A/N: I reference the Black Family Tree in this chapter. There is a wonderful copy at this site: http://www.hp-lexicon.org/wizards/blackfamilytree.html. JK just released this a few months ago. She put it up for auction to raise money and, for those of you who don't know who won the tree--- it was Daniel Radcliffe's mother. She paid around $32,000 (American Dollars). And now…on to the next chapter!
-----
White Light
Harry stared at the wall in the basement after confirming that the magic he had felt a few days ago was still there. Hermione had spent most of Sunday in the library at Hogwarts trying to find ways to break through the Potter Magic that had been cast so long ago.
He rocked back and forth on his heels, staring and thinking as he tried to come up with any clues as to how to break through the magic; nothing he remembered from his education prepared him for this. He wondered (if the tradition continued backwards through his family) that maybe "love" had something to do with breaking through it. He truly felt helpless that he didn't have the answer.
"What do you think, Hermione? Could something along the lines of love be the answer?" Harry asked loudly so his voice carried upstairs to where she was still eating her lunch.
"Perhaps, but I'm not sure how that could be incorporated into the magic. Tell the wall you love it," she laughed from upstairs.
Harry smiled at her levity. Both were fully de-stressed from teaching, having spent yesterday doing their own things in the morning: Hermione researching and Harry flying with Fred for a few hours, but only after Hermione thanked him for the previous night in a way he would never forget. He realized that what she was doing with her hands, as he woke up late Saturday morning, was the best wake up call in the history of mankind.
Saturday afternoon he and Hermione actually took in a Muggle movie and enjoyed a relaxing dinner out. She had fallen asleep on the sofa that evening as they each read their own material. He had laid a blanket over her and headed up to his room, noticing that it was much nicer to have her in bed with him.
"The wall just told me it loved me back…what do I do now?" Harry joked back to her, jumping visibly when she answered him from his side. He had been so lost in his day dream about Hermione sharing his bed he hadn't heard her come down the stairs.
"I think you should kiss it," she answered, smiling slyly at him.
"I prefer…softer things to kiss. Besides, it's not the Blarney Stone," Harry rebutted, snaking an arm around her waist, still staring at the wall.
"Not that we know of anyway," Hermione turned serious, "I managed to trace your family tree back pretty far. I went to Grimmauld and looked at that tapestry you put in the back bedroom and that, combined with some books at Hogwarts, helped me find some interesting connections in your family. I just finished drawing up a family tree upstairs; do you want to see? It might add some insight into what is behind wall number one."
"Okay…show me what you have," Harry answered, guiding her up the basement stairs and following her into the library. She found a large book on a middle shelf, opened it and set it on the table behind the sofa. Together they sat down and she pulled out a large piece of parchment tucked between the pages.
Hermione pointed to Draco Malfoy's name at the bottom and traced a zig zag line about half way up the page.
"See here it says Dorea, that'd be Black, married Charlus Potter; that'd be your grandparents, since you said they were older when your dad was born. If you go back further you'll recognize some of these last names from school: Bullstrode, Crabbe…over here is McMillian…but none of those magical signatures are on your basement wall. Just Potter. So, my thought is that your grandparents probably lived here or visited here. Bill said the magic was probably over sixty five years old. Look at when your grandmother was born: 1920…if she got married around 1937 or so, maybe later I couldn't find a date, that spell, if she cast it, would definitely be over sixty years old. Charlus and Dorea could've lived here. Your father probably wasn't born here because Miss Wallengampit said the Gladrags owned this for fifty years. So, for some reason the parents of Dorea moved away and sold to the Gladrags. Someone in Dorea's family, or her husband's, cast some charm down there in the basement. Or, on the flip side, the item in the wall is Potter oriented and someone else stuck it there for some unknown reason; using dark magic to cover it," Hermione slid the paper over towards him and muttered, "for now anyway."
Harry stared at the paper in front of him. He remembered hearing that all purebloods were related…and it seemed as if there was pure blood far back on his father's side. But given that his father's name, or even his mother's name wasn't even added to the tree, yet Draco's was, he could only conclude that his father marrying his mother had take away the "privilege" to appear on the Black Family Tree. He was pretty sure the Potter side was pureblooded until his father married his mother. All that was written under his grandfather's name was "one son". And what about the object downstairs? He truly didn't know what it was, just that it related to him somehow.
