Deal but Don’t Lie

"No"

"Wesley-"

"I said no, Willow! You’ll not teach her that sort of magic!"

Willow rolled her eyes. "Can’t you just hear me out on this?"

"Fine. But the answer is still no," Wesley replied. He sat down at his desk and waited.

"Think about this, Wesley," Willow said. "If I refuse to teach her, she can learn it on her own. Hermione is way smarter than I was at fifteen. She’ll learn it quicker than I did, because she already knows a different form a magic" She paused. "We’ve all seen what can happen to self-taught witches…"

"It could happen anyway," Wesley replied. "That kind of magic is very, very risky!"

"So is this kind of magic!" Willow cried. "Look at Voldemort!"

Wesley sighed. "Willow…"

"She just wants to be able to help her friends," Willow went on. "Think about it. Her boyfriend is a half-demon seer. Her best friend is a champion for the powers that be, and Draco’s a vampire slayer. You’d feel helpless and left out too if you were a sucky fighter who’s only defense was a wooden stick"

"Wands are very powerful," Wesley defended.

"And easily lost and broken!"

"You lost your wand, didn’t you?"

Willow fumed. "We’re not talking about me! And I’ll get it replaced eventually!"

Wesley sighed. "It’s a very real possibility that Ron or Harry could die in an upcoming battle, Willow. They almost did. Do you remember when you thought Tara was dead? Do you remember what happened?"

"And that’s why she needs guidance," Willow pointed out. "So we can lessen the chances of that happening"

"But there’s still a chance," Wesley said. "And I’m not willing to take it. And I don’t think her parents would be, either"

Willow groaned. "Wesley! I’ve been hiding the fact that I’m a witch from my parents for the better part seven years!" She sighed and got to her feet. "I guarantee you she’ll learn independent witchcraft on her own, no matter what you, or I, or her parents say"

"She wouldn’t disregard authority like that," Wesley snapped.

"For Ron and Harry? You’d better believe she would. And she will if she has to. Just think about it" With that, Willow turned and walked out.

They stood in the train station, near the pillar that led to platform nine and three quarters.

Harry couldn’t even look his uncle and aunt in the face.

"I wish you’d died instead"

Remus hated having to hold both his wife and his best friend back at the same time. This wasn’t their fight. They were only there for moral support.

"I know," Harry replied dimly. "I’m sorry"

Vernon’s face grew redder than it had ever been. "Sorry?! You’re SORRY?! Do you know how little that means?! Do you have any idea of the burden that you’ve been to us your whole life?! Do you have any idea what you’ve put us through?! YOU KILLED OUR ONLY CHILD!"

Harry’s voice grew dark. "He didn’t have to come here. You didn’t want him here. Neither did I. He’d be alive if you’d left him someplace else"

Vernon snarled and raised a hand to hit the boy, Sirius was over in a flash, standing in-between them.

"You hit him and you’ll be sorry," Sirius warned dangerously.

Petunia stepped forward, as if in a daze. Her eyes looked dead to Harry as she handed him a small suitcase. "Here are the rest of your things. You’re all moved out"

Harry took the suitcase, wondering what her reaction had been to his mother’s death. Probably much different.

"Come along, Vernon," Petunia said. She turned, and began to walk away from the group.

Vernon followed without a word.

Sirius took hold of Harry’s shoulder, and they went back through the pillar.

"It’s a possibility to consider"

"Oliver…"

"Well? Where the hell does he go when he’s not helping Snape with Potions class?" Oliver asked. "He came to chorus all of once, and I occasionally see him in the halls. Other than that…"

"Let me get this straight," Fudge said. "You believe that Marcus Flint somehow let the Death Eaters in on Halloween?"

"Yep"

Dumbledore stared at the young teacher’s aid intently, his expression unreadable.

"That’s preposterous," Fudge scoffed. "The Flints are a very upstanding family-"

"As were the Malfoys," Dumbledore replied. "Or so you thought"

"Then why are we trusting their son?!"

