Big Update #5

A/N: This story's credit is all due to J.K. Rowling's creation of this brilliant world, I hope you enjoy my rendition of it.

The Great Hall, Hogwarts

The Great Hall was filled with happy, chatting students as the room slowly filled up for breakfast. Overnight the school had undergone its customary Christmas makeover and now the hall was filled with massive blue spruces and garland. This year Flitwick had enchanted the ceiling to fall from the ceiling. It would slowly disappear as it reached lower down. Each tree was covered in thousands of icicles that clinked together with the slightest touch filling the room with what sounded like bells.
Ginny was resting her head on Harry’s shoulder as they talked quietly and waited for the others to show up. There was only four more days until school let out for winter break and everyone seemed overly eager to go and see their families. After the Prophet ended up writing on the several murders and break-ins, including Fudge’s, there was a certain amount of constant paranoia that all students had adopted. And Harry saw that today was no different when he heard the familiar screech of owls and noticed everyone stop what they were doing to make sure they weren’t getting a letter. Harry however was hoping for just the opposite and was relieved when he saw Hedwig’s telltale white plumage. She circled the Gryffindor table once then landed gracefully on the table.
Harry gave her a piece of his toast from his plate and took the envelope from her beak. Just as he hoped it was from Lupin.
Harry had realized after running into him at the ministry that they had barely kept in contact over the last three months; feeling guilty for not talking to his godfather he had written him a long letter explaining a lot of what had been going on at Hogwarts. Opening the envelope Harry deflated seeing only a small amount of writing on the parchment. But upon closer inspection he smiled, the text said Messr. Moony to Messr. Potter. He instantly recognized it as a subtle hint to the Marauder’s Map. Harry tapped his finger on the paper murmuring I solemnly swear I am up to no good. Just like the map the ink spread from the small text to fill the page with Lupin’s words.
Harry,
First off good work on cracking the code, I was a little worried the hint would be a little too vauge.
Secondly let me apologize for not writing to you, just as you said yourself, I have been somewhat busy right now. With the war now going full force I have been forced to work many more operations for our group than last year.
I’d like to say that everything is okay out here, I mean outside of Hogwarts, but as your little trip to the Ministry might have showed you, it is not. The ministry is in utter turmoil, and while Minister Bones is doing a great job I am more than a little nervous when it comes time for the election next month.
Even with this spell I cant tell you what I’m doing right now in this letter in case it gets intercepted, but needless to say it is of great import to everyone involved in the ministry.
I am glad to hear that you and Professor Flamel have been making some progress with the intricacies of the Heartbond. I am even happier that you and Ginny have now grown even closer together and that the bond did not draw you too close too quickly.
Now onto holiday break, if you get this the day I send it then tomorrow you’ll be heading home. I will actually not be at Snuffle’s home, in fact no one is there as of now due to the jarring breaks in our defences lately. So, I have already arranged for you and Emmaline to head to the Weasley’s and I will join you there the next day. I have a feeling that you will have no problem going with your Ginny, and you can also get some of your Christmas shopping done.
Now I need to send this now before it gets light enough for anyone to see Hedwig take off.
Moony

