The Chambers doing

Chapter 3 - School Year Ends Part 1

Returning to the hospital wing hand in hand, they were met by the rest of the Weasleys awaiting them.

"Oh there you are where on earth have you been?" Mrs Weasley immediately started fussing and swept them into another famous hug.

"Molly dear, why don't you let them go and tell us themselves?" Arthur tried to placate her. "Besides, we all want to know."

Once Molly let the two youngsters go, they clambered back into bed, separately, but remained hand in hand. This resulted in pointed glares from Ron and Charlie. Choosing to ignore this, Harry started their story of what had happened that morning, but left out anything about what Dumbledore had been muttering.

Just as he finished, Dumbledore and Madam Pomfrey walked out of the latter's office, Dumbledore presumably having used Fawkes to flame there, and the nurse quickly jumped into action, ushering all six Weasley brothers out of the wing, and Dumbledore invited the elder Weasley's to his office to discuss the previous day's events in more detail. Mrs Weasley looked unhappy at leaving "her baby" again, but with a pointed word from Mr Weasley, consented to come back later.

When they had all left, Madam Pomfrey addressed the two students. "I don't like it, but Dumbledore informs me you must share a bed for now and remain in contact as much as possible. When you have visitors, you will be expected to return to your individual beds, but in private you only need to use one."

As Harry moved across to Ginny's bed, he asked the question on both their minds - "When will Hermione and the others wake up Madam Pomfrey?"

"We should have the Mandrake Draught ready by tomorrow morning. They will all have to stay in overnight, so I will just shut the privacy curtain around you and Harry's empty bed, telling them not to disturb you. They will never know about you sharing a bed, but it will mean you have to stay here for the indefinite future. I'll leave you to get some rest now."

"Okay, thank you."

As she left, Ginny turned into him and broke down again, sobbing uncontrollably into his shoulder. Although this was to be expected and had happened a lot recently, this worried Harry as he knew enough from Ron trying to make him think of her as a little sister that she rarely cried.

"Hey, what's wrong Gin?"

"I c-can just tell they're g-g-going to ex-pel me. Why else w-would he want to s-s-see my parents?"

"I can't imagine why they would expel you, none of what you did was of your own accord. The diary was forcing you to do it, and you did well to resist it for so long. I reckon it had some powerful compulsion charms on it, it isn't surprising you couldn't resist it, I doubt anybody could. And remember, even if they do expel you, I'll come with you."

She looked up at him with red, tear-stained eyes, and asked, "Do you mean that? That you'll come with me?"

"Of course. I'm never leaving you alone again." Looking at her, he surprised himself by leaning down and giving her a peck on the lips. When he pulled back, she looked surprised, but happy, which made Harry feel better as well.

In Dumbledore's office, he was having a heated discussion with Mr and Mrs Weasley. The latter was once again up and pacing. "What on earth do you mean?"

"I believe that in the chamber, by Mr Potter saving your Ms Weasley's life, a bond was formed. Having reviewed his memory of the event, I am almost certain that this bond formed, especially with what I have observed since then, but I am not certain. First I must research it some more at the ministry. Meanwhile, we must decide what to do about your daughter. The Board of Governors believes she should be expelled for her involvement. If you wish, I can make an appeal to try and keep her in Hogwarts, but it may be easier to announce her being pulled from the school before she is formally expelled in August, and try to place her in a different magical school. You have until the end of June to decide."

It was Mr Weasley who voiced the question on both their minds. "What would it mean if they do have this bond you speak of?"

"There are lots of implications, but mainly the need or urge to be in contact. You may have noticed them holding hands earlier?" Receiving nods from both Weasleys, he continued "It is actually more than that. I believe the only one who can comfort Ms Weasley at the moment is Mr Potter, to the extent that last night, the urge for contact rose, and they ended up sharing a bed." He quickly said, steeling himself for the imminent explosion from the Weasley matriarch.

"WHAT? YOU MEAN TO TELL ME MY BABY DAUGHTER WAS SHARING A BED WITH ANOTHER BOY? WHAT ON EARTH COULD POSSIBLY MAKE THIS NECESSARY? WHAT WILL IT LOOK LIKE? SHE'LL BE CALLED A SCARLET WOMAN..."

Another well placed silencing charm from her husband silenced her. "Now Molly I'm sure Albus has a perfectly good reason for this."

"He is quite right. It is best not to fight the need for contact, as the results could be disastrous, possibly fatal. While in Hogwarts, only we, they, and Madam Pomfrey will know. However, I suspect the need will continue, possibly until September."

"Then we'll just take Harry home with us." Arthur suggested. "He doesn't much like his relatives, I'm sure they'll be happy to be rid of him, and we can rearrange room assignments."

Dumbledore looked decidedly uncomfortable. "Unfortunately, Harry must return to Privet Drive in order to recharge the wards for his own protection."

Now it was Mr Weasley's turn to blow. "WHAT! BUT THAT MEANS SHE HAS TO..."

"Yes. She must go with him." Just as Mrs Weasley looked to do the impossible and break her silencing charm, he hastened to add, "I will do everything in my power to make sure they are treated well and looked after, and shall keep monitoring the situation. If I find the bond to not exist, she will be moved back to the Burrow. If it does exist and is completed, she will move back to the Burrow. They can both leave after Harry's birthday, but you may find it easier to leave them there so you don't have to try and keep their sharing a bed secret from the rest of the family."

This knowledge only calmed them down somewhat. "You may go back to visit them again now if you wish, and may stay in the guest suite as long as necessary. For now, I must go investigate this bond further."

As they left, he thought to himself, what a day!