around he insisted he didn’t have time for that. He said he’d give me his report and then go see Madam Pomfrey sense he had to go to Hogwarts anyway.”

Madam Pomfrey told them that he would be fine in a few days. “I redressed his head and put more medicine on his torso. “Do you know he actually told me what to give him? I was just starting to catalogue his potions and medicines he made when they showed up. My word; I was not expecting him to look like this! I know you told all of us that he came home last night and that he looks different, but still, the change is remarkable to say the least. Now Ginny, you must keep him in bed for the next three days. Don‘t allow him to do anything. If he becomes a problem, you call me.”

“Yes ma’am. Keep him in bed for three days. I can manage that,” she said with a wry smile.

They were all laughing when there was a soft knock, and a small voice called in. “Is anybody home? The kitchen door was open.”

They all turned to see Luna coming in. “So there’s a wedding tonight? Who is that gorgeous man on your couch Ginny?” She winked at her and giggled. “He sure looks a lot different doesn’t he?”

“You knew that was Harry?” Neville asked incredulously.

“Oh yes! I would know him anywhere. His Aura is definitely Harry’s and besides that, a man came to the house today and tried to get daddy to print these pictures of Harry in the Quibbler. They don’t make a pretty picture do they? All these pictures show him fist fighting and cursing people….”

“Who the bloody rotten sneak ‘iz try’n te make Harry ou’te be some kin’o’ hoodlum?” Hagrid cried out in outrage.


“Of course Daddy said he wouldn’t.” Luna continued as she gently put her hand on Hagrid’s elbow. “He bound the man up, and called the Auror’s. They took him right to the Ministry. These are just copies. The real ones went with the Auror’s to the Ministry. She was showing the pictures to everyone, when Harry said softly, “Please thank your dad for me Luna.”

Everyone spun and exclaimed they thought he was sleeping.

“I have things on my mind. I’ve been drifting in and out, but when I heard Luna talking it got my attention. Anyway, I promised to tell about the Zombies when I got back. Where’s Mr. Weasley?”

“He’s been very busy! She scowled at her older three boys. These three… well, Arthur spent a good bit of the morning right after you all left building a shelter for the ‘roos, and then he left on a couple errands. He won’t be back until late, just before the wedding.”

“’Roos?” everyone enquired? “As in Kanga?” Ron asked

“It’s a long story!” Put in Percy and Charlie suddenly. And Harry wants to talk about the Zombies now.” finished George.

Awesome, fantastic, funny post!!
Poor Harry and Ginny, just go to the ministry for business and there's action. He really can't go anywhere, can he?
It really does seem like Poppy missed him. He's what she's worked on the most, that's for sure.
Ginny's line was perfect and spot-on. Just enough humor in it.
Characterized Luna perfectly! I thought she was fantastic, and it was really good of her and her dad to protect Harry. Loved her line too, btw.
(love the kangaroos too. )
-Rachel

Nice chappie!

hey Connie...nice posts...been a long time since i read...but i am updated now......pams...

Hey everyone, I hope all is going well with you one and all. Christmas is almost upon us; so I'd like to take this opportunity to wish all a Merry Christmas to everyone who celebrates this day of joy, and a wonderful day for those who don't. Thanks to you all for reading and I hope you enjoy this chapter. We're coming close to the end of this ff; only 2 more chapters after this one. Next week chapter is Chapter 22, "Zombies In North America"


narnia_potter; Thanks Rachel, yeah I think you're right; trouble everywhere Harry goes. I think Luna's dad feels like he is indebted to Harry, plus he really was a good man, strange but good. It's fun writing little lines of humor for Ginny and Luna, you can read over them not enough to make you break out laughing that would distract from the story, but put a smile on your face just the same. If I said that right. The kangaroos play a big part in the next story. Thanks for reading and commenting Rachel.

Droo; Thanks for reading and I'm glad you liked the chapter.

Harita; Hey Harita, thanks for reading and commenting. It's good to see you again. I'm glad you liked the chapters. Take it easy and don't over extend yourself when you get back to the rugged studies. I'm really enjoying your ff, "In The Shadows Of The Trio" and I will get on commenting it as soon as I can. It's a great story.


Chapter 21

A Delay In The Story

“Our last night in South Africa…” Harry looked to where he had put the paintings. “Where are the Professors at?” he asked suddenly alarmed when he noticed they were not where they had been placed.

“Oh dear,” exclaimed Molly fretfully. “I’m so sorry Harry, but we had a bit of destruction in the house before the roo’s were caught, and I’m afraid the portraits got damaged. I was going to take them in to be repaired in the morning.”

“They’re still here then?” he asked quietly.

“Yes Dear. Here they are.” Molly brought them in to show him. The easels and the portraits were busted and ripped badly, and the occupants were not in the pictures, with the exception of Fawkes. “I’m very sorry, and we’ll pay for them to be repaired.” She said earnestly, and more than just a little embarrassed.

He smiled slightly and said everything would be ok. “Ginny? Could you sit here and hold them steady for me? He pulled out some bars of chocolate from his pouch. “Does anyone want some chocolate?” he offered. Nobody accepted the chocolate offer, but gathered around to watch him repair the damage. He repaired Fawkes first, and made that a gage to see how much it would drain his energy. He popped a chunk of chocolate in his mouth and just held it between his cheek and tongue. He took the next portrait, examined it, and repaired the canvas.