Harry smiled and folded up the letter and placed it in his pant’s pocket, and kissed Ginny on the cheek.
“What was that for Mr. Potter?” Ginny had never been kissed by him in such a public place, but she was not complaining.
“Well it seems that Moony is stuck somewhere working for our friends, but he said that Emma and I were going to go spend the holidays with you guys.”
Ginny beamed and kissed him on the cheek back, “Well of course you were. You didn’t think I would let you stay at that house all alone. Plus, my mum would go mad knowing that somewhere there were kids who didn’t get to have some of her food. Plus I think it’s a good idea that Emma has at least a fun Christmas, it’ll be hard enough for her without having to stay in Snuffle’s house.”
Ron came up from behind them holding Hermione’s hand. “Thanks for saving us seats mate, I need to fill up before the big snowball fight.”
“Do you ever not fill up, Ron?” Hermione asked as she sat in the seat next to Ginny.
“Guess what Ron? Lupin just sent Harry a letter telling him that he and Emma are going to go to our house for holiday!”
“Thas-gray-may!” Ron choked out in-between bites of toast.
“You should go tell Emma Harry, she probably need a bit of good news,” Hermione urged looking down the table at the group Emma was sitting in. Everyone around her was laughing and joking and it seemed that Emma was laughing too, but occasionally her façade would break and her sorrow would become evident. For the past few weeks they had tried everything to make her a bigger part of the group especially after the discovery of the second part of the prophecy but she had insistently spent much of her time with kids he own age. The had all agreed that if it helped her cope then they would let her be with her friends, but they were always ready to come in and help her if she had am emotional breakdown. For a 12 year old she was dealing with the loss of her only parent amazingly well.
Harry approached Emma’s end of the table and tapped her on the shoulder. She turned around with a small smile on her face although it was fairly easy to tell it was really a masquerade. “Hiya Harry, what’s up? I can’t believe the decorations, I hope we get to have ones like this.”
“Yeah these ones are brilliant aren’t they? That actually what I wanted to talk to you about. I got a letter from Lupin telling me that we were going to head to”
“The Weasley’s house, right?” Emma completed cutting him off mid-sentence.
“Uh, yeah, exactly. How did you know that?” Harry asked taken slightly by surprise at her rather quick response.
“I’ve been writing Moony every couple ’a weeks. He’s really funny to talk to and his letters are long. It’s nice to have someone to talk to.”
Harry was split between two different emotions; one of happiness for Emma that she had found a person to talk to, and one of envy, Lupin was writing her but not him?
“Great! Well then make sure to be packed and ready to go tomorrow morning, the train leaves really early.” Harry said lamely, trying to hide some of his disappointment.
“I’ve already packed most of my stuff up, I’ve had a lot of free time,” Emma said, her cheerful façade slipped once again and Harry saw a young girl who was absolutely terrified to be alone. But, once again, she recovered and plastered her smile back on.
Harry sighed but forced himself to smile, “Great, well we’re gonna’ have a little while to go gift shopping when we get there so try and think of some things to get people.” Emma nodded gave him a big smile and returned to her conversation with the other first years.
“Everything okay?” Hermione asked as Harry sat back down.
“Yeah, its just Emma is always forcing herself to be happy. I think that if she keeps it up and never releases all that sorrow she might just burst. That’s what happened to me, and I ended up inflating my dear old Aunt. At least she’s been writing to Moony.”
“Well that’s something Harry. If she’s writing him, even if it isn’t about her mom, she’s able to talk to someone. That’s why I wrote in my diaries for so long. I probably still would but Tom sort of scared me a little too much for me to be picking up a diary anytime soon.” Ginny said comfortingly, trying to joke with him a little to get his spirits back up.
“I guess it’s helping, I just feel somehow responsible for her. I don’t want to just leave her abandoned like I was.”
“Harry Potter! Ginny said sternly, “Joy dying was not your fault! Voldemort, Lucius, Bellatrix and the others are responsible for her death. None of these deaths are your fault Harry, war is horrible I know, we’re in the middle of it, but you don’t need to blame yourself for the whole bloody thing.”
Harry looked up at her with his deep green eyes then kissed her very briefly on the cheek, and whispered, “thanks Gin’, I’m so lucky that I have you here to remind me why I’m still fighting.” He then looked over to Ron and Hermione and clapped his hands together. “Well then, who’s ready to go outside then? I want to make sure Slytherin doesn’t beat us in the snowball fight.”
Harry grabbed Ginny by the hand and pulled her out of her seat and out to the snowball fight.
The Holiday Feast, Hogwarts
“’Ello Harry, Merry Christmas!” Hagrid said as he shook the snow off his massive jacket, “How are ya’ Ginny, Ron, Hermione?”
“Hagrid! What have you been up to? I haven’t seen you for a week?” Hermione asked, dodging his flapping jacket at the same time.
“Ah, well that’s because I’ve not been ‘round, been doin’ some work for the headmaster.” Hagrid bent down and whispered conspiratorially. “But it looks like I made it jus’ in time fer the meal. I need to go talk to the headmaster but I’ll talk to ya afta’ words, I have a present for you all.” He winked then walked up to the teacher’s table.
They saw Hagrid go up to Dumbledore and whisper to him, Dumbledore showed a brief smile then patted him on the shoulder. Hagrid took his seat and Dumbledore stood up to begin the feast.
“Only four months have passed in this school year and yet so much has passed already. This year has posed us with many different struggles, but it was not unforeseen. This war is now beginning in earnest, and before we sit down to our wonderful holiday meal, I want to urge you to enjoy your break and cherish every moment you have with your families; this is a season for cheer, so please, make the most of it. Now, enjoy your feast and have a splendid holiday break!” He clapped his hands together, snapping some energy back into the room that had been sucked out of it by his speech. A second later the tables were filled with mounds of food; turkey, ham, roast beef, rolls, shepherd’s pie, mince pie, mashed potatoes, baked potatoes, and seemingly endless Butter Beer.
“Wow, the elves really seem to have outdone themselves this time. Isn’t the holiday feast just a normal meal and the people staying at school have a big one on Christmas?” Colin Creevey asked from across the table.
“Yeah, but I was talking to Flamel and he said that there weren’t going to be any students staying over holiday this year, apparently our parents want to spend as much time with us as possible. I guess Dumbledore just decided to make a big going away dinner because there isn’t going to be a Christmas dinner,” Harry said.
“Well stop talking and start eating mate! It’s like we get two Christmas dinners in a month” Ron said enthusiastically as he grabbed the nearest pitcher of Butter Beer.
“Yes commander!” Harry saluted jokingly in reference to his position in the D.A. and grabbed the other pitcher.
The next hour was filled with jokes, laughter and sounds of cutlery scraping on plates as for just a little while everyone forgot about the war going on all around them.
As the night wound down the plates and food disappeared and were soon replaced with cups of hot chocolate for each person.
“I’ve always enjoyed a nice cup of hot chocolate before I go to bed on these brisk winter nights. Now enjoy your drinks and finish, or for some I daresay, start, packing for tomorrow’s train ride home. And remember to enjoy your break and spend this time with your family and friends.” Dumbledore said his eyes showing both grief and nostalgia.
Some people stayed and chatted quietly while others did indeed go to their houses to pack, Ginny and Harry were about to do the same when Hagrid appeared next to them carrying what would at first glance appear to be a ball of newspaper. “Glad I caught ya before you headed to bed, Merry Christmas ‘Arry” he said thrusting the package at him. Harry took it and by Hagrid’s urges opened it. The ball of paper turned out to be the wrapping on a leather wand holster.
“Wow, this is brilliant Hagrid. Thanks!” Harry said genuinely. The leather was deep brown and had intricate designs and runes etched all across the belt.
“I was hoping ye’d like it. I have been talkin’ to Alastor, that’s Professor to you guys I s’pose, and he said you’ve takin’ to duelin. I figured it’d be a good gift to get ye seein’ as how you always seem to find yerself some kind of trouble.”
“It really is great Hagrid, and you’re right about the trouble, I just hope there isn’t much more waiting for me. You’re going to stop by the Weasley’s for Christmas aren’t you?” Harry asked.
“Of course, how could I miss Molly’s cooking. Moody and I have duty in the morning so it will be later in the evenin’”
“Great, well I’ll give you my present then, I need to pick it up at Diagon Ally anyways.”
“Take care of yer’selves Harry, you too Ginny and you too Ron and ‘Mione. I gotta get going, one of tha unicorns is about to have a foal so I need to make sure it isn’t too cold for her” Hagrid said cheerfully as he pulled on his giant coat once again and headed into the billowing cold outside.
“Well I’m stuffed and tired, I need to pack my stuff though so I think I’m going to head up to my room,” Ron said giving a huge fake yawn and stretching his arms.
Hermione smiled at him for a moment then spoke suddenly as if just catching on, “you know what, I have a lot of packing to do also. I have loads of books I need to return to the library also. I think I’ll head up with you” Hermione said taking Ron’s hand, “’night Harry, ‘night Ginny” she added then walked away with Ron up the stairs.
Ron looked over his shoulder about midway and then turned back and kissed Hermione on the cheek as they continued upwards.
“Harry, did I just see my brother wink at me?” Ginny asked nervously.
Harry just smiled, “come on Gin’ I have loads of packing to do, and I need to go to bed.”
Ginny laughed at his impression, “well Mr. Potter maybe I can help you then, lets go and see” she said in her most seductive voice and she took Harry by the hand and led down the hallway to their room.

