MetaFic

It has been established that each individual is brought to this reality with three separate aspects that create a whole being. Any subsequent changes affecting the way our brain experiences reality, will result in utter confusion and dementia, an affliction that will prevent the individual from ever participating in the society in the way it was meant to be.

Then why did a unity of souls, created by Love, result in a connection of minds?

Ginevra Molly Weasley and Harry James Potter do not share the same soul. What they have truly is two souls, acting as one. Thus, when the merging was finished, their souls bridged the gap between their minds in an attempt to create a full being. Since a soul can ultimately exist easily without a body, or in this case, with two bodies, theirs were simply dropped from this equation.

What is strange is not this new reality, but how their unified soul managed to accomplish this task. It was the magical triggers in their souls that sought each other and connected, allowing their magic to create a fusion of minds.

Sharing thoughts and memories is nothing new in the Magical world. What makes this connection exceptional is their ability to share feelings as well as sensory input.

This does not create confusion since they were given just another depth to their own way of experiencing reality.

In essence, when the merging took part, they were complete for the first time in their lives.

 

---

 

To any observer it might have been funny how the two children quickly sprang apart. Harry felt like he had done something wrong, though he knew that hugging Ginny was right. Ginny, on the other hand, was mad at her brother for interrupting their first meeting.

They both turned to the source of noise. Ginny prepared herself for a verbal fight, while Harry tried to work out a way of surviving the whole situation.

Deep down, Ginny was aware that this whole scene must have seemed at least strange to her brother, but she was beyond the point of caring. She just hoped Ron wouldn't attack Harry.

"I know you liked stories about Harry Potter, but that doesn't mean you had to jump him first time you've seen him!" Ron continued, seeing Harry's scar.

That complete and utter prat! Ginny screeched in their heads.

Harry offhandedly mused that whenever Ginny used that word when referring to him it sounded soft, but this time it had the weight of the Hogwarts Express. Calm down, Gin! Otherwise this will be hard to explain.

I… she wanted to argue but she knew Harry was right. I'll try, Harry, but if he continues to act like an idiot, I'll hex him. "Ron! Don't be stupid. I stumbled and he caught me. I didn't even know he was Harry Potter."

"If you say so. Now leave him alone!"

"She can stay here if she wants," Harry quickly interjected.

"No, she can't!" Ron responded.

"I can if I want to!" Ginny said, pulling out her wand.

"Fine! If she bothers you just chuck her out," the red-haired boy said, turning to Harry. With that, he left the compartment.

Harry's brain was still trying to process what has just happened, so he was surprised as he felt small hands encircling him into a hug again.

"I hate him!" Ginny said with tears in her eyes. "He just had to destroy this for us."

"I don't like him either, but that doesn't mean he destroyed this. We're here, together, and now no one is bothering us."

Ginny pulled back to look him in the eyes. "You're right," she said with a small smile. "Let's just hope he doesn't come back."

"I don't think he will," Harry replied, pulling her towards the seat. He sat near the window, in the corner, and Ginny scooted up as close as possible to him.

The train started moving slowly and the children switched to holding each other's hand, just in case someone else walked in.

The whole scene looked like one of their dream-time meetings; the only difference was that their need for physical closeness was finally fulfilled. They chatted about everything that happened to them on their way to the station; about the forthcoming school year, Houses, even Quidditch.

Harry broke the moment of peaceful silence after their discussions. "Gin, now that you're here, I… I feel more like myself, I guess. Does that make any sense?"

"Completely," she said, snuggling closer.

The food cart passed and Harry bought everything he could just to have something to share with Ginny, who was busy informing him about the joys of collecting Famous Witches and Wizards cards.

Their quiet exchange was interrupted by a knock on the door of their compartment. A round-faced boy entered and it was clear to both of them that he was on the verge of crying.

"Sorry, but have you seen a toad?" he asked.

Both Ginny and Harry shook their heads no.

The boy continued, "I've lost him! He keeps running away from me."

"You'll find him. After all, we're on a train, so he couldn't have gone far," Ginny tried to reassure the boy.

"I hope so…" the boy said and left.

"You really think he'll find his toad?" Harry asked once the compartment doors were closed once again.

"I sure hope so. He seemed really sad about it."