“Poppa? Are you able to come to me?” he spoke through his teeth. Professor Snape peeked around the frame. He came in full view saying, I see you‘re painting with your mouth full again.” Harry afforded him a slight grin then he rested Snape in Ginny’s hands. He closed his eyes and blue, yellow, red, white, and black paint appeared on his fingertips. He held his hand inches from the portrait, and the paint started going on the destroyed places, mixing the colors as needed. When he was finished, he kept his eyes closed and asked Snape if it was all better. Snape assured him he was one hundred percent once again. Harry then caused a cold wind to blow on the fresh paint. After a few minutes, Snape said, “Dry” and Harry stopped blowing it.

He asked Ron who happened to be standing closest to him, to put the portrait on the easel. Lastly, he picked up the last canvas and repeated the same process, including popping another chunk of chocolate in his mouth. After the professor declared he was dry, he opened his eyes, and touched the face of the professor.

“I wanted to take the three of you to the wedding if you could be there. Professor Dumbledore thanked him for thinking of them. “We did want very much to come, and now we can.”

“I’m about to tell this lot about Zombies. Could I ask you to be here to keep me straight on the details?”

They nodded their heads not saying anything. They would like to have suggested that he tell them all later, but they knew his determination so remained silent.

“Luna, Neville, everyone who wasn’t here last night when I got home, I took these portraits with me. They have been with me every step of the way, but for the first month and a half. So, if I refer to, “we or us” more than likely you know it to be them and me, unless of course I’ve been speaking about the people. You won’t have trouble discerning I don’t think. And something else,” he put in. This took thirteen and a half pages for me to write the report. Just giving you fair warning. It might get boring, so if you fall asleep, just don’t snore too loudly.”

Everyone chuckled. They too felt badly that they had been so insistent on hearing the story. Especially after Harry had repaired the portraits, and was visibly worn out.

“Where was I? Oh yeah, at the beginning. “The last evening before we left South Africa, I spun my wand, and it stopped on a mountain in the USA. Early the next morning after breakfast and saying good-bye, we traveled to Washington State and set up camp in the shadows of a mountain called, Mt St. Helens. The first thing I did was to update my passport I made to include the United States of America, and legal documents as to who I was and my purpose for being there. I claimed I was on a private expedition to study the mountain and its inhabitants. After I was done, I flew on my broom close to town, and then hiked in the rest of the way.

I found a very nice little café, and had my lunch observing the local people. This was going to take some getting used to, being in a civilized and modern part of the world. Technology had advanced even more than before I left. Hermione and George know what I’m talking about." Seeing the surprise on some of the faces at the mention of George's awareness of Muggle technology, he explained.

When I came home yesterday, I stopped in at Hogsmeade to have a message delivered to Hogwarts for Professor McGonagall to meet me at the Burrow. I also sent an owl to Kingsley with the same message. Then, I stopped in at the joke shop, but the proprietor was out to lunch. I saw your advertisement for your new and improved dream enhancement charms. It was a picture of Tarzan in the Jungle swinging on a vine, “Fantasize a life of romance and adventure.” I figured that he must have watched movies and or T.V. to know about Tarzan. So, anyway I came on out here when I couldn't find anyone there.”

“So, there I was in the café and this big guy wearing a trench coat despite the hot weather, came in and sat down and had a cup of coffee. I’m not talking big as in fat, but big as in tall, and very muscular. He was reading the paper, but I noticed he was watching me with his peripheral vision.”

“Harry… you’re so suspicious of everyone. Why do you always think someone is out to get you?” asked Percy with sympathy in his voice.

“Because they are Percy, I don’t know why, but they are. The man read the paper, page by page. He didn’t follow a story that started on the first page and continued on page three or whatever. He read the first page, then the second page, and then the next page. When I got up and paid for my meal, he folded his newspaper and paid for his coffee and left. I had ducked in an alleyway while he was paying for his coffee, and put on my invisibility cloak. He came out, looked around, and went on up the street, looking in each building. I didn’t sense any magic about him, so I just put it off as someone curious about a new face in town.”

“I went to the Library and focused on my task at hand. I looked up on their machine there, every newspaper article written about Zombies. At first, there were just isolated sightings. Then it became obvious that there were creatures stealing small farm animals and crops from gardens during the nights of bad weather, making it hard to catch them at it.” I found out the area that most of these reports were coming from, and I went to a realtor, and bought the farm that was for sell. It was the very farm with all the sightings. I got it at a very good price, because of the, “Zombie Curse.”

“After I made my farm purchase, I was headed to the hardware store for some maps and camping supplies. The man I had given the slip, walked out of the barbershop and pulled out the pipe weapon I told you about earlier. It looks like a Blowpipe but anyway, he shot me with it. He laughed and said, “I’ve come to kill you Harry Potter.” I rolled over to a car and used it to shelter myself. I sent my Patronus to the country’s Ministry of Magic, telling them who I was and I was in a Muggle community where I might have to use magic to save myself from a man who just shot me, and wasn’t going to stop till he killed me.”

The man just stood there in the middle of the street laughing. He shot a police officer who arrived on the scene. I looked out not believing my eyes. He was randomly pointing this pipe weapon and shooting. He ran out of the pellets he used and to my horror, he pulled out another pipe that used lazers. That would supply him with enough time to shoot up the area and everyone trapped there. He laughed as a small boy got loose from his mother and ran after his dog that was about to attack the man. I ran at the man while he was distracted and knocked him to the ground. We fought with our fists. I knew he was just having fun beating on me to wear me down. I was afraid I’d have to resort to magic, because I was losing blood, nearly spent, and the Auror’s weren’t there yet. The man pointed to me and told me I was doing very well for a little runt. It was the last thing he ever said. When he pointed to me, I grabbed his wrist and used his arm as I would use a grape vine in the Jungle, and swung around to his back. I clamped my legs around his waist and locked my arm around his throat, and choked him to death. The Auror’s and different agencies from the Ministry arrived just as I was choking the man. They put a freezing charm on the crowd and prevented anyone from leaving or coming onto the scene. A healer came to the scene with the aurors' and took care of my wound. The pellet had gone clear through, so they just disinfected the wound and cleaned out the lead contaminants, left from it passing through. I gave my report to the authorities as the healer tended to me. They said they would let me talk to the Muggle police since I didn‘t do anything illegal and they would not have to create a cover story. The man I killed was a Muggle, so they figured he was just some nut. They instructed me to just tell them what happened. When they finished everything they had to do they all left. I told the Police what happened and an ambulance took away the body. I made a slight adjustment on the officer taking my statement. He was insistent that I go to the hospital and have my wound taken care of. I knew I looked like a piece of carcass from a butcher shop, but I would be able to take care of myself when I got back to camp. I caused him to change his mind saying he thought I‘d be ok. The officer that was shot made a full recovery, and miraculously, nobody died.”