"It makes sense!" Oliver cried, cutting into their debate. "His family is full of Death Eaters!"

"Not necessarily making him one," Dumbledore pointed out. "We’ll question him, Oliver. It’s the most we can do-"

"Truth potion?" Oliver asked.

"No, Oliver," Dumbledore replied. "Innocent until proven guilty"

Oliver sighed and nodded, and left the Headmaster’s office.

Willow was waiting for him in the hall.

"So?"

Oliver sighed. "Said they’ll question Marcus, but can’t promise anything. How’d things go with Professor Wyndham-Pryce?"

"Won’t budge," Willow replied. "The last thing I want is for Hermione to wind up like me. And… y’know, I’m not the best person to teach her to do magic, but I’d have Tara’s help. I just don’t want her teaching herself. Wesley‘d better change his mind"

"Well, if I remember Hermione correctly, she’ll do whatever it takes to learn," Oliver told her. "The most we can do is watch out for her"

"What on earth are you doing? And where did the pianos come from?"

As always, Ron was the last one stuck in the hospital wing. And he was very, very bored. Granted he still felt week, but that didn’t cure boredness.

So he’d taught himself how to do the piano spell that Professor Macclay knew.

And so, there were three pianos sitting in the hospital wing. Ron stood in-between two of them, levitating his music up in the air. He played each piano with one hand, and Hermione was quite baffled as to how.

"I’m practicing a piece Professor Macclay left me, and doing my levitation homework" He didn’t look at her. "Hear that Mione? Homework. Be proud"

She raised an eyebrow. "And the pianos?"

"Got bored," Ron admitted. "Taught myself the piano charm"

She walked into the room fully and sat down on his bed. "Why are there three, if you can only play two at a time?"

Ron blinked, and stopped playing. "Y’know, that’s a bloody brilliant question" He shrugged and went back to playing.

"Ron, are you sure you’re up to this?" Hermione asked. "You still don’t look so well"

He shrugged again, not looking back at her. "I’m alright"

"Are you lying?"

"Maybe a bit"

"Ron, please don’t hurt yourself. Maybe you should go back to bed"

He turned to look down at her. "What’s with you?"

"I’m worried"

"Usually when you’re worried, you order me about," he pointed out. "Ronald Weasley!" He cried in the best falsetto voice a baritone singer could manage. "You great prat! Get back in bed this instant!"

She laughed lightly and he began to cough. When the coughing didn’t stop, her laughter did. She pulled him onto the bed next to her by the arm. "Ron?"

"Sorry," he said. "Right again. It’s back to bed for me"

Hermione sighed. "You know, it’s one thing to cough up slugs on my behalf. It’s quite another to take on an unforgivable curse for me. I’m really, really grateful, but… you shouldn‘t have nearly thrown away your life for me"

"I’m going to pretend that you didn’t just say that," he told her seriously, his brow furrowed. "Because I know you know what my answer is going to be"

Before Ron could move to get into bed, Hermione wrapped her arms around him and planted her lips on his for a long kiss.

Which was, to the two teens’ annoyance, cut short.

"Hermione Granger! Ronald Weasley!"

They both broke off the kiss quickly, both red with embarrassment, Ron looking quite bitter at getting caught.

Professor MacGonagall glared harshly at them. "Honesty! I expected more from you two!"

Hermione heard Ron mutter something that sounded like "More? Would you rather we be naked?" and rolled her eyes.

"Hermione, your uncle would like to speak with you," MacGonagall said. "Ron, Professor O’Brien would like a word"

Ron sighed and looked at Hermione longingly.

She smirked. "We should get this over with"

Ron nodded. "Right… get professor meetings over with now… more pleasant activities later"

Hermione turned bright red again before rushing out.

"So… Why Seamus?"

The two girls walked into the Great hall for lunch and sat down at the Gryffindor table.

"He’s cute!" Torianna cried. "He’s all.. Irish and stuff! And he’s got a really pretty voice, and he’s got his Transfiguration down pat! And I’m American. Do you know how many Plenard girls would slaughter to be with an Irishman?"