"Luna." Harry turned towards Hermione as his friend's name popped into his head. "Maybe she can help. Either tell us what is behind, or on the wall, or maybe has some sense of what needs to be said or done to break that magical…," he paused as he struggled for the word to describe what was downstairs, "well, I don't want to say curse but I'm at a loss as to what else to call it."
Hermione nodded. "I know; `curse' is too strong; `charm' makes it seem like it we could find the countercharm easily and so far, we haven't been able to, but Luna is a great idea. Why don't I floo them and see if they want to come over for lunch? We could have her take a look down there." Hermione scooted away from the table and headed for the fireplace in the living room. Harry continued staring at the family tree Hermione had drawn up.
`What could possibly motivate my grandparents to hide something in or on that wall?' Harry thought to himself. He used his finger to trace tiny circles around his grandfather's name, feeling that the absence of his mother and father's name had something to do with whatever was down on his basement wall.
Four hours later, Luna twirled her shell necklace around her finger as she stared at the four by four section on the wall. Hermione had marked the area of magical energy with a semi-permanent charm. The lines glowed brightly and it faintly resembled an empty picture frame.
"Anything?" Neville asked Luna from his spot on an overturned crate. Harry sat next to him as the girls stood in front of the wall seemingly just staring into space.
"For some reason I sense that we know part of what is back there. Either it's something we have seen, or know; maybe a story that has been told to us before. I just can't put my finger on what it is though, Harry. Would you mind if I tried to summon Ginny? Since she is able to float through walls, maybe she can see something we can't."
At the mention of Ginny's name Neville and Harry looked at each other then over to the girls, both remembering how uncomfortable they were when Ginny appeared the last time.
Hermione gave Harry a small raise of her eyebrows letting him know the decision was up to him. Harry vividly remembered the last time Luna had channeled Ginny and wasn't looking forward to feeling that faint and sick again.
"Maybe now that you're ready for her, you'll feel a bit better about it," Neville suggested as if reading Harry's thoughts.
"Hermione, what do you think?" Harry asked as he rested his hands on his knees, tightly gripping his legs, trying to keep his nervousness at bay. What if Ginny came and could sense what was happening between him and Hermione? What would she think? He felt a very filmy sense of guilt creeping around his subconscious. `But, she's dead so her thoughts don't-,' his own thoughts were interrupted.
"That it's not a bad idea actually," Hermione said softly walking over to Harry's spot, next to Neville, and crouching down in front of him. Harry met her eyes and for a moment they locked together, which effectively locked out everything around him.
"Don't you think it'll be awkward?" Harry whispered referring to the two of them.
"We won't be seeing her and it might be a good way to test the waters," she whispered back resting a hand on his knee. Neither one was aware of the slight smile that curved over Luna's full mouth nor the slightly surprised look from Neville just a few feet away. "Besides, she's smart enough to understand that neither of us was going to take a life of loneliness because we each lost a significant other."
"I know," Harry nodded as his eyes searched her bright, warm brown ones that stayed locked on his. Harry took a deep breath and gave her a small nod, gripping her hands tightly. "We'll do it."
"I'll be here with you, Harry. As will Luna and Neville and we'll both be ready when she decides to make her presence known," Hermione leaned towards him and in front of Neville and Luna placed a soft, lingering kiss on his lips.
Neville whistled and Luna sighed the word, "Finally," to which Harry smiled at her, through his blush.
"How long have you been keeping that secret?" Neville asked grinning at his friend.
"Not very long, the week we moved pretty much," Hermione answered, pulling Harry up with her and turning to Luna.
"I told you it would happen, Harry," Luna said and Harry nodded, pretending not to see Hermione's quizzical look. He had forgotten to relay the conversation Luna had with him the day he and Hermione moved it. Harry squeezed her hand in silent communication that he would explain it later.
"So, you are okay with me trying to summon her to the house?"
Harry nodded, still gripping Hermione's hand.
"Okay…I just need some time and some space."
"Why don't we go upstairs and wait?" Neville suggested seeing his fiancée nod in agreement. He quickly planted a kiss on her cheek and the three of them walked up to the library. Harry figured he'd show Neville the family tree Hermione had managed to put together as he tried not to think about Luna summoning Ginny's spirit.