“After the police were done with me, I told them that I had just bought the McGreevy Farm, but was going to be spending time in the mountains, and did they know of anyone needing a place to stay for a while till I was able to get back to the farm.”

“They told me of a family that was down on their luck. The husband fought in the Korean War, and had six children still at home. They’ve been staying in a shelter for the time being since the bank foreclosed on their home. They gave me his name and I said I would speak to them about them staying at the farm, and running it for me until I was able to. I explained that I really didn’t know how long I would be on the mountain, but I would be back in town from time to time for supplies. I purchased some dynamite in case I had need of it, of course I had to convince the authorities I had permits to purchase and use it. The little boy that ran after his dog gave me a puppy from a litter of pups his dog had a few days after the incident. It lives on my farm with the family I hired to take care of the farm while I was on the mountain.”

Harry looked around at the group who was staring at him aghast of the story they just heard. He was irritated that he let himself get into all that. He tried to think how he got side tracked. He was so tired and just wanted to sleep. Then he remembered and scowled at Percy. “No more stupid questions.”

*catches up*
Woah so sorry for not catching up sooner, I was reading this earlier but then had to go out so have just finished the rest
I love it! ah will Harry's misfortune ever end?
PAMS

Eviee.

Wonderful post, Connie!!
Yes, Mr. Lovegood is a good but really strange man. Can't wait to read more about the kangaroos!
Uh, just wondering (and pointing out) Mt Saint Helens is in Washington, not Utah. I live only a couple of states away.
Really sweet of him to repair the portraits. And I love what he calls Snape .
Ok, I know why Hermione would know how technology has advanced but why would George? My mind is totally not putting something together.
It is really good what he did for that family, really sweet of him.
-Rachel

Hey Eviee, thank you very much for reading and commenting. It means so much to me that you love it. Harry is having a tough time of it isn't he. I hope it isn't tiring to my readers; Harry always being in peril. The thing is I was wanting to make it real to life. The whole story takes place in a 24 hour period; so Harry is in a poor way from the injury he received from Mr. Weasley in the beginning of the story. Thanks Eviee for reading and commenting.

Hey Rachel, thank you so much for correcting my embarrassing mistake. The web site I was using was talking about volcanic mountains in Utah and they showed a picture of Mt. St. Helens. I didn't read the small print under the picture, which said that the volcanoes were the same kind as Mt. St. Helens in Washington state. I should have been more careful, I apologize to my readers. Sorry about that. I think JK hints to George and Fred studying the Muggles because they refer to Muggle magic tricks... In my ff I used this paragraph to show George is somewhat knowledgeable about technology; For George to know about Tarzan and make a dream enhancement charm meant that he must have watched the shows on TV. I'm so glad you mentioned that. The reason I put that in was to show Harry's progression into being aware of needs and responding to them with his compassion; the whole reason for him leaving home to go on his quest.
Thanks for reading and commenting Rachel.

Ok, everything makes more sense now, Connie. Thanks!

Yeah, thanks for the clarification! Great update. Thanks!

Hey guys, so I sat thinking when I had a minute or two, how to fix the bit in the last chapter where I said George was familiar with Muggle technology and decided today on how to do it. So, after I post this, I'm going to go back and reword that bit for a clearer image of what I was wanting understood. I'm sorry it was difficult to understand; and please let me know if ever I write something and you don't understand it. Next Friday's chapter is, Chapter the last chapter of this ff; "Out Of The Past And Into The Future." I hope you all enjoy this chapter. Happy New Year to each of you!

narnia_potter; You're welcome.
Droo; Hey Droo thanks for your time reading and commenting.


Chapter 22

Zombies In North America

“I camped out on the outskirts of the farm I owned which happened to be right up against the foot of the mountain. I had to wait three days until one night during a thunderstorm I sat studying my Potions; I heard a rustling in the trees. I went out into the storm, and found three forms leading a young calf away from the herd with a rope. It appeared awkward for them to move, because they were stiff. I followed them to a very narrow tunnel in the side of the mountain. It was difficult for them to get through and hard for them to get the steer through, but they managed finally.”

“I returned back to my camp and slept the rest of the night. The next morning I gathered herbs and spices then using some supplies I had from the Jungles, I put together a potion I got from a medicine man in Australia. He said it would cure a variety of illnesses including Zombieism. I checked myself thoroughly to make sure all my wounds were completely covered then I packed up camp and went to the tunnel I had seen the Zombies go into. When I came out on the other side I was mortified to see what was before me.

“Three zombies were coming at me with clubs raised. They probably were the same three I had seen stealing the calf. I raised both of my hands to show I wasn’t a threat to them. “I am here to help you. I will not hurt anyone. Please do not come any closer to me until I am set up to help you. They stopped advancing on me, and one of them gestured to me, and muttered, “Who?” I told them my name and that I was new to the area and had heard the rumors of Zombies, that which, the mountain was cursed with.”