Evelyn snickered. "Are we thinking of someone in particular? Say… one Abbie Mienburg?"

Torianna rolled her eyes. "Hey. Didn‘t we agree not to speak of annoying American Plenard bitches while we‘re here? Next subject. Why Draco?"

"Jesus! Have you seen the boy? He’s really, really hot. Really mean and annoying sometimes, but really hot"

"Bet he tastes like sin," Torianna giggled.

"Oh, he does. He does. Especially since my Dad hates the boy"

They snickered.

"Have you talked to your dad much about Draco?"

"Just a little more than you’ve talked to your dad about Seamus"

"My Dad doesn’t need to know about Seamus!"

"And when he finds you’ve been hiding a boy cute Irish boy in your closet over the Summer?"

Torianna smirked. "Closets too obvious. I’ll just swipe Harry’s cloak"

"Y’know," Evelyn giggled. "I would, too… but I don’t think Draco would touch something that stinks of Potter"

Torianna sighed. "Y’know… Ron and Draco get along. Hermione and Draco are okay with each other. I get along with Draco. You’ve had your tongue down his throat-"

"Say it louder, why don’t you? I don’t think the population of Tasmania heard you"

"But why not Harry and Draco?" Torianna finished.

Evelyn sighed. "They’ll get along eventually, won’t they? It’s just gonna take some time, right?"

"Hermione. Please, sit"

She sat across from her uncle in his office.

"You’re looking better," he commented. "How are you feeling?"

"Better," she nodded. "You wanted to see me?"

"Yes," Wesley replied. "Willow mentioned to me that you wanted to learn informal magic"

"Yes, that’s right," Hermione nodded. "I believe I’d be more useful if I could do that sort of magic"

Wesley sighed/ "Hermione, there’s a lot of risk involved with that kind of magic. Things go wrong. Often. Willow, herself has had some very bad experiences with it"

"I know that things can go wrong," Hermione replied. "I understand the risks. But I need to be more useful than I am. I need to be able to defend myself and others, and also be able to help fight. I’m a horrible fighter, but if I learn-"

"I don’t think I can allow you to do this, Hermione," Wesley cut her off. "It’s too dangerous, and as your family member, and teacher, I must forbid it"

Hermione blinked. "Forbid?"

Wesley nodded. "I’m very sorry, Hermione"

She got to her feet, with all the dignity in the world, and cleared her throat. "Then, I suppose I’ll have to go on without your permission"

Wesley didn’t reply.

"After all, I never asked for your permission," she pointed out. "And if Willow or Tara won’t help me, well, I’ll just have to teach myself, then, won’t I? It can’t be that difficult. After all, both Professor Macclay and Willow taught themselves, and my schooling here should be of some use. Well, I‘d better get started"

Wesley watched her leave his office, speechless.

Ron walked out of the hospital wing, and into the hall, only to run right into his sister.

"Ginny?"

She barely looked at him. "Hi, Ron" She tried to walk off but he grabbed her arm. She whirled around and they stared at each other. "Let go, Ron"

"Not until you talk to me," he replied. "Are you alright?"

"Fine," she replied softly. "Fabulous. Now let go"

"Gin-"

It was too late. She’d wrenched her arm out of his grasp.

He stared after her

As soon as he’d arrived in Professor O’Brien’s office, he was slightly confused. Harry and Draco were there as well, both looking very drained.

"Good," O’Brien nodded. "Ron’s here. Let’s go"

"Go where?" Ron asked.

"Dungeon," O’Brien replied. "You’ve got to train"

Ron blinked. "If Madame Pomfrey catches me-"

"I’ll take care of it," O’Brien replied gruffly. "Now come on"

They followed Professor O’Brien down the stairs in near silence.

"Do you really feel up to this?" Harry asked Ron.

Ron shrugged. "Guess we’ll find out. How did things go with the Dursleys?"

Harry didn’t reply.