It seemed that this compartment had a busy day today. The door slid open again, this time to reveal a bushy-haired girl.

"Has anyone seen a toad? Neville's lost one," she said in a no-nonsense manner.

"We already told him we haven't seen it," Harry replied.

"I tried asking that boy with a rat in the next compartment, but he wasn't paying much attention. And he had some dirt on his nose. Honestly, the way he's going to school…"

"Oh, you mean my brother, Ron," Ginny said.

"I'm sorry! I didn't know he was your brother," the bossy girl quickly said.

"Don't worry. He's really not my favourite person in the world right now," the red-head replied.

"Well, OK then, I guess…" She seemed unsure. "I'm Hermione Granger, who are you?"

"Ginny Weasley."

"Harry Potter," Harry replied.

"Are you really?" said Hermione. "I know all about you of course — I got a few extra books-for background reading. And, you're in Modern Magical History, and The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts, and Great Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century."

"I know. My guardian told me," Harry said, becoming slightly red.

"You're saying you haven't read them? If it was me, I would read all of them." She turned to look at both of them. "Do either of you know what house you'll be in? I hope I'm Gryffindor, it sounds the best, and even Dumbledore himself was in it. Though Ravenclaw doesn't sound so bad either."

"I guess I'll be a Gryffindor. Everyone in my family was," Ginny said, not sounding concerned. I don't care which house I'm in as long as I'm with you.

I agree Ginevra, he replied, which caused Ginny to turn slightly pink. "I was told I'd probably end up in Gryffindor, but I don't really know."

"Well, it was nice to talk to you, but I think I should go back and help Neville find his toad. You two better change. We'll be there soon, I expect," Hermione said before she left.

Harry turned to Ginny after the bushy-haired girl left. I just hope I don't end up in Slytherin.

You won't. But even if you do, I'm coming with you! she said with confidence.

How can you know that? How can you be sure?

Look, Harry, I don't really know how they're going to sort us and I especially don't know where, but I know what I feel. I feel that nothing can keep us apart.

Harry thought about that for a moment. It all made sense, really. He was not sure what was happening to Ginny and him, but he had a strong feeling of confidence that nothing could separate them. He would have been surprised if he knew and understood how right both of them were.

I can feel it, too. Wherever we are, we're truly together.

Yes, Harry, she replied and pecked him on his cheek. It was first time she had done that outside of their dreams and a warm feeling spread from his face through his whole body. It was amazing and so right. Everything about her felt right.

He had kissed the top of her head before Ron interrupted them, but he wanted to know the other side of the kiss he just received. It was the first peck Harry has ever given and it was wonderful. Not only could he feel her soft skin under his lips, but he could feel his own happiness mixing with hers. There were no words to describe it, so he used just one. Wow!

Ginny giggled, but the truth was she felt the same. She took his hand firmly in her smaller one and looked at him. I never, ever want to know how I lived without you.

Harry could see the sincerity in her brown eyes. He just smiled and squeezed her hand.

They would probably have stayed that way, forgetting about Hogwarts, the students and the train itself if an interruption had not manifested itself in the form of a blond boy followed by two lumps.

"Is it true?" the boy asked after he entered their compartment. "They're saying all down the train that Harry Potter's in this compartment. Are you him?"

Harry looked at the newcomers and they spelled trouble. "Yes, I am."

"My name is Malfoy, Draco Malfoy. This is Crabbe, and this is Goyle," he said, showing his companions.

Malfoy? I heard Daddy mention that family. They were Voldemort's followers, Ginny supplied. Ever since Harry had explained that he did not really understand why a name should not be said out loud, and she 'heard' Remus using it, she had decided to stop saying 'You-Know-Who'.

Harry gave her a mental sigh. I wonder what he wants then.

Seeing that Harry was quiet, Malfoy continued. "I wanted to welcome you to the wizarding world. It's easy to make mistakes and associate yourself with the wrong sort. After all, some wizarding families are better than the others, and I can help you with that." He held out his hand and waited.

Harry did not need Ginny's mental prompt not to shake the offered hand. He did not even look at it. "I can see the wrong sort for myself, but thank you for the offer."

"You should be more careful, Potter. You might meet the same end as your parents," the blond boy said, obviously agitated.