“The smell radiating from them was like nothing you’ve ever smelled before. Their skin was unnaturally and heavily pigmented, wrinkled, creased, and hard. It was extremely hard to understand them because their tongues were hard, and thick from swelling. After I was able to convince them I wasn’t going to hurt them, I asked them to tell me how they became this way, and why didn’t anyone help them.”

“It took a while for me to understand them, but I got the hang of their poorly enunciated words, and was able to get the gist of their story.”

“Some giants, wizards and witches riding dragons started terrorizing them. The giants rolled giant boulders off the mountain, and threw great mounds of earth and rocks down all around them. I looked around and saw that in fact they were completely surrounded by what looked like a ring of mountains. They were trapped with only a big lake and some caves. Their food source was from the wild animals trapped with them, and the fish came from the lake, which also was their drinking water. The witches and wizards destroyed their homes so they fled to the caves. Everyone crowded into nineteen vehicles, of which only twelve made it to the caves.”

“Somehow, a lot of the people was able to survive the brutal killings from the giants and dragons, and arrived at the caves on foot. Of all the survivors, they numbered fifty-seven. Twelve of them were pregnant women, of which four lost their babies. They eventually lost all hope of being rescued. Every day they were hassled by the giants and dragons when they ventured out to get food and water. One day the giants and dragons didn’t come, yet the mountain shook and rumbled as if they were there.

It was May 18th, in the year 1980, just two months and days before I was born, the mountain erupted. Lava poured down the sides and because of the ring of mountains around them, the lava flowed around the enclosed valley. Volcanic ash filled the air and made it impossible to wonder outside. Everybody piled into the largest cave and pulled boulders into the opening to keep animals and ash from coming in on them. Still, the air was acrid and hot, and made it very difficult to breath. They went deep into the ground looking for safe air to breath. Finally, they came across a big cavern with a lake. They overcame many obstacles but was able to survive there until the air outside was clear and breathable.”

“Finally they were able to come out of the caves and get emaciated animals that somehow survived, for food. The thing is radiation contaminated the animals, thus contaminating the people. They still had to rely on the underground lake for food and water. They were deprived of any vegetables and milk. Malnutrition was a terrible worry. They found a fissure in the side of the mountain, and began to dig and break through solid rock inches at a time. It was only just within the last months that they reached through the other side of their prison. Years before this came about; the lack of proper nutrition, and sanitary conditions overcame them. They had succumbed to the creatures they turned into, and lived day by day, in the confines of their diseased bodies.”

“I was overcome with grief for these people, and told them I would do everything in my power to help them. I put on protective gloves and a respirator mask. I began giving them potions every day. I bought big tents for them to live in temporarily. Each day I left, I had to Scourgify myself to make sure I didn’t contaminate anything. They burnt everything that was burnable, and I told them not to enter the cave anymore. The lake was covered with a sheet of Obsidian. It was spectacular to see. I threw several sticks of dynamite and blew up a section, and without them knowing it, I used magic to make it look like it blew up all the rest of the obsidian covering the lake. Imagine my surprise when I saw life in that lake. I figured they wouldn’t be able to use the lake because of the radiation contamination in the water and water life. But, there swimming in the water was some very confused fish, but otherwise perfectly normal looking. I felt bad for using the dynamite then. It wasn’t much though; it was only subterfuge to cover up my use of magic after all. I walked the perimeter of the lake and was ecstatic to find a runoff from the lake, and on around the front side of the lake I found where an underwater current was running into the lake from the mountain. I examined the fish, and found them to be healthy and contamination free. I was thankful that Poppa was so strict with my Potions classes, and I was able to glean a lot of knowledge from medicine men all around the world. Because of this, I became a very efficient Virologist. The Potions I made for the people was finally starting to work against the Zombie manifestations they had.”

“I decided it was time to go into town and replenish my supplies. I told them that I would be back in a few days. By this time, they were no longer infectious and knew the amount of potion they were to take daily, and could administer it themselves. They had fresh water to drink from the lake, and could eat the water life. I went in town, and purchased the land the community lived on. I got a permit that allowed me to handle and use large amounts of C-4. I had to modify one of the officials mind to let me have that permit because he wanted me to show proof that I was qualified to buy it. I handed him numerous sheets of blank paper and he thought they were all the certificates I needed to get and use it. After I did everything I needed to do, I returned to my bowl in the mountains. The people were able to start moving without all the stiffness they had, and the unnatural skin started peeling off them. I set up a peddle sewing machine and gave the women cloth, and thread, so they could make them some simple clothes.

The men were able to start helping me chop down trees for log cabins. We built cabins eventually for each of the families. I started digging to make a well. I did this by myself, as there wasn’t room in the hole for more than one person. I eventually was deep enough that I rigged a pulley, bucket system, and had a young man pull up dirt I excavated. He would empty the dirt I sent up and then lower into the well rocks to line the sides of the well. In the evenings and early in the mornings I would go to the well by myself and work on it with magic. Eventually the well was completed. I got lucky and happened to hit an artesian well. After the well was finished, I began digging into the path that they had made in the fissure. Again, during the day and early evening, the men helped me. I couldn’t use the C-4 because I didn’t want to bring down the top of the tunnel on us. So, it was with pick and shovel we widened the path into a two-lane roadway. Early in the morning and late at night I worked by myself, only again like the well, I used magic to get me further after the Muggles went home. It was desperately hard and I kept it up until it wasn’t safe to do anymore due to the darkness. I went to my camp, and cleaned up, ate a bit of food and got out my… things I took to remind me of home, and I fell asleep looking at them every night.”