Hogwarts Express, Somewhere in Scotland
The mass of students on board the train seemed to be much more talkative than ever before, it seemed even busier than the train ride at the start of term.
For their part Harry, Emma, Ginny, Hermione, Ron, Neville, and Luna were sharing one of the compartments and were chatting cheerfully about anything and everything. They were all still recovering from the prank that Emma had just pulled on Ron which involved his hair suddenly completely disappearing from everywhere on his body and being replaced with what appeared to be spaghetti.
“I would swear you’re a Weasley Emma, you’ve got the trickiness of my brother’s and you can get away with it like my sis, plus you have my good looks,” Ron said, ripping huge chunks of his spaghetti hair off.
“You’re right, except for the whole part about your good looks, and I think a cave troll has better manners than you,” Ginny retorted.
“Well we’re working on that aren’t we?” Hermione said in a tone that seemed almost maternal.
“Is that what were you two working on last night, loads of books right?” Harry asked causing both Ron and Hermione’s faces to burn bright red in embarrassment. Luckily they were saved any more embarrassment by the knock of the old witch who sold snacks.

The Caucus Mountains, Russia
“Wormtail, Lucius, remove the body and leave me be. I have work to do.”

Hogwarts Express, Somewhere in Scotland
Harry stood up to open the door for the lady, stepping over a precariously perched chessboard and the maze of feet. He reached for the door and swung it open right when his legs gave out completely. His momentum still going forwards he crashed into the trolley of sweets and knocked it over. His head hit the edge of it tearing a large gash down the side of his face.

The Caucus Mountains, Russia
More…Voldemort hissed as he poured all his malice into the connection between him and Harry. Over the months he’d noticed it closing but felt that he owed Harry a little reminder he had not forgotten about him. He focused his mind even more, making his magic a fine needle, poking, jabbing, and prodding. He was dissecting Potter’s mind from the inside. He heard the boy screaming but he also heard something else, another voice, one he remembered from long ago.
“Weasley,” he hissed as he recognized the voice. Something was wrong with it though, it was in Harry’s mind too, and it was growing louder.

Hogwarts Express, Somewhere in Scotland
“Harry!” Ginny screamed and jumped up out of her seat sending both Crookshanks and the chessboard flying. She ran over to the now screaming and writhing Harry and took his hand. “Harry! Come on Harry wake up, come on! Please come back, come on, open your eyes.” She continued to shout to him, half hysterical half pleading. She had never seen one of Voldemort’s attacks personally but she had heard enough about them that she knew that was what was happening now.
She never let go of his hand as he continued to squirm on the floor, blood was now flowing freely from the huge gash on his face. “I won’t let you have him Tom, let him go this fucking second. He’s mine Tom you better leave him damn well alone!!!!” She screamed as she gripped his hand even harder. All of a sudden a huge burst of pain came over her, it felt as if she had just been hit a brick wall on her broom. She now heard a voice though…

The Caucus Mountains, Russia
“It’s hopeless little girl, I WILL KILL HIM and then I WILL KILL YOU and your ENTIRE BLOODTRAITOR FAMILY!” Voldemort now screamed outloud. He had been just as startled when his connection broke into the red head’s mind too. Something was wrong though, it wasn’t getting easier, Potter and the girl’s minds should be worthless by now, but just the opposite was happening, it was getting more difficult to hold the connection; the hole was shrinking ever smaller.
Hogwarts Express, Somewhere in Scotland
Ron, Emma, Neville, Luna, and Hermione all tried to pry Ginny off of Harry, or at least stop her from shaking. She was now convulsing so badly that her arms were being cut on the broken glass of the door.
“Stop it!!! Stop it!!! No, you can’t kill him you can’t, don’t!” She screamed even louder.
Ron pulled out his wand raising his arm to cast a stunning charm to try and stop the connection. Hermione grabbed his arm, “NO! We can’t the connection is all that’s keeping them alive right now, we can’t close it.”
Harry was now lying still in a growing puddle of blood, but Ginny’s movements were growing even more chaotic. “Harry, come on HARRY!” She screamed the loudest yet, her body going limp as the scream died. She fell ontop of Harry unconscious.

The Caucus Mountains, Russia
“HARRY!” Voldemort involuntarily shouted in sync with the girl and was thrown across the room. His head hit the wall his skull cracked hard against a sconce, splitting it open. His mind reeled from the after effects from what had felt like being hit with the cruciatus. Tom lifted a hand to feel the cut, of course there was no blood, but the hole was sizeable. For the first time Lord Voldemort felt something he hadn’t in the past three decades, doubt.