Harry wanted to stand up, but Ginny stopped him by taking his hand. He was calmed down immediately.

"Oh, Potter, I see you've got yourself a girlfriend!" Malfoy said.

Harry wanted to answer him but Ginny was quicker. "Jealous?"

The blond boy obviously wanted to retort but he could not find any words so he just turned and left the compartment, his cronies following him.

Harry turned to his best friend. "Girlfriend?" he asked in a high voice.

She turned pink. "Well I… Erm, I didn't want to argue with him any longer," she stammered.

Harry thought about that for a moment. "I can live with that," he said with a smile. "We should probably change quickly."

Ginny was shocked by what Harry had said, and her colour reached a new level, but she did as he suggested.

Jackets were quickly thrown on the seats and replaced by new black robes. Ginny rarely had anything new so she tried to catch her reflection in the window. As the sun was setting down, the light caught her fiery tresses.

Harry looked at her at that moment and he had to smile. The expression on his face was not that of an eleven year old. It was more fitted to a man watching the woman he loves while she walks down the aisle towards their future.

Of course, neither of them was aware of the fact.

A voice from overhead advised them to leave the luggage on the train as they felt it was slowing down. It was time to see the school.

 

---

 

Pure and innocent love is a sight to behold, and Love never missed a good show. After all, it was one of her own creations.

The Realm of the Adults is timeless and the space it occupies is only an illusion. That has many effects and one of them is that any space and any time can be observed from it. Love had already made extensive use of that feature to create the chain of events that was unfolding.

She considered taking a quick view in the future but decided against it. Why ruin the story by just viewing the outcome?

 

---

 

The first years had just been left by Professor McGonagall to speculate about the Sorting ceremony. Both Ginny and Harry were quite calm. Harry trusted Remus, and if he said that sorting was nothing to be worried about, then it really had to be that way. Ginny was also calmed by this, so she just watched the worried faces around her.

Both of them were standing at the front of the group. Harry looked around and noticed that Ginny's brother was giving crazy theories about the ceremony to anyone willing to listen, while Hermione was muttering something under her breath.

I can't believe they're all so worried. Ginny said.

Well, I'm calm, but you have to admit that we really don't know anything about the ceremony.

Their discussion was interrupted by a horde of ghosts. There had to be at least twenty of them. Though Harry had never seen any, even if Ginny told him they existed, he decided they really did not look scary. Ginny only smiled because she had felt it when he jumped as the ghosts appeared.

Professor McGonagall returned and told them to form a line and follow her.

The Great Hall was something neither of them had seen before, and the design and vastness of the Hall was really awe-inspiring.

As their new Professor was setting up a stool with an old hat on it, something clicked in Ginny's mind. Now everything her oldest brother Bill had said once made sense.

Harry, we only need to put the hat on and it will tell us where we go to!

Well, I guess then Remus was right.

Suddenly the hat twitched; a rip near the brim opened and the hat started to sing.

"Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on what you see.
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat,
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
If you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folk use any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!"

The whole Hall burst into applause, but those near the first-years could also hear the sighs of relief.

After Harry had heard the Hat's song, he really was not sure why Remus thought he would be sorted into Gryffindor. As nervousness threatened to overtake him, Ginny's soothing voice entered his head.

Harry, so far you have been calm. Don't start panicking now.

He wanted to say that he did not have a reason to panic before now, but Ginny literally sent a wave of calmness into him. He smiled gratefully at her and shortly brushed his hand against hers to show his thanks.

The Sorting had already begun and he managed to catch only a few names he was familiar with. The fact that Crabbe, Goyle and Malfoy were sorted into Slytherin did not surprise him at all.

Ginny noticed that Hermione, the girl they met on the train was sorted into Gryffindor, as was the boy who lost his toad. She felt sorry for him because he was obviously very clumsy and unsure of himself. Her thoughts came to an abrupt end as she heard the name of her best friend called.

"Potter, Harry!"

Harry took a deep breath and ignored the murmurs and whisperings that overtook the Hall. Seeing Ginny's encouraging smile calmed him down completely and he proceeded to the stool.

The Hat was too big for his head and it covered his eyes and a part of his nose. It did not take long for the Hat to start talking to him.

