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Author: Zelthian Story: The Lover's Bond Rating: Young Teens Setting: Pre-HBP Status: Completed Reviews: 7 Words: 29,415
“Remus! What a pleasant surprise!” “Ah, there you are, Harry. Arthur suggested I might run into you here,” Remus replied. “He was right on that, Remus. Please, join me in my new flat.” “Love to, Harry.” Harry led Remus up the stairs and into his main room. He stood there, proudly showing off his flat. “The Weasleys were kind enough to bring in these photographs. The walls would be quite bare without them.” Remus nodded. “Nice, Harry. It’s very cozy.” “Come see the study. It’s my favorite room.” Harry let Remus enter the study first, following him in. Remus looked around for the better part of a minute, nodding the entire time. “Excellent, Harry. It reminds me a little bit of Dumbledore’s office.” “I’ll take that as a compliment.” “As it was meant,” Remus said. “Now, Harry, Dumbledore thought your place would benefit from one final touch.” Remus reached into his cloak and pulled out a brown-wrapped package, which he handed to Harry. Harry opened the package to reveal another picture in a frame. It was of an older wizard he thought he recognized. The wizard waved at Harry. “He was a former Hogwarts headmaster. Dumbledore thought it wise to have a way to contact you and keep an eye on you at the same time. All the Aurors in the Order have one of these somewhere in their flats.” “I’m honored. I haven’t even started at the Ministry yet.” Remus laughed. “To tell you the truth, Harry; young as you are, you have more field experience than many of the newest Aurors at the Ministry. You still have a lot to learn in the Auror field, though. There are lots of tricks of the trade that they don’t teach you until you’re out of school, for reasons you’ll understand when you learn them. I don’t know much of what you’ll learn, but I know enough from being around Moody to have an incredible respect for that man.” Harry was suddenly restless. “I can’t wait to get started. I know being an Auror is serious stuff, but I can’t help being a bit excited.” Remus grinned. “That’ll last until you get your first real assignment. It’ll most likely be boring, probably following someone suspicious around for hours until you’re ready to fall over.” Harry imagined himself following someone around in his Invisibility Cloak, simultaneously trying to keep up and avoid being detected. He wondered how this would be different from his adventures at Hogwarts. Remembering the photo, he hung it in an open spot on his wall. The wizard gave him an approving smile and left. Remus sat in the chair in front of Harry’s desk, which Harry took as a cue to sit behind it. “So, Harry, here you are, finished with school and engaged and everything. How are you feeling?” Harry sighed. “I’m not sure, really. For the first time in years I’m not quite sure what to expect next. When I was attending Hogwarts, I knew that summer would mean going back to Dursleys for a while, then to the Burrow or Headquarters, then back to school. Now I have my own place, and there’s no school to look forward to, which is why I guess I’m so anxious to get started at the Ministry. I feel a bit silly sitting here with not much to do, waiting to start, you know? That and feeling like I need to look over my shoulder every so often to make sure Voldemort doesn’t have a spy on my tail.” Remus chuckled. “It almost sounds like you’re asking for homework, Harry. Hermione would be proud.” Harry laughed. “You know…” Remus trailed off. “Headmaster?” “Yes?” the wizard in the portrait appeared. “Could you send word to Moody or Dumbledore that Harry would like some reading material before he starts his training?” “Right away, Mr. Lupin,” and he was gone. “That should at least give you something to pass the time. Besides, when you get down to it, we really don’t know when to expect You-Know-Who to act, do we?” Harry shook his head. He sat there thinking about how Voldemort might choose to attack, and then quickly tried to put it out of his mind. “How are you and Ginny getting on?” “Ginny is amazing, Remus. I’m still kicking myself for not realizing it sooner. She’s such a caring person, but at the same time she has her own mind about things. She has so many sides to her: funny, feisty, loving, and if I may, just a wee bit mischievous.” Remus snorted. “A wee bit? She’s a Weasley, Harry. The only Weasley I know who isn’t firmly planted in the realm of mischief is Percy.” Remus leaned over the table. “I’ll say this, too: You don’t know Molly and Arthur like I do. That flying car of his should have given you some insight.” Harry just smiled. Remus leaned back into his chair. “So, Harry, making good use of the lovers guide, eh?” Harry blushed and looked shocked. “Not that it’s any business of yours, Remus, but Ginny and I aren’t, uh, active, if you must know. We haven’t been intimate since her birthday. We decided to wait until we