Grimmauld Place, London, England
Molly Weasley was going about her usual business in the kitchen, orchestrating the chopping of carrots as she stirred the pudding on the stove. She was whistling, and in a particularly good mood today because she new that in just a few hours she would have her whole family back safe and sound, even it it was only for a few days. The violence had been growing slowly but surely over the past few weeks and she was glad to be able to know that she would be able to know where her children were once again.
The wind-up alarm went off over at the oven and she was going over to pull the cookies out when all of a sudden her wand jumped out of her hand and pointed itself in the air straight down. The was a burst of bright light and a blood covered and rather harried looking Lupin appeared in 3D on the floor. “Molly, I need you to contact Madam Pomfrey and Albus immediately. Also get hold of Tonks and tell her to be waiting at home. Harry’s hurt and as soon as we get him stabilized as best we can we’re going to come there so be ready!” His image faded as he turned away to help the others.
Molly paused momentarily, seeing that much blood and knowing that Harry was hurt shocked her, but she was also trying to get over what she had seen briefly in the background of the message. What appeared to be an unconscious and blood covered Ginny was being lifted up by Ron into her seat. Molly couldn’t be sure if that was what she had seen but her motherly instinct told her it was.
This pause lasted only a moment though she knew that if Harry, and possibly her daughter, were hurt then they were depending on her getting the message out to get help.
She grabbed her still hovering wand and started for the floo, intending on calling Madam Pomfrey first. She stopped in her tracks though when she remembered that the nurse was not a member of the Order and would not be able to get to Grimmauld Place. So instead Molly pointed her wand at herself and sent off a quick message urging Dumbledore to collect Madam Pomfrey and get to Grimmauld Place as quickly as possible. She barely had enough time to send off another message to Tonks when she heard a loud banging on the door and she ran off to open it.
She quickly worked her way through the various padlocks and charms finally swinging the door open. In front stood Lupin cradling a bloody and unconscious Harry Potter. He didn’t say a word but just strode purposefully into the house, heading straight for Harry’s room. Behind him was a sobbing Ginny, Hermione and Emma, and a panicked Ron, all of whom were covered in some amount of blood.
Molly pulled the children into the house and bolted the door behind then followed the rest of the group up stairs to the huge commotion upstairs.
Remus had placed Harry on his bed and was starting to gently dab at the large cut on Harry’s head with a rag to try and find where the blood was actually coming from when Tonks came into the room closely followed by both Dumbledore and Madam Pomfrey.
When Madam Pomfrey finally saw Harry she gasped, shocked at the amount of blood but also at how frequently Harry managed to sustain these massive injuries.
“Everyone please stand back we need to let Poppy work,” Dumbledore said in a commanding voice urging Poppy forwards with a hand on her back.
“Tonks would you mind helping we need to make sure we stop the blood flow before we can wake him up,” the nurse asked as she drew her wand and began to take small swaths of the blood away by sweeping it back and forth over his head. Tonks started to do the same thing yet each time they had cleared a spot more blood would cover it up, apparently this was a much larger cut than anyone had anticipated.
“This isn’t working Poppy, we need to find the spot of the cut and Harry has too much bloody hair for us to find it,” Tonks cursed as she wiped more blood away.
“I agree, he’s lost a lot of blood as it is.” She paused as if considering something then raised her wand higher, “well its much easier to grow hair than it is to grow blood.” She then dropped her wand down muttering evanesco, suddenly all of Harry’s hair disappeared from his head leaving him bald.
“Bloody hell,” Tonks murmured as the full magnitude of the injury came into view.
A massive long cut started right below his right eye, crossed his scar, and worked its way well up to the top of his head. Madam Pomfrey pointed her wand at his forehead and said episkey. Slowly the top part of the cut began to close itself, and by using the charm several more times the cut finally closed up all the way down to his eye.
Madam Pomfrey then once again used evanesco, this time successfully, to clear most of the blood from Harry’s face. Finally after most of the blood was off she turned around and looked at the headmaster who had been patiently waiting by the doorway. “I think he’ll be okay headmaster. He has lost a large amount of blood so he should drink a lot of water and probably should stay in his bed for at least the rest of the day. His unconsciousness has come from his body shutting down while trying to keep him from bleeding out. Give him an hour or so and he should wake, if not just floo me and I will come back and check on him.”
Dumbledore smiled, “thank you Poppy. Needless to say I think you will hear from Mr. Potter soon enough, probably to thank you for his excellent new hair cut.”
As Madam Pomfrey left Harry’s side Ginny replaced it, quickly sitting beside the bed, kissing him quickly on the cheek. “Harry your okay now, you home and your family is all around here. I promise I wont leave here until you wake up.” She whispered quietly in his ear when her mom and dad went to talk to Dumbledore.
Two hours had passed and still Ginny was holding Harry’s hand humming softly to fill the silence. She was starting to think about calling Madam Pomfrey again when she felt Harry’s grip tighten around her hand. Excitedly she leaned in closer as his eyes began to open and a smile formed on his face.
“Harry, I’m so glad you’re up…” she paused taking note of his grin, “why are you smiling?”
Harry just kept smiling and then kissed her quickly on the lips. “I’m just so glad that I’m lucky enough to come awake to you. What happened by the way? Last thing I remember is that we were on the Hogwarts Express getting snacks, and now I wake up and my head feels like I’ve been beating me head against a stone wall.”
Ginny smiled softly, still enjoying the kiss, “well you were going for the snack cart when Voldemort decided to give you a wake up call. You hit your head on the cart and fell to the ground. I haven’t seen one of your attacks but I knew what they were so I tried to talk to you, try to keep you awake. I could see you were fighting him but the weirdest this was that I could feel myself fighting him too, and at one point well…I think I actually heard him. After a while you did manage to fight him off and then Lupin took you here where Tonks and Madam Pomfrey were able to…..” at that moment Ginny broke down and threw her arms around Harry weeping, “Oh Harry! I was so worried, I had never seen you look in that much pain before, and there was blood everywhere. I just wanted to help you end it, for the first time in my life I thought I could actually kill someone to stop him from hurting you, I was so scared I was going to lose you.” She whispered the last sentence, making it sounds almost guilty.
Harry wrapped his arms around Ginny, breathing in her sweet smelling hair. “Gin’ I promise I wont leave you, I will stop the death eaters and then kill him. And finally then I’ll be normal and we can get married.” Harry whispered into her ear as they embraced.
Ginny gasped at his last words, pulling back suddenly.
“Gin’ what’s wrong, did I say something wrong?” He asked panicked that he’d said something that scared her.
“No Harry, it’s just I never thought that you liked me that way. I mean I know we’re bonded but that doesn’t mean we have to get married.”
Harry smiled, then kissed her on the cheek, “Gin’ I have a feeling that even if we weren’t bonded I still would have ended up with you. I love you Ginny Weasley and someday I do want to marry you.”