“Finally the road was large enough and the cabins were all done. The coming winter would be much easier on them sense they would have their own cabins. The first winter they all shared a large cabin that we would convert into a recreation hall after all the cabins were built. It looked like everything was going very well, and I’d be able to leave soon. One day I was walking around the lake, and a piece of Obsidian caught my eye. The dynamite explosion had given it an odd shape. It gave me an idea. Filling pockets full of the rock; I went back and made some jewelry. They were just simple pieces. When there was enough to show, I gathered everyone around, and showed them the things I made. My idea was to see if anyone would be interested in making jewelry and sell it. I told them that I could export what they made to any place in the world. It was a big hit right away.”

“One morning after blood was drawn from everyone; I checked it under my microscope and announced that everybody’s blood was back to normal. From my point of view, they didn’t have any more Zombie traces in their blood. I told them that I was going to go back to town, and get the health department to check everyone thoroughly.”

“When I went in town, I arranged a meeting with the state, city, and county officials. Of course, the city officials knew me, and taken aback at everything I told them. Naturally, I didn’t say what caused the people to be trapped where they were, but made an appointment for different agencies to go out and inspect the place and the people. When I said they still need loads of help with food, clothing, jobs, etc. they said they would go before the town and make a plea to the people for them. The state said they could help more, if the community was incorporated. So, I made all the proper arrangements to do that, and named the place, “Xanadu”. I went to all the appliance stores and arranged for the stores to deliver all the comforts of home to the cabins. I paid for half, the government paid for a quarter, and the stores donated the other quarter. I made the same arrangements with furniture stores. Arrangements were made to get utilities out to them, so that each cabin had running water, indoor plumbing, telephone service, and even cable T.V. The local University donated classes for workshops to train them in modern technology to help them get jobs. After everything that needed done was finished, I went to the Ministry of Magic, and told them of the people of Xanadu, that they would need their memories modified right away, so they don’t tell authorities that dragons, giants, and witches was the cause of their grief all these years. All they needed was that bit of their memory modified. So, the officials said they would send the appropriate division of the Ministry out and cause them to think that mud slides, and earthquakes occurred, causing them to be sealed into the area. They also said because it was magic that caused these people to suffer so long, they would make sure the people were watched over from then on.”

“Then, I went to various places and set up negotiations for the jewelry to be sold. It was close to two months, before I was able to go back to Xanadu. What a difference in the community! It looked like a normal village. The nearby town I had been working with through all this even started building a school, and church. I was overwhelmed with happiness for them, and myself, because I thought for sure my wand would point me home that night before I went to bed. I was heartbroken that it didn’t. We was talking after I was able to talk, and Professor Dumbledore suggested that maybe I should call a community meeting and appoint a village council to run the place when I leave. That made sense, so the next morning, I called everyone together, and told them that I would be leaving and they needed to have people to take charge of things like a proper village, sense they were incorporated. I stayed with them for two more months while the people took to their new responsibilities. One evening as I was walking out to my campsite, I was deep in thought about getting home, when I was attacked and bitten by loads of snakes. After they bit me, they all blew up, and disintegrated. I had too much poison in my system to walk the four miles back to my camp, and I didn’t dare try to Apparate or even use my broom to get back to camp. I could feel the poison going through all my body. It was at that moment I decided to make sure, if I lived that I would always carry my pouch tied to my waist for the rest of my life. Fawkes could’ve healed me in a matter of moments. Then Mr. & Mrs. McKinnon ran to me. They said they saw what happened and they could help me.”

“I didn’t know how they were going to get me to my camp in time
for me to get Fawkes and was about to decline their help when I was being sucked through time and space. I hate that feeling when you Apparate. Anyway, I was in their cabin, and they started siphoning the poison from me. They said by all accounts I should be dead. I cannot begin to tell you how bad the pain was, but at least I wasn’t dead.”

“Nobody should be able to get bit by fifty poisonous snakes and not die.” Kr. McKinnon said.

“They understood though when I told them that I had built up immunity to most snakes when I was in Australia. The Aborigines helped me with it. I asked how they knew how many snakes there were, and how was it that I lived among a witch and wizard for a year and a half, and didn’t know it.”

“First thing first; let’s just get you fully recovered before we get into that. Look at the snakes and tell me which ones you aren’t immune to yet.” They did the Priori Incantatum and showed me the image of me walking into the tunnel and all at once, these snakes appeared and bit me at the same time. They froze the image and said that was how they were able to count how many snakes there were. I looked carefully, which was hard because by this time I was succumbing to the poison. I knew I would be dead in a few minutes if I didn’t hurry. Then I found it. It was the Australian Brown Snake. For some reason, my body couldn’t build a complete tolerance to the venom from that one. And, there were six of them there biting me. No wonder it started working so fast. I looked at my leg where they bit me and could see the skin starting to rot. The McKinnon’s worked furious and quickly concocted the potion I needed. They were able to stop the poison from killing me, and said my leg would heal with time.

“Just put this on it twice daily, and rewrap it until the skin looks normal, and it doesn’t hurt anymore. Keep the dead skin cleaned off good and new skin will replace it.” they said, and gave me the stuff they used on me. That was the last night we were there. I put it on yesterday morning, before we left, and I seen this morning when I redressed it that someone did it for me last night. I apologize to whoever did it for me, but thank you so much,” he concluded in a soft far away voice.

Harry had recounted the story with his eyes closed to help him rest as much as he could, but opened them to look at everyone. “Well,” he said, “It must not have been that boring for you, because I see none of you have fallen asleep.”

...nice comic line to end with...

Happy New Year!

Great new chapter! I'm not good with my comments but I am enjoying reading your Fanfic!