Harry's thoughts were actually fully into the Black family tree as he talked through many different scenarios about why his parents weren't listed when he heard Luna's voice calling for him. All talking stopped and Neville looked at Harry, who was looking apprehensively at Hermione who was looking at the open basement door. Wordlessly, the three of them stood up and Neville led the way downstairs, standing to the side once he reached the bottom to let Harry pass.
"She's here, Harry, and we're just waiting for you to tell us whether you want her to check out what's behind that wall," Luna talked to Harry in a breezy voice as if this was something she did everyday. Harry felt for Hermione's hand and held it tightly, feeling her wrap both her hands around his. He could only nod as his eyes shifted around the basement, looking for any sign of Ginny's spirit.
"Okay." Luna saw his nod and clasped her hands in front of her. "Ginny said she'll go through it from inside until she reaches the lawn, and then do it in reverse."
Harry nodded again, his pulse racing with the knowledge that Ginny was probably just inches away yet he couldn't see her, or hear her; and his mind was racing wondering what was behind "Wall Number One" as Hermione had taken to calling it.
Harry and Hermione both stared at the square which was illuminated by the light markings when a sudden blur of one of the lights startled him. Hermione hadn't seemed to notice but when Harry's eyes shifted to Luna he found her looking at him. Smiling reassuringly, she gave a nod, answering his unspoken question if that small, short blur was Ginny passing through the wall. Harry held his breath, his heart beating wildly beneath his cotton shirt. What was she going to find…if anything? He could tell Hermione was anxious too, from the way her thumb was moving back and forth across his knuckles. He glanced down at her and caught her eye only to hear Luna start speaking again.
"She said that it was the strangest thing, once she tried to go through the wall, from either way, she got pushed to the side. So, even she couldn't see what was in that four by four block that is magically protected."
"Nothing?" Harry asked with an element of surprise in his voice. He had never known a ghost or any other kind of spirit to NOT be able to pass through something.
"That's what she says. She says she's sorry," Luna told him softly. Harry couldn't help but smile, knowing how Ginny hated to let him down. His eyes roamed around Luna's tall thin form, wondering if Ginny was looking at him and Hermione.
"It's not her fault," he and Hermione said in unison.
"She did say it was the first thing that she hasn't been able to pass through," Luna paused and cocked her head to the side as if listening to a song only she could hear, "and that she will ask Nearly Headless Nick when she returns to Hogwarts if he knows anything about how she can't physically pass through that spot."
"Nearly Headless Nick?" Neville gasped then started laughing. "He is in charge of them in the afterlife?" Neville hooted with laughter, causing Harry and Hermione to smile and start the contagious laughing.
"Yeah; she's laughing too," Luna grinned and that set all four of them hysterically laughing until they were holding their stomach, wiping the tears streaming from their eyes.
----
"The only kind of magic that can propel you away is if a charm is placed upon it so only the person for whom it's intended can access it." Nick was actually galloping his horse around outside the grounds as Ginny and Draco watched him make a circuit, slowing down when he came within a few yards of where they were standing near the lake.
"So, it's probably a Potter's signature; one of his ancestors," Draco deduced. Ginny turned to him hands on her hips but he continued on, holding up his hand for her to stay quiet for a moment longer. "Ginny said she felt that Potter needed that house. Harry seemed intent on getting it and from what Ginny's brother said it has a Potter signature so probably only he could open it. Maybe his great grandparents lived there or something."
"I think we need to see your mum's family tree; why don't you tell her to hurry up and pull it out?" Ginny interjected as Nick came galloping back around and pulled his horse to a stop. She and Draco had hung around his house all weekend and she refused to go near the drawer it was in.
"Not a half bad idea; you figure out how to make her. Once we see it, we might be able to trace back the Potter line a bit and come up with a name at least. Then, ask around to some of the ghosts to see if they remember who lived in it before the Gladrags. Also, it doesn't have to be a Potter that owned the house; the object could have the Potter signature on it as well or a Potter could've hidden it there. There's only so much you can do as Light, so you'll have to rely on your friends to do most of the research."
"Knowing Hermione she'll be all over this charm. She hates when she doesn't understand or know something," Ginny remembered fondly.
"Kind of like someone else," Draco said lightly giving Nick a half hearted wave as he seemed to run over the lake to the other side.