Her heart leapt at his statement, for some reason for this whole time they had been bonded she had held back some fearing that one day Harry might move on and find a wife or someone else even though they were bonded. “ I love you too Harry, I was so worried that you would feel like this whole thing was forced on you because of the bond.” She bent down and kissed him gently on the lips.
They were silent for a moment, just enjoying each other’s company when Ginny started to giggle, then forced herself to stop.
“I’m sorry I shouldn’t be laughing but you look so funny,” she admitted once again a laugh escaping her.
“Why do I look funny? I’m mean I don’t think being covered in blood is exactly funny, unless you’re a happy vampire or something,” Harry asked getting more nervous as Ginny continued to laugh.
“Well I don’t think I can describe it, can you make it to the bathroom?”
Harry nodded and got up hurriedly anxiety growing over what possibly could be making her laugh so much. He had to use the bed for support as he got out but walked the few steps to the bathroom following Ginny into it. She turned around still smiling, “you might want to grab hold of something. I have a feeling you’ll be giving Madam Pomfrey an earful.
Harry looked into the mirror and nearly slipped to the floor. Where this morning there had been a full head of hair now there was nothing, even his eyebrows and eyelashes were missing. “What happened! I’m as bald as a bludger.”
Ginny cracked up again at Harry’s comically outraged face and his newly bald head. He scowled at her again as he rubbed his head as if searching for the hair. Then stopped as he looked in the mirror more closely, “oh damn.”
“What’s wrong?”
Harry fingered his scar wincing from the pain of the freshly healed cut. “Something’s wrong, my scar usually doesn’t look like this, see its really thick up top and now’s it’s even longer now it goes all the way to my eyelid now. What did Pomfrey say, will I be stuck with a bigger scar now? That’s just great, now that I’m bald and have a bigger scar every one’ll know I’m the great Harry Potter,” he said sarcastically rubbing his face.
Ginny wrapped her arm around Harry comfortingly, whispering, “shh… come on Harry. It’s just hair, it’ll grow back, you can let it grow even further this time.” Then she leaned in closer and whispered, “plus the scar makes you look rugged, like you got in a duel or something.”
Harry smiled, “thanks Gin’ you really do know how to make me feel better. I think I need to sit down though; my head is still hurting me. What if we go downstairs and sit in the study, I don’t want to be in the bed again.”
He took Ginny’s hand and walked down the stairs to the main level where everyone else was waiting after leaving Ginny to watch after him.
They were all surprised when they heard Harry and Ginny laughing as they walked down the stairs. Mrs. Weasley met them at the bottom of the staircase and was obviously not too pleased.
“Ginny, you were supposed to watch after him, not force him to walk down the stairs. How are you Harry dear, are you sure that you can stand. Maybe you should go sit down again, I don’t want you to hurt yourself,” Molly said dotingly, anxiously looking over him as if he might collapse all of a sudden.
Usually Harry would have rebuffed such attention but recently he had begun to accept Molly and Arthur as his new parents and knew that she saw him as one of her won. “I’m fine Molly, just have a little bit of a headache. But I think that that may be from my new hair cut, I mean it definitely gets a bit chilly now.”
“I think I am the one at fault for that Mr. Potter,” Madam Pomfrey said appearing in the hallway shortly being followed by Dumbledore and the others. “I can’t say I’m pleased that you’re up. You took quite a hit to the head Mr. Potter.”
“I’m sorry Madam Pomfrey, I just didn’t feel like spending more time in my bed, especially now that it’s winter break, I promise I won’t do anything too crazy though. Do you know what will happen to my scar?” Harry asked her.
“I was going to tell you when you woke up, of course I thought you would be out for quite a while longer.”
Dumbledore came forward, “Why don’t we do it over lunch, Molly has been working on it for quite a while and I would hate to let it go to waste.”
As everyone filed into the kitchen Lupin came up to Harry and hugged him. When he pulled back he had tears in his eyes, “I’m glad you’re okay Harry. I can’t tell you how bad it looked on the train, I thought that you were going to…”
Harry stopped him, “You wouldn’t have let that happen Moony. We’re here for each other Moony, you’re my only family I have left.” Lupin smiled sadly and took him by his shoulder and led him into the kitchen.
Soon everyone was sitting around the table eating some of Molly’s hearty soup with freshly baked bread and Butter Beer.
“Well not that we are all sitting down I think owe you an explanation for the current state,” Madam Pomfrey said. “When you arrived here you were unconscious and bleeding profusely as your clothes demonstrate, we were unable to locate the bleeding do to the mess it had caused with your hair therefore we were forced to remove it to fix the cut which turned out to go alone most of the right side of you head. As for the scarring that you see there it should go down in time, much of that is swelling. I am afraid that there may be some residual effects from it, mainly near where you current scar is and maybe some higher up on your forehead. This, once again, does not seem to be an ordinary scar. Something that happened during your fall changed it, massive amounts of magic would be required to do such a thing however, not just hitting your head against a cart.”
Harry looked at Ginny, Ron, Emma, and Hermione before looking at Dumbledore who nodded in acquiescence. “Er…well I didn’t just trip. I fell because Voldemort somehow broke into my mind again and started to do what felt like a cruciatus curse on me through the link. I could see him in his dark room, focusing all his hate on me. I think I would have broken if it had gone on for much longer, but something happened. Somehow Ginny managed to help me fight him; somehow she too got into the battle and helped me push Voldemort out. The last thing I remember is yelling then feeling Ginny collapse on top of me.” Harry said, speaking mainly to Dumbledore.
“Bloody hell…” Ron exclaimed, “Sorry mum. ‘Mione you were right about not breaking the link. I bet that if you had Harry would’ve had a much harder time throwing Voldemort out of his mind. I bet it was a shock to him when you showed up in his mind Gin’.” Ron said proudly gazing at his sister who for the second time now gone up against the Dark Lord.
Ginny’s face was not as jovial as it had been originally and Harry could feel the stress that was building up inside of her as she finally began to go over the encounter she had just had.
Dumbledore too seemed to notice the interplay and spoke up, “well Harry I do think that Poppy is indeed correct in assuming that this too is some form of magically formed scar. I doubt there will be any effects of it but do not expect it to ever entirely heal. If you’d allow me I’d like to occasionally stop by this break, Tom’s actions permitting, and further instruct you on Occlumency. I dare say we can improve on some of the more fragmented lessons you received from Professor Snape.” He said, his eyes glinting in the lamplight, half in amusement, half in sorrow. “But for now I am afraid I must excuse myself. Poppy once again I must urge you not to divulge your knowledge of this place, it must remain secret. I know you have knowledge of the Order but have yet to join. I am hoping that during the next meeting you might join us, I do believe we may have more use for you as the coming war gains strength.”
“Of course Headmaster, I would be honoured. The only reason I have yet to join was due to my fear that if I were incapacitated I would not be able to care for the students, who, if Harry is any gauge need me more than ever.” Madam Pomfrey said genially.
Dumbledore smiled then bade everyone a goodnight as he took a handful of floo powder and disappeared into the kitchen fire.