Ron nodded. "Right. Not surprising"

"I don’t wanna talk about it," Harry replied. "Let’s just get the training over with"

"How long is it today?" Ron asked.

"Till Curfew," Professor O’Brien replied, not turning to look at them.

Draco stopped. "It’s three in the afternoon. Curfew isn’t till ten"

"I know that, Malfoy," O’Brien said. He opened up the door to the dungeon to be met with Professor Morgan and Professor Summers.

"Buffy. Good you’re here. Let’s get them started"

The blond blinked. "Started on what?"

"Training"

Professor Morgan walked up to Ron and put a hand to his forehead. "Hell, no"

"Faith-"

"Hell, no, Angel! First off, he’s burning up"

Ron blinked and put his own hand to his head. "Bloody hell… didn’t even notice"

"Second off," Professor Morgan continued. "He looks like death on legs" She turned and surveyed Harry. "Jesus, this one looks about ready to off himself! He’s not going near a sword for the next week" Her eyes scanned Draco. "And this one looks like he might off anything that moves. Nope. No training today. You, go back to bed. You, go get yourself a nice dose of Prozac. You, valium. Now"

The boys blinked.

"Just get the hell upstairs!" Morgan cried. "And Harry, make sure Ron doesn’t pass out on the way back to the hospital wing. Charlie’d kill me"

The boys turned and left.

Angel glared at the girls. "They need to train"

"And you need to lay off," Faith snapped. "You’re gonna kill them"

"Better killed here than killed out there," Angel replied.

"Like Connor," Buffy said. "Okay. I get it. You feel like if you’d reached out to Connor more, you would have been able to train him, and he coulda taken Spike. But you didn’t, and he couldn’t. Don’t take it out on them"

"I’m preparing them for a war!" Angel cried. "They’re major players!"

Faith blinked. "Major players… like… you’re a major player? Apocalyptically?"

Angel nodded. "Lilah told me right before I threw her out of the castle"

"Threw, really threw?" Faith asked.

"Nah," Angel replied. "Just a shove"

"Okay, training starts after the recovery," Buffy cut in. "I don’t care if they’re major players or whatever. They need rest. Harry’s mental state sucks right now. Ron is falling apart, and we are not going to deal with another Fai- I mean rogue slayer"

"Thanks much, B," Faith said sarcastically.

Buffy rolled her eyes. "Besides. We need to figure out what to do with Spike"

"Well, B, there’s always your route," Faith snickered.

Buffy glared. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"Let’s just say that was payback for the rogue slayer jab" Faith sighed. "We could soul the bastard"

"Or we could kill him," Angel replied. "That’s my vote"

"We should talk to Dumbledore," Buffy said. "See what he thinks"

Angel sighed. "Fine. Right. Dumbledore"

"Angel, I’m really about Connor," Buffy told him, seeing the hurt that was still in his eyes. "If there was anything I could have done…"

"You were defending the school, like I was," Angel said. "There was nothing anyone could have done. He went down fighting. It’s what he would’ve wanted"

"Ginny?"

She nearly jumped out of her skin at the voice behind her. She looked over the arm of the couch near the fire in the Gryffindor common room. "Hi, Mum"

"Oh, Ginny," Molly said. She rushed over to her daughter and pulled the girl into a hug. "Are you alright?"

"I’m… okay"

Molly gave her daughter a wary look. "You’re not lying, are you?"

Ginny sighed.

"Ginny…"

"Mum, don’t. Please?"

"Ginny, this was not your fault. You saved Harry’s life"

"Then why won’t he speak to me?"

"He’s not speaking to much of anyone, Gin," Charlie chimed in. He leaned on the back of the couch. "He’s sad"

Ginny sniffed. "I didn’t mean to kill her"

"You didn’t kill Cho," Molly told her. "You didn’t kill anyone. This wasn’t your fault"

Ginny burst into tears, and Molly’s heart broke. She pulled the girl to her again.

Charlie just sighed. This was going to be a long month.

:: On To Chapter Twenty-one ::

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