"I do not," Ginny defended herself as they walked back towards the courtyard in the evening light.
"Sure you do. You've asked Nick a hundred times already if he's heard from Ron. You know it takes him awhile to get acclimated and meet with the other ghosts."
"He's my brother, that's different," Ginny argued, stopping suddenly as he seemed to turn around in a blur.
"And I bet your mind is running a mile a minute as you try to make sense of this charm in Potter's house. And, the fact you don't know if Potter and Granger will get together for good is bothering you too. Why can't you just let that go? It's been a year and it's obvious, at least when I saw them out and about in Hogsmeade with Longbottom, that they are in a relationship. You don't just hold hands with friend for that long," Draco said boyishly as he looked down at her lounging near the stone wall near the door to the castle.
"I know that. I saw them holding hands in his basement and saw the looks they gave each other. It really made me happy to see them together and just the looks they gave each other…," Ginny stopped herself from revealing too many of her thoughts by taking a deep breath. "Though, I admit I don't know what is holding me back from just going on to Echo. I think they need to take everything one step further." Ginny tapped her finger against her lips as she tried to make sense of why she didn't feel her "mission" was completed.
"See, it's bugging you. I have no idea why I'm here but I'm just letting it roll off my back. I'll know it when I see it; or when I am suddenly yanked from this world to whatever is next for me." Draco stood next to her looking up at the passing clouds.
"Don't you want to go to Echo since you can?"
"Don't know yet. Why?" he turned towards her with a small smile on his face. "Do you want me to go with you to Echo?"
Ginny opened her mouth to answer but quickly shut it, which was all Draco needed as an answer. She didn't adamantly say "no" so in his mind, her non-responsiveness meant that she hoped he would go to Echo with her.
"Why do you want me to go there?" he turned so he was facing her, dangerously close so Ginny could actually feel warmth radiating from him. She suddenly felt a sense of nervousness and knew if she had one, her heart would be beating a mile a minute, betraying what she hoped was a calm exterior. She couldn't meet his eyes, so she looked off to the side, past his arm towards a tree in the middle of the courtyard and just shrugged.
"Look at me," he whispered and she felt compelled to pull her eyes back to his. They stared at each other for a moment and Ginny realized he was waiting for an answer.
"Who said I wanted you to go there?" she asked quietly, startled to feel his hand sliding up her arm then resting on the crook of her elbow.
"You didn't say either way, which to me means you are leaning towards a yes, but I'm just intrigued as to why you would want me there." He squeezed her elbow slightly and she just looked at him, feeling slightly mesmerized by the way his gray gaze held her hazel one and the tingling, warm feeling that was radiating through her arm.
"I don't know Draco," she finally admitted, her eyes widening in surprise as he smiled then lowered his lips to her ear.
"Oh, I think I do," he said so quietly she could barely hear him. She reached out to steady herself, grabbing his arm as a strange feeling of weight seemed to take over her Light body. The next moment his lips touched hers and she gasped in how real and alive he felt to her. His lips were soft and knowing as they explored hers. She felt a strange humming start from the tip of her head then work its way down slowly, seeming to circle around her like someone was wrapping her up in a soft ribbon. A small moan escaped her as his lips slid over her cheek and back to her ear. Grabbing a fistful of his shirt to steady herself, she heard him whisper yet again.
"And I think you do, too." Carefully, gently, he reached up and took her hands peeling them away from his shirt. With a small squeeze he dropped them, turned and flew off towards one of the towers, leaving Ginny bewildered and feeling strangely weighted down. She looked down at her hands and thought maybe they looked a bit more opaque than translucent, like they had been for over a year. Her mind was swirling with images of Harry and Hermione holding hands, the feel of Draco's mouth against hers, the feel of being pushed to the side as she tried to pass through the four by four square on Harry's wall. All these new feelings were making her confused, so she decided to go down to the Quidditch stands and think. Hopefully, before she saw Draco again after dinner that evening, she would have herself under control.
------
A/N: I'm sorry it took longer than usual to post the last two chapters. I had to go out of state for a few days to attend a funeral and in between that and the traveling to get there, and getting things under control here (so I could leave) writing took a back burner. This is shorter than usual, because I think it ends well for both Ginny and Harry's world. Also, thanks for the reviews. I read them all!
-->