The Living Room, Grimmauld Place, Later That Evening
Harry was doing as Molly and Madam Pomfrey had instructed and was laying on one of the newly reupholstered couches that was near the fireplace. Ginny was curled up next to him, reading a book on advanced chaser techniques. The rest of the group was busy hanging ornaments and various other decorations around the house in preparation for Christmas. Harry was smiling as he watched Emma help battle a box of tinsel with Lupin, at that moment the tinsel was winning covering both of them in the silvery stuff.
Ron and Hermione were helping Molly unpack the various ornaments and place them strategically on the tree. Ron was spending as much time as possible with Hermione who was due to leave to her own home early tomorrow morning. She had already flooed her parents and apologized for not being on the train. Ron had begged her to stay but she had explained that she hadn’t spent Christmas with her family for the past years and felt that especially these days, it was important to spend as much time with them as possible.
Harry looked back over at Ginny and smiled, the fire was casting a warm glow on her cheeks, giving her red hair an even more entrancing look. He was so glad that she had agreed with him after his proposition to marry. He had been thinking about it a while, but until that moment he hadn’t been sure. But now that he knew her own feelings he immediately knew it was the right decision. The next thing on the list was to return to the vaults and look for a proper ring to give her.
As he continued to work on the details his eyes began to droop as the toll from the day’s events finally took effect. A moment later he drifted off into dreams as he picture himself walking down to a beautiful red head in a flowing white dress.

