5 July
"Memoras Restituere!" Ginny whispered as she twirled her wand. A light blue flash came from the end on her wand. She growled in frustration as she slapped her wand on the desk. Ginny was sitting in her and Harry's Master suite at Potter Manor waiting for Harry to come back from his evening training session with some of their younger classmates. She reread the instructions again on the parchment in front of her.
"Why won't this bloody spell work?" she growled in frustration.
Ginny had been trying to master the spell James Potter had left for her in his letter for almost two years, and it still wouldn't work properly for her. She had been trying to complete it more lately because Ginny was trying to make the spell part of her gift to Harry for his birthday at the end of the month. She was running out of time and only had a few times a day that she was alone to practice the spell since she wanted to surprise Harry with it at his and Neville's party. Ginny snarled, baring her teeth at the letter from James Potter on the desk after she finished reading the spell for the millionth time.
"Fat lot of good those instructions are, Mr. Potter," Ginny told the letter through gritted teeth. She had thought about asking for some help from Remus or Hermione, but the spell was so personal that she didn't want to ask for help unless it was absolutely necessary. It was almost to that point now. Ginny looked down at the spell again and thought maybe Bill would be a better choice to ask for some help. Her head shot toward the door as she felt Harry coming closer through their bond.
Ginny quickly hid the letter in her drawer, pulling out her summer homework list. She could feel his concern for her mood as Ginny felt him turn at the top of the stairs. Now all she had to do was convince Harry it was one of their summer homework assignments that was making her so upset. She picked out the perfect one as Harry came in the door.
"Hey, love," Harry smiled as he kissed Ginny's forehead. "What's got you all worked up?"
"Have you read this yet?" Ginny complained as she held up the parchment. "We have a five feet long essay due for Ancient Runes."
"Five feet?" Harry paled. "What is she trying to do? Make our hands fall off?"
"Oh, did I mention, it's not just an ordinary essay?" sneered Ginny. "It's another research paper!"
"Seriously," Harry whined as he took the parchment. "We just did one before the end of term! But it says it's not due until mid-November."
"We are not putting it off, Harry," Ginny scolded him lightly.
"Fine," Harry sighed. "Tell you what, with our bond, we can make this easier. You take this book," Harry handed the listed book to Ginny, "and I'll take this one. That way we cover both books at the same time."
"Fine," Ginny yawned as she stood with a stretch. Ginny felt Harry's shift through their bond as he stared at her. "But let's read in bed. I'm shattered."
"I could make you..." Harry started as he stepped closer. Ginny put a hand on his chest.
"No," she told him as she gently pushed Harry back, "we need to start reading."
"Killjoy," Harry grumbled. Ginny rolled her eyes as she collected her notes.
"It's not like we didn't indulge this morning," Ginny kissed his cheek with a sly grin before turning for the bedroom quickly. She giggled as she heard Harry grumble as he started to follow her.
After changing into their nightclothes, Harry and Ginny reclined on their bed to read the books that were assigned for their research paper. Harry looked at the title of the book he had chosen for the first time. The Essential Guide to The Binding Runes. Harry shrugged to himself. He thought he might find something they could use in a wedding ceremony when they decided to have one. Harry opened the book, looking first at the table of contents, skimming the chapter titles. As he turned the page, one of the chapter titles caught Harry's eye, Chapter XV: The Ties That Bind Us.