were married to continue exploring the physical aspects of our relationship.” Remus’s eyes widened. “I must say, Harry, I’m very impressed. Knowing the Weasley clan, I’d have figured you two where well on into the far chapters of the book by now. I very much admire your willpower. Good for you, Harry.” “What do you mean, knowing the Weasley clan?” Remus sighed. “How many Weasleys are there, Harry?” “Nine in all…. Oh.” “Right, and, like I said, you don’t know Molly and Arthur like I do.” Just then, a bell rang in Harry’s flat. “What on earth?” Harry jumped. Remus laughed. “Doorbell, Harry. You have another visitor, I’d wager.” “Oh.” Harry went to the door and down the steps to meet his new visitor. When he got to the street, however, he didn’t see anyone. “Mind if I come in?” a voice asked. Harry thought he knew the voice. “Moody?” “You can call me Alastor, Harry.” “And how am I supposed to be sure it’s you?” The voice chuckled. Harry watched as Moody appeared from under his Invisibility Cloak. “It is going to be a pleasure instructing you, Harry. You are a fast learner.” Harry smiled. “I’ve had a bit of practice. Shall we go up?” Moody nodded. “Speak of the devil… How are you, Alastor?” Remus asked as Moody walked into the main room. Moody’s eye was spinning around, looking every direction. After a few seconds, he replied, “Good as can be expected, Remus. You’re looking well.” “I do my best,” Remus said, watching Moody’s eye. Harry was watching it too. A thought occurred to him. “Moo… Alastor, How long before I got here did you have this place checked out?” Moody’s eye stopped and turned directly to Harry. He actually smiled. Moody glanced to Remus, who also was smiling. “We did our initial survey two weeks ago,” Moody explained. “We’ve been watching it ever since. Of the places we considered, this one was the cleanest. The background checks of the flats we considered took a month before the surveys began. Once we narrowed it down and completed the initial survey, we scrubbed it top to bottom. We almost put anti-Apparation protection in place, but we were told by an anonymous source that doing so would have tipped you off to the work we’d done, though I don’t quite understand why.” Harry’s eyes got big for a second as he glanced suspiciously at Remus. Remus gave him a wink. “Not that it did any good. You figured it out anyway. Well, now that you know, I guess we should reconsider…” “No!” Harry said, too quickly. “I don’t think that will be necessary,” Remus added at the exact same time. Moody surveyed the two of them. After a few seconds he said, “Well, all right, if you two are sure.” Harry smiled. “You should see the study a little more closely, Alastor,” Remus diverted. Moody walked into the study and looked around carefully. He stopped here and there, looked out the window, and thoroughly studied the desk. Finally he gave a nod of approval. “Quite satisfactory, Mr. Potter. Yes indeed. Well, you wanted some homework, and I think I might have just the thing.” Moody reached into his cloak and pulled out a book. Harry looked at the title: Ministry of Magic, Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Auror Command Protocols and Standard Operating Procedures. Remus looked at the title and winced. “I’ve heard of that book. I don’t think a dryer book has come out of the Ministry. Ever!” Moody nodded solemnly. “Can’t argue with that. However, you will be expected to know this book in and out before you’ll be allowed on an official mission.” Harry nodded at Moody. “I’ll get to reading it tonight.” “Very well. I best be getting back. See you soon, Potter.” With a loud crack he was gone. Harry walked around to the back of his desk and sat down. Remus sat in the chair in front of the desk as before. Harry studied the book carefully but didn’t open it. “Knut for your thoughts, Harry.” Harry didn’t look up from the book. “Has Dumbledore told you about the prophecy?” “Yes, he did. I kept bugging him about how much he was involving you in the Order’s plans for Voldemort. He finally relented and told me why.” Harry nodded slightly. “I’ve often wondered what it would be like to be just a normal wizard. Just Harry. Not ‘The Boy Who Lived’ or ‘Famous Harry Potter’. I work out in my mind what it would be like having nobody out to get me, nobody upset that I’m responsible for their parents being in Azkaban. I imagine myself as an everyday kind of wizard. Well, maybe a normal wizard who’s really good at Quidditch.” Remus let him sit there a few moments. “What scares you most about Voldemort, Harry?” Harry put the book down and looked out the window. “That he’ll end up killing everyone I care about.” They sat there for several moments before Harry continued. “You know, it’s ironic. The people in my life that I have cared about the least are the ones that not only are least likely to be killed by Voldemort, but are also the only ones that can fully protect me from him.” “Funny how that works, isn’t it?” Remus