Harry’s Bed Room, Grimmauld Place
“wowie look at his hair, what happened to it?” a little voice asked.
“Looks like one of Fred or George’s pranks backfired, he should jinx them,” another said humorously.
“I like it, it makes him look…” another voice added.
“…distinguished.” Another offered.
“Yes distinguished, thank you Hermione.” Ginny’s voice echoed around the room, it was light and cheerful, drawing Harry out of his sleep. He sluggishly opened his eyes to find himself surrounded by his friends, he pulled his sheets up high to his chin out of embarrassment.
“Oy, your up Harry. Good thing too, the Ministry car is waiting to take Hermione to her parents. We figured you’d like to say goodbye so we woke you up,” Ron’s freckled face held back a smile.
Harry looked at Ginny questioningly, “what is it this time Gin’ did my nose switch with my mouth or something?”
Ginny cringed, “I think that once again you’ll just have to see it. Come on, get up.” She grabbed his hand and hauled up out of bed and into the bathroom. “Look,” she said handing out his glasses.
Harry put them on and looked up into the mirror. This time he did actually have to grab a hold of something to stop from falling. His reflection was just like what he had seen yesterday except this time he had a full head of hair. It was not the same in colour or length to that which he had had just the day before. It was just as messy but this time was much shorter, giving it a more manageable appearance. The most shocking part of his new head of hair however was the large blonde streak running across it exactly where the scar had been the night before.
He saw Ginny and the others grinning in the reflection and groaned, running his hand through his new hair as if to check that it was genuine then leaned over the counter rubbing his forehead. “Great, this is just bloody brilliant.”