Great chapter, Connie!
Wow, Harry sure had to go through a lot!
I really have no idea what else to say.
Thanks for the clarification on everything. And your redo/add-on to explain why George knew was perfect! It makes a whole lot more sense now.
-Rachel

Hey guy's, thanks for your loyalty throughout this ff. This is the last chapter of the story and I'm hoping you all enjoy it. I hope you don't mind but as with each of my ff's I put tidbits of my own opinion in on things that I believe will be a help in matters of life and happiness. These things like I said are my own opinions and beliefs. I do not profess or try to pass them off, to be things you have to believe. The next (last story of the series) is not finished yet. I'm on chapter 49 and have a ways to go yet. I have sadly decided that I will be posting it in the +16 section as there are a couple steamy chapters; certainly nothing sinful; and darkness with violence that maybe should be rated for a more mature audience. I'm really hoping that all who have followed this ff will please come over when it comes out. Thank you once again for your loyalty.


Harita; Hey Harita, thanks for reading and commenting. I do try to keep some of the ff upbeat and laughable when it fits. Thanks again.

Droo; Hey Droo, thank you so much for your time you take to read and comment. Don't break my heart now; I don't expect elaborate posts from my readers. You told me everything I love to hear. Thank you so much. I know you are very busy, and the mature over 16 isn't your responsibility to watch over, but I'm really hoping you come over and follow my last ff of the series when I get it up.

narnia_potter; Hey Rachel, thanks for reading and commenting. I'm glad I fixed it for everyone. My ff's have a lot of dialogue in them so I try to write in ways that explain things on its own. I'm glad I was made aware of the difficulty in understanding that part. Please always let me know if there are any problems or mistakes so I can fix them. I hate how embarrassed I get when I go back and find stupid mistakes that weren't corrected. Thanks again Rachel your loyalty is very much appreciated.



Chapter 23

Out Of The Past And Into The Future

Kingsley asked if the McKinnon’s are any relation to the McKinnon’s who died in the first war.

“Yes, they are. In fact, they are the very same McKinnon’s. As you know; Ottery St. Catchpole was a friend of my dad’s, who had been sent to Albania, by Professor Dumbledore. He and his better half, Kelly, devised a club that sent made up stories over airwaves. Some were coded messages in the form of short stories to Dumbledore to keep him apprised of Voldemort’s plans as he found out about them. Kelly found out that the McKinnon’s were marked as couples of great interest to Voldemort. Professor Dumbledore received Ottery’s coded story, and deciphered it. They were able to stage their death and get away just before the Death Eaters attacked their home, and destroyed it.

It was a mistake on the Death Eaters part making up a story saying to Voldemort that the couple committed suicide and destroyed their own home, rather than go with them to join Voldemort. When Voldemort learned that the McKinnon’s were alive and living in the USA, he killed the Death Eaters that lied to him. Then he sent Travers and the other wizards, witches, dragons and giants to harass the McKinnons and kill them.

The couple tried to protect everyone, but the onslaught was too great. When the volcano erupted, the people were all in the big cave. They were all afraid, naturally, and then they remembered the McKinnon’s magic, and tried to kill them. However, they were quick to put a memory charm on them, and then they were safe to live in harmony, such as it was, with the rest of the community. Now, he is the Mayor of Xanadu, and she is the Village Doctor.

Molly had her hands folded across her bosom and was smiling just as if she had just witnessed one of her children taking their first steps.

“Harry, we are so proud of you. You’ve done great things everywhere you’ve gone. You remind me of Albus Dumbledore when he was your age. He had traveled all over learning and doing great things. He had to return much earlier than he wanted so he could take care of his younger brother, and little sister. Such a sad story that, but still, look what he accomplished during his lifetime. I think we’ll just have to get used to what you’re able to do.”

Harry smiled out of embarrassment. “Thanks Mrs. Weasley, but I’m not…” As Harry was trying to stop Molly from saying anything else George ran over to him with a quill and a bit of parchment.

“Harry! I didn’t realize… I mean I should’ve gotten this sooner! Thank goodness I can still ask for your autograph before you go off doing something else wonderful. Please just make this out to your favorite…”

Molly slapped his hand down and was about to yell at him, but cracked up laughing herself. “I’m sorry Harry, if I’ve gone on a bit…”

“A BIT? You made him sound better than Tarzan!” complained the red headed prankster. He rolled his eyes and exaggerated a huff.

“What is it with you and Tarzan?” demanded Percy. “You act like Tarzan is a real person. At least Harry is real, and the things he’s done is real. That other Tarzan stuff is just Muggle fantasies.

“Percy! Say it ain’t so!” He feigned his heart breaking. “Of course I know he isn’t real ya scrawny know it all. I was just trying to stop Mum from going on before she turned Harry’s face permanently red.

“OK boys that’ll be enough.” said Bill. Listen Harry, thanks for trusting me to build your house, and setting me up as your representative for the mine. It is hard to believe you’ve done all this by yourself in the four years you’ve been gone.”

“I knew I could depend on you Bill. Thanks for all your hard work. We can’t wait to see it.” Harry said humbly.

“Harry, I’m thinking that maybe you don’t need me for your partner. You’ll be able to do much better without me tripping you up. I’ll just be in your way.”

Harry sat up so fast the room spun. Ginny grabbed hold of him and pulled on him to keep him from standing up. “Listen Ron; I won’t have it! If you don’t want to be my partner, than that’s one thing. But, I won’t let you belittle, or kick yourself. Ever since I met you and became best mates I wanted to be as good as you. Now I finally feel that I am, because I realized that none of us because of our successes or failures are any better or worse than anybody else…” He looked at Ron and made himself calm down so Ron wouldn’t think he was just yelling at him like his mum. “Look Ron, all you need is to lose your inhibitions.”