pondered. “I’ve worried about this for as long as I’ve known, Remus. And now it seems that not only is it dangerous just for me to care about someone, but it seems I’ll be heading into battle with those I care about most at my side. I can’t help to think that I’m leading them to their deaths. Which is, of course, the one thing I don’t want and that I fear the most. It’s enough to drive me mad.” “More than enough, I’d say,” Remus said. “Only thing is, Harry, you have a tendency to take responsibility for things that rest clearly upon the shoulders of others. It’s not you who would be responsible for any deaths that occur. It will be Voldemort’s. You know that.” Harry sighed. “I keep trying to tell myself that, Remus. It’s not working.” “Well, nobody ever said having a big heart would be easy.” Harry couldn’t help but smile a little. He absentmindedly caressed his pendant. “Well, I must be getting back. I have a few things I need to take care of. Hang in there Harry, and take care of yourself.” Harry stood up with Remus. “Thanks for coming by. You are always welcome here.” Remus smiled, and with a crack he was gone. Harry spent the rest of the day haunting Diagon Alley. He went shop to shop, checking out the merchandise, even if he didn’t think he’d ever buy anything. He ate lunch and dinner at the Leaky Cauldron and spent an hour rummaging through the Quidditch shop. He spent some time looking in the jewelry shop but resisted buying anything. He spotted a set of earrings he thought would look spectacular on Ginny, making a mental note of where they were. He waved at the shop owner before leaving. After dinner, Harry found himself slowly making his way back to his flat. He pulled the special galleon out of his pocket and started running it absently through his fingers. He found himself secretly wishing it would grow warm. At least that way he would have something to do. He laughed quietly as he realized that now that he had some peace, quiet, and time to himself, he had found himself wanting some action. He smiled, flipped the coin into the air and caught it, put it back into his pocket, and walked back to his flat, enjoying the clear, cool night air. Harry brought out some butterbeer from his stash in the icebox and sat in his study. He began reading the book Moody gave him. Remus was right; it was as dry as an old bone. He took frequent breaks after a few paragraphs, going back and re-reading parts to help him remember it. By the time he was done with the first chapter his thought his brain was going to overload. He put down the book and sat in front of his window, petted Hedwig, and relaxed, taking in the crescent moon. As he sat there, his thoughts turned to Ginny. He imagined how her skin looked in the moonlight, the glow of the moon highlighting her hair. He thought back to when they got together, how she had told him she had lied about being over him. He remembered catching her when she had Apparated onto the dead branch, and catching her Apparating into his room. He remembered her reaction when he gave her the Firebolt and the surprise snogging she gave him that night. That memory brought a smile to his face. From there, he relived their experience in the Room of Requirement on her birthday, when they had activated the Lover’s Bond. He took particular pleasure in bringing the image of Ginny into his mind as they stood there, having just disrobed. He took in the image of her, more beautiful than he could have hoped, humbled knowing what they were going to do. It didn’t matter when Harry saw her, she was always beautiful. He could lose himself for hours in her eyes, or take hours counting her freckles. No matter what mood he was in, he couldn’t resist her when she wrinkled her nose. Truth be told, Ginny had Harry wrapped around her little finger. Harry knew the Lover’s Bond charm was special, but he didn’t fully understand how special until the incident with Snape after the graduation feast. Harry recalled the feeling of Ginny’s touch as it forced the pain of his scar out of his body. He had never found a way to combat this pain, and now he had Ginny. As he thought about this, he settled into his chair, content. “Knut for your thoughts.” Harry swung his chair around. Ginny was standing there in her cozy pajamas. “Merlin’s beard, what time is it?” “Late,” Ginny replied, motioning her head towards Harry’s bedroom. Harry walked over to Ginny, turning off the light as he did. He put his arms around her and gave her a big hug. They stood there hugging for some moments. “Anything wrong?” Ginny asked. Harry pulled back and looked into Ginny’s eyes, trying to get lost. “I was just thinking about how lucky I am. I’m the luckiest wizard in the world, I am.” Ginny wrinkled her nose, and Harry melted. “Funny, Harry, I was thinking the same thing today.” “I missed you.” “I missed you too, Harry.” They enjoyed a long, passionate kiss before retiring for the night.
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