Grimmauld Place, London
The next day Harry and the others were getting ready for the planned day out at Diagon Alley to buy Christmas presents for everyone. Hermione had left the day before to many tears and hugs from everyone involved. Ron had actually had enough foresight to give her a flower and a kiss as he wished her a Merry Christmas. Later that evening she had flooed to let everyone know that she had made it home safely and was enjoying her time catching up with her parents.
This morning Molly was being her usual panicked self and was going over the escape plans for the fourth time that morning as they finished up an early lunch.
“The escort should be in position at around one o’ clock, they’re meeting us at Fred and George’s, are you sure all of you are ready? Harry do you feel well enough to go out today?” Molly asked as she fussed with Ginny’s hair trying to put it in a braid.
“I’m sure Molly, the biggest problem right now is my new hair.” Harry said, rubbing his short but still unruly hair. All of yesterday they had tried various methods to make the now prominent gold streak in his hair disappear.
Fred and George had been most enthusiastic about helping solve the problem, arriving during lunch and bringing with them a huge crate of various makeup products.
“No funny business,” Fred said when Harry gave them a questioning look.
“We swear,” George added adding a butchered attempt at the scout’s honour.
“We figured that we owed it to him…”
“Being our financier and all.” George said.
“We would never want him going out in public like this…” Fred said pulling the first bottle.
“It would throw business off…”
“Now let’s start!” They both said at the same time.
The rest of that afternoon was spent in near hysterics as they tried every form of magical beauty product the twins had laid their hands on. At one point Harry’s hair had turned bright chartreuse and had the form of a small goblin. Another potion that Ginny was eager to test was one that ended up removing the gold patch along with all the rest of his hair and turned his forehead into a perfect map of England.
In the end the only product that seemed to do anything turned out to be one of Fred and George’s own, it was called Shockingly Sick Sniffles, which apparently was supposed to give the drinker sneezes that sounded like thunder. When applied to the hair however it turned his hair a very dark brown including the gold spot, the only downside was that whenever he touched it small sparks of electricity would shock him or anyone around him.
Harry rubbed his hair once again, thankful he had been able to wash the stuff out of his hair and without being shocked. “I guess I will just have to live with it right now.”
“It looks like you have a lightning bolt on your hair,” Emma said who seemed to have enjoyed playing with his hair, especially when she had gotten hold of the rubber bands and put his hair into braids.
“I guess that’s my theme now that my scar’s bigger too, I wish whoever’s trying to keep our trip today secret the best of luck. By the way, who is our escort?” Harry asked Lupin, who was helping Molly finish up the dishes.
“I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised. Dumbledore asked for Kingsley and Tonks to guard us today. There will be some additional trainees around learning the ropes of an escort.”
“Great, all Kingsley’ll do is try and ambush us. Offensive Light Magic is really getting out of hand these days, everywhere I go I now check for an attack, I think Moody’s starting to brainwash us” Ron said sarcastically.
“That’s why we take it though don’t we? Quick, what’s the most important thing Emma?” Ginny teased with the now well known joke.
“CONSTANT VIGILLANCE!” she bellowed in her best imitation of Mad Eye, which ended up sounding more like Dobby with a head cold.
The clock on the mantel chimed nine as Molly placed the last dish on the dryer. “Well then all, I don’t suppose we can put this off any longer, lets line up and get ready to floo to the Leaky Cauldron. Now remember if any of us get separated-”
“….head to Fred and George’s and floo to the house. Yeah mum you told us three times already,” Ron recited tiredly as he lined up in front of the fireplace.
Mrs. Weasley gave him a motherly cautionary glare but then walked to fireplace and grabbed the pot of floo powder. “Remus, you should go first, then Ron, then Emmaline and Harry. I’ll follow up last.” She opened the lid and handed it to Lupin who took a handful and threw it into the fire and shouted “Weasley Wizard Wheezes!” and disappeared a blink later. Ron and Ginny both followed suit without incident. Harry then grabbed hold of Emma’s hand and took a fistful of the sandy powder.
“Okay Emma, I know you haven’t been on this before but just close your eyes and hold on to me. It doesn’t hurt,” Harry added seeing the apprehension in her eyes, “the fire actually feels good, like your running your legs in the river.”
Emma nodded nervously then stood upright and steeled herself, gripping Harry’s hand even more tightly. Harry threw the powder and shouted, “Weasley Wizard Wheezes!” Instantly the world spun out of view, knocking them around until they were thrown out of the appropriate fireplace.
Harry let go of Emma as he slid out of the fire, slipping on the ashes and knocking over a stack of boxes in the process. He got up quickly, dusting off his clothes, “Hey, I fell because of the ashes. I mean there was a whole pile of it where I landed.” He said defensively when he noticed Ron, Lupin, and Ginny’s smiles. He heard Emma giggle behind him and turned around to see her standing up perfectly straight and clean.
Molly soon came out of the fireplace too and stepped out cleanly into the storage room hearth. Harry mouthed the word practice in response to Ginny’s continuing smile. “The escort is supposed to meet us right at the entrance. Try to ignore them as much as possible, we’re trying to maintain a low profile and talking to Aurors certainly would make people curious.” Mrs. Weasley said in a cautionary tone right as the door burst open and the two red-headed twins stepped through the doorway.
“Merlin’s beard! We have intruders George” Fred said in mock horror.
“Yes we do! Why would we ever let anyone so scruffy or ugly into our beloved shop?” George added pointing to Ron and drawing his wand.
“We must fight for our lives lest our shop falls!” Fred said gallantly waving his wand around.
Fred followed his brother’s actions and began to utter a curse simultaneously with his brother, only they only getting through scrib… when their hair suddenly turned a puke green colour and grew several feet longer. Both stopped suddenly in shock holding their piles of hair.
Lupin started laughing first as he made his way out the store room door and past the two shell shocked brothers, their mother too just smiled and followed him out.
As Harry walked out with Ginny, Emma, and a smug Ron he whispered, “ you have to be careful these days, never know who might be able to do wandless magic,” leaving the twins gaping at him holding their seemingly endless piles of puke green hair.
The group met up with Kingsley and Tonks according to plan and started their day heading to Gringotts to get money for the various presents everyone would have to get. Harry withdrew some money from his own account and also some from Emma’s, he had arranged it with Lupin’s help to set up a fund for Emma while she was still going to Hogwarts so she could have an allowance and pay for her education. After everyone had gotten what they needed at the bank they headed back out to go shopping.
It was decided that Kingsley and Lupin would escort Harry and Ron while the girls would be escorted by Tonks and Molly, this way they could shop for each other a lot more easily. Ron and Harry both agreed to stop at the Quidditch supply shop first revelling in the newly updated Nimbus 2002 designed by Krum himself. Harry bought Ron’s gift there, a limited edition print of the Chudley Cannons signed by the whole team. He had to fake immense interest in a calendar titled The Hottests Men of the Year in their Birthday Suits! While he had the store clerk wrap the poster for him.
Next the small group headed to Flourish and Blott’s. Harry had suggested that Ron look for Hermione’s gift there because she loves books and that he should get her a really specially one, maybe a first edition or a rare one.
The interior of the store was damp and had the smell of rotting leaves. Every conceivable surface had a book on it, there were even manuscripts dangling precariously from the chandelier. While Ron went to the owner and asked for suggestions of a good book Harry and Lupin wandered the aisles, occasionally pointing out interesting titles.
“Grystrifinkta and I-How to overcome tickle charm addiction. Hmmm… never thought you’d want to get addicted to that charm. Hey maybe we could find a book about curing flobberworm warts, or better yet just The Monster Book of Monsters. I think it’s about time I gave my Aunt and Uncle a real wizard Christmas gift, something that any normal person would love. What do you think Moony?”
Lupin laughed as he continued to scar the shelves, “knowing them it certainly would make for a more exciting Christmas morning. I do like what you’re thinking about however. Don’t tell Molly I’m encouraging you but I think a little taste of real magic culture is just what the Dursleys need. Why don’t we get them a potions kit, who knows maybe your cousin could find a cure for his stupidity.”
Harry laughed even harder, enjoying the company of Moony who had been the mastermind behind most of the Marauder’s famous pranks. “I think I may have an even better one. When I was looking for my other pair of trainers I stumble into the attic but found Kreacher instead. I had completely forgotten about him, I guess I sorta had just hoped Buckbeak had eaten him or something. Anyways, it turns out that he has to obey me because I am still the owner of Grimmauld Place, so I just told him to shut up and stay in the attic. He didn’t seem too upset with that, looks like he had found another portrait of Sirius’ mum and was talking to her when I walked in.”
“Well Harry I must say I am happy to know that even though you hate the creature you do not wish him ill will. What if I knew of a better place to send him, one that at least would be killing two birds with one stone?” Lupin said comfortingly but still had a dangerous glint in his eyes.
“Send Kreacher to the Dursleys?” Harry asked, voicing his own plan.
“Great minds think alike Harry. I think they could enjoy his cheerful presence, especially your Aunt Petunia.”
“Well then sounds like a plan, I’ll have Ginny help me tie a little Christmas bow on him and we’ll send him on Christmas Eve.” Harry said laughing even harder now as they headed up front while Ron was paying.
It turned out that Ron had found a perfect gift, it was a first edition leather bound copy of Transfiguration and Transformation. A book that Ron knew Hermione had been reading voraciously as their classes to become Animagi drew closer.
They left the book store and headed towards the pet shop where Harry and Ron ended up buying Emma a small black owl that they arranged to have delivered with its supplies the day before Christmas.
Next Harry, Ron, Lupin and Kingsley went to a small shops named Margaret Odd’s N’s and Things. The store was poorly lit and huge glass cases loomed down from overhead, each one meticulously filled to the brim with random things.
Ron found a cleverly charmed tea kettle for his mom that not only would whistle when ready but would sprout small legs and move itself off the stove while doing an Irish jig.
Harry spent what felt like hours in the dusty store but finally found a present for Hermione, and Mr and Mrs Weasley. Hermione’s gift was simple but quirky; it was a small metal contraption that you could attach to books or scrolls and when tapped with your wand would light up so you could read at night. Molly and Arthur’s gift were actually antiques the storeowner had showed him. It was a supposedly designed by the same magician who created the clock that tracked their various family members.
It was a set of two small circular boxes with numerous dials on it and if tuned correctly would be able to act as a form of communication between the two, displaying a small image of the person on the other line. Harry thought that although they were expensive it would be nice to have one at Grimmauld Place and one at the Burrow.
Harry bought both items and had already gotten Lupin and Ginny’s after sending a request from Griphook earlier in the month.
Satisfied with their purchases and with Ron getting his hunger for dinner they decided to meet up with the girl’s at Fred and George’s to head back home.
Harry had been pleasantly surprised all afternoon by the relative lack of recognition he had been receiving, even with the new gold mark. He didn’t realize why so few people recognized him until their walk back down the main street. He had noticed that there had hardly been any people in the stores all day and was even more surprised when he noticed the street to be that way. They had been so set on finding the gifts that they had missed the overwhelming silence that enveloped the usually boisterous alley.
“I’m glad we’re leaving before it gets dark. It’s creepy not having any people here, I know Fred and George said business was a little week right now but I didn’t think it was this bad. I guess people are getting more and more frightened now that things are happening.” Ron said grimly as he inspected one of the ministry posters on the window as they waited for the girls to return.
Molly, Ginny, Tonks, and Emma all looked exhausted and were carrying double the amount of bags Harry and Ron were. As they entered Fred and George’s shop Ron gave Harry a nervous gaze as he nervously weighed his own bag in comparison to Ginny’s.
“Well look who’s back…” a still green and long haired Fred said coming out of the back.
“Caution brother, he may be armed this time” an equally altered George added drawing his wand once again on Ron.
Without warning this time they started to move their wands in an incantation only they didn’t even get out the first syllable when there was a crack and the hair on both of the twin’s heads began to vanish. At first they smiled triumphantly believing it was returning to normal, only after it started to get below an inch long did they start to panic, grasping in vain at their vanishing hair.
Once again everyone else started to laugh at the twin’s reactions, both feeling frantically for any remnants of their hair.
Their mother just continued on as if nothing happened hugging them goodbye and inviting them to dinner the following evening. Kingsley and Tonks waved goodbye and disapparated off to the ministry to write up their reports.
The rest just followed the now morose twins to the back storage room. Once again Lupin went first then Ginny and Ron. Harry grabbed a handful of floo powder from a bag Mrs. Weasley held out. As they were walking to the fire Harry smiled at the twins, “I think you look good without hair, be careful though it’s really easy to catch a cold if you don’t wear a hat. See you tomorrow!” Before they could say anything he threw the powder into the fire and took hold of Emma’s hand shouting “Grimmauld Place!” Once again the world spun out of view and into a whirl of colours and noise.