“I don’t have inhibitions.” Ron defended himself quietly with his head hanging.

“Don’t hang your head. You’ve done loads to be proud of, and yes … you do have inhibitions. Do you know what you want out of life? I thought it sounded like you did when we were talking to the Pastor today. What happened? It’s your inhibitions trying to set you back.”
“I don’t have inhibitions!”

“Why are you still living at home? Why don’t you have a job you want? Why haven’t you asked Hermione to marry you while I was gone? Face it Ron… you have inhibitions. If you know what you want out of life, than mate, you gotta find a way to make it happen. Now get out of here. I don’t want to see your face again… for another four hours. Go on mate! You and Hermione need to go get her parents and bring them back so you don’t miss your own wedding. I want to get married tonight, and I want you and Hermione with us. But, we’re not gonna put it off till you make up your mind.” He laughed at Ron’s red face.

Ron looked hard at Harry for a minute, and the room was silent wondering what would happen next. Then Ron laughed and pounded Harry on the arm. “Course I wanna be partners, just try and stop me.” he grabbed Hermione’s arm and pulled her off of her chair and headed for the door grinning from ear to ear.

Harry looked at Ginny and was telling her they still had a lot to do yet. We need to get the house set up with groceries. I’ll call Kreacher and see if he wants to be at our house or if he wants to stay at Gimwald Place. And we need to find out arrangements for Andromeda and Teddy to get to the church for the wedding. Molly said Charlie was going over to get them and taking them straight to the church, and Bill said he and Fluer was going to get the groceries and put in the house.

At the mention of Kreacher’s name Hermione stopped and came back with a surprised look on her face. “Oh but Harry, surely you set Kreacher free didn’t you? I can’t believe you’d keep that poor Elf all alone at that house all this time! It isn‘t good for him. You do remember what he was like before he joined us in the war. How has he been getting paid?”

Ron took her by the elbow and turned her back to the door. “Come on Mione. We’ll talk about that later. Not that it isn’t important, just your parents are expecting us; we need to get going.”

Ginny looked at Harry and asked him in a, by the way Harry, sort of way. “You said before you left here that you had to find out what you was missing inside, and you wanted to find out about yourself. Did you find what you was looking for? Will you tell us?”

He looked at her and seen Ron and Hermione turn around to listen. As a matter of fact everyone was watching and listening. He looked back into her eyes and swallowed with difficult and softly answered.

“Yes, I can tell you if you need to know before you’ll marry me. I’m simply to humbly serve anyone who needs me or asks for my help…”

“Just like a House Elf.” chided Hermione. “At least you’ll get a first hand feeling of how they feel.”

Harry looked at her, obviously stung by her zinger. “It’s not anything like that Hermione.” he said quietly but with fire in his eyes. He didn‘t have to defend himself, but he had to set her straight. “It is by their own choice that they enslave themselves to humans. It keeps them humble, which is what they live for. Of course some people take advantage of their servitude and abuse it. I don’t imagine Dobby was the only one to want freedom, but it was a very few that wanted freedom.

It dishonors their society to go against their principles and ask for payment and compensation. When it is given to them, they give it away. They don’t want to be mixed up with the human ways. They’re pride sets them apart from us. They are far more able to take care of themselves without our money and interference. Their magic is supreme compared to ours. To force money and compensations on them is the same to them as saying we’re better than you. You have to accept our way and you need us and our money to survive. How long will it be before the Ministry decides that they need to be taxed? Dobby was abused, mistreated, and he was miserable. He lived a life of slavery as you put it, because that’s what his master made it. His servitude and humanity was stripped from him, and made into a slave. That’s the way you see them Hermione, as slaves. But they’re not, they’re servants to humankind. Exactly the way we should all be to each other.

No, Hermione, I’m not like a House Elf as you think of them, but yes, I am in the way they think of themselves. There’s a difference between being a servant to the needs of your fellow beings, doing what they need for the sake of humanity, and being forced to doing what someone commands you to do as master over slave. I will not enslave myself to any man or woman, but I will be a servant to anyone who needs me, or asks for my help.

And about Kreacher, he has all the comforts he wants. Right after the war was over, after I had all I could take of being slapped on the back, and pulled all over the place being hugged and kissed and celebrated over, I called for Kreacher on my way up to bed. By the time I reached the tower, he was there waiting for me. He turned down my bed, and had a plate of my favorite sandwiches with a glass of milk. Before I could say anything he started begging me not to set him free. I told him I would never set him free for his own protection. I told him there would be people who would capture, and torture him to tell everything about me and the Order. He said it wasn’t about protection and safety that he could take care of himself. It was about him being too old to find someone to take him as a servant. He wanted to stay in servitude to me for the rest of his life.

Now, to answer your questions; Firstly, you just don’t seem to understand that forcing freedom on these humble creatures would change their way of life. You will actually be enslaving them by forcing them into the life you want for them. And secondly, no, he hasn’t been alone. You haven’t been to Gimwald Place since I left? I hired a staff of people who lost their homes to Death Eaters, to clean and keep it up for the Order. Kreacher is the foreman and he runs the house. There is a bolt of cloth there for him if he wishes to make clothes for himself. But, he understands that I cannot ever give him his freedom, for his own safety. I simply couldn’t let him go into the world without being indentured to me, but I respect his way of living. And when I told him this, he was so grateful he cried.”

At first Hermione was taken aback at Harry. She would debate him on the pros and cons of setting Elves free another time. However, she was concerned that he was worried about Kreacher being captured and tortured. She gently put her hand on his arm to put out the fire in his eyes. She didn’t like being looked at with that fiery stair. “Harry, you’re being paranoid. Kreacher wouldn’t be captured and tortured. The war is over, and he’d be perfectly safe. I think that you’ve been through so much before the war, and doing what you had to do, and then not even giving yourself time to recover from all that, you left for a journey that was too much for you. I just can’t help but think you’re being paranoid.”

“Hermione, I know what I’m talking about. And going through what I did didn’t make me paranoid, it made me aware. Something about all this stuff happening makes me feel like it was before the war with Voldemort. Something isn’t right. I can feel it.”

“But Harry, Voldemort is dead. You killed him. We don’t have to worry anymore.” she said with sickening sympathy in her voice.

“Hermione I know what I feel and I feel like when Voldemort was alive. Of course I know he’s dead, I killed him. Don’t make me out to be some kind of war hero, who can’t stand the hardship he went through and burnt up his mind with the rage and killings, and can’t stop living his past.”

“Harry, I’m only…”

“Hermione, I don’t know about you, but I’ve been waiting all my life for this day. Harry and I have things to do. And if you don’t leave now to get your parents, then you won’t be able to join us. Either way, I’m getting married tonight. If you are too, then leave now.”

Ginny had unyielding steel in her eyes and voice, without even a trace of a friendly smile to soften her delivery. Hermione stood in shock at Ginny’s blow.

“Come on Mione. Let’s go. We can talk to him later about this. Let’s get your parents.” He pulled her out of the house and was gone.

Nobody had anything to say to Harry. They looked at him as a tired war vet, and left him and Ginny to take care of what they needed to do.

“They don’t believe me Gin, none of them. It’s just like always before. Nothing’s changed at all. He put his weary aching head in his hands. His heart was sick with grief and the disparity in his life.

“I’m not Mr. Gloom and Doom Gin. I’ve been able to survive all my life going by my instincts. I know it’s not over. I feel it in every fiber that fought against him. I know what he feels like, the way he thinks, the kinds of things he diverts to, and I just feel him in all this. And I can’t help but thinking about what he said to me before he died. Something isn’t right. I keep thinking on it to try and figure it out. He said only he was going to live forever. At first I thought he meant that by me thinking I could kill him, that sense I knew his secret that I would be able to live forever. But, I’m wondering if he meant that at all. Maybe he meant that he would be able to come back. He had already assured himself a way to come back. Otherwise, he would have Disapparated away right then. He wouldn’t have taken a chance that I might possibly kill him. But he knew he had to kill me. But if I did end up killing him, it would get the heat off of him for a while until he perfected his plan.”

He looked at Ginny with pleading eyes, wanting desperately for her to believe him. “If it’ll make you feel better knowing Love, I believe you.” She helped him ease his throbbing head and body lie down on the couch. “You only have to freshen up a bit for the wedding right? How about you lie here and sleep until Ron and Hermione get back. I’ll go make myself beautiful, and then we can finish getting ready at the church. You can’t see me in my dress until you see me coming down the aisle to you.” She leaned over and kissed him passionately. “I love you.”

As his body called to him and demanded sleep and rest; he looked into her eyes, and breathed in her aroma which was his life-force. “It helps Gin; you believing me matters the most. I love you more than I’ll ever be able to tell you.” His eyes closed and he slept with the images of the last war going through his mind, just as he did for a couple years now. He knew that someone wanted him dead. Everywhere he went there was always someone coming there to kill him. How did they always know where he was? He would figure it out; he had to even if he had to do it by himself. It’s sad that everyone condemned Professor Dumbledore for keeping everything to himself. Harry understood now, that it wasn’t by choice, but rather because nobody believed him, not even his closest friends and family. It was the same for Harry now. Everything was starting over just like before, only it was Harry by himself and not Dumbledore. At least he had Ginny and her love. That gave him everything he needed to go on and do what he must do. Find Voldemort and kill him once and for all.

Why am I always so terrible at keeping up with your chapters Connie?
I have caught up and finished! I like the chapters and I love the end of the story.
It is the end right? ah this was such a good story
Well Done!

Eviee.

So cute! Well done! I'm sad to see it over... though I'm sure you will get the new one up when you can.
This is pperfect... I'll say that. Perfect ending.
Quick note: when Harry is talking to Hermione about the elves, try spliting it up into 2, maybe 3 paragraphs, that would make it flow better and make it much easier on the eyes on the screen. Just a suggestion of course.

Of course I will always tell you when something is up and doesn't make sense.

I can't wait to see how you finish this story off! Let me know when you get the new one up!
-Rachel

Hey Eviee, thanks for catching up and finishing. I'm sure you aren't the only one who falls behind on keeping up with ff's. (I speak from experience ) I'm just glad you stayed with me through the whole story. I hope you come back for the last story of this series.

Hey Rachel, thanks so much for your loyalty to my story. I'm so happy you liked it. I will be happy to let you know when the new one is finished. I'm climbing to the tip of the climax and will soon be able to start the ending. It's a long process though and don't want to do an injustice to the plot by ending it too quickly. I changed the single paragraph you pointed out and put it into several. I wasn't thinking of it being hard to read on the screen. I apologize for that. My intention was to show Harry's (which is also mine) passion for what he believes in, the quality of life for all beings man is responsible for. Humanity is pushed around, shoved away, hidden, stomped on, and forgotten about in the world at large. It is mistaken for something that turns into charity for most who feel like if they do something charitable, they are off the hook to do what they need to do for the humanity of man to be enjoyed by all each and every day. Thanks for your comments and help Rachel, I look forward to them on my next ff.

It's over? Awww! No! When are you starting the next one! Oh and let me know when you wish me to move this to the finished section.