"Interesting. You are two, and yet you are one. Never have I seen something like this before. Yet it doesn't feel unnatural. Strange and complicated maybe, but not unnatural," the Hat said. "This, all taken into consideration, I can only find one place for you. Under no circumstances can any other House do."

Just not Slytherin! Harry thought and Ginny echoed him.

The Hat completely ignored them. "Only one House suits you. Both of you."

"Gryffindor!" echoed through the Hall.

Harry let out a breath he did not know he was holding and slowly walked over to the Gryffindor table. He was welcomed by red-heads he recognized as Ginny's brothers as he sat down across one of the ghosts he had seen earlier.

He did not have time to look at his surroundings as he wanted to see Ginny Sorted.

The Hat said both of us belong into Gryffindor, Harry said to Ginny reassuringly.

I told you so, came Ginny's smug reply.

"Weasley, Ginevra!"

Ginny stepped towards the stool, but it was really unnecessary. As soon as her name had been called, the Sorting Hat shouted, "Gryffindor!"

She stopped in her tracks, and murmurings again overtook the Great Hall. She looked over at Professor McGonagall, who looked baffled.

McGonagall turned to Professor Dumbledore sitting at the head table with a questioning look. Dumbledore just nodded but it was obvious he, too, was surprised at the Hat's action. McGonagall turned back to Ginny and motioned her to go to the Gryffindor table.

When Ginny took a seat next to Harry, her brothers immediately started firing questions. They were so caught up in this that they missed their brother being sorted into the same house. They also missed his sour expression at the weak welcome.

The red-headed girl was saved from answering the questions by Albus Dumbledore as he had got to his feet with his arms opened wide.

"Welcome," he said. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak! Thank you!"

Ginny, how are we going to explain this? Harry questioned her while everyone was clapping.

I don't know, she replied.

I don't think that's good enough.

No, what I mean is I'll just say that I don't know. It's even almost true.

I really hope that works, Harry said.

"So, Ginny, would you mind telling us now why you didn't need to put the Hat on?" one of the twins asked.

"I don't know," she replied with such sincerity that Harry was slightly taken aback.

"Are you sure?" the other twin asked.

"How would I know? This is my first time here, remember?"

"She is right, Fred."

"Yes, she is, brother dear," George replied.

"I'm sure the professors will inform us once they find out," Percy said.

Ginny turned to Harry and winked at him.

With all the exchange around him Harry almost failed to notice that the plates in front of him were now filled with food. Even though the last weeks with Remus had been an incredible improvement in food offerings, the feast was absolutely amazing. He quickly piled up everything he could on his plate and started eating.

Ginny was not really hungry so she took only a small amount and quickly finished it. She looked around and saw the ghost across from Harry talking to Ron. She could also hear other boys discussing their backgrounds, and the girl they met on the train talking to Percy about lessons. She turned to the High Table.

Harry, look at the staff table. That professor in black, with greasy hair, is staring at you.

He turned following Ginny's mental instructions and indeed, next to Professor Quirrell, whom he had met at the Leaky Cauldron, was a pale man looking at him intently. Quirrell turned towards the man in black and the moment was broken.

I don't think he likes me, whoever he is.

His problem, Ginny sent with a small smile.

Professor Dumbledore stood up again and the hall fell silent. "Now that you are fed and watered, I still have a few start-of-term notices to give you: First years should note that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. And a few of our older students would do well to remember that also." It felt like the last part was directed at the Weasley twins.

"Mr Filch, the caretaker, would like to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors. Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of the term. Anyone interested in playing for their house teams should contact Madam Hooch. And finally, I must tell you that this year, the third-corridor on the right hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish do die a very painful death."

Harry and Ginny looked at each other and just shrugged. They were not sure if the Headmaster was joking or not but it was probably for the best not to try to find out.

 

---

 

After singing the school song and an introduction to Peeves the poltergeist, they were all now in their respective dorm rooms. Harry's bed was next to Ron's, who was already snoring. Harry quickly produced a parchment, a quill, and an ink-bottle and went to the common room. Ginny was supposed to meet him there in a couple of minutes.

The common room was empty. It seemed that everyone was tired from the train ride. Harry sat on the couch and put his writing kit on the desk in front of it. He wanted to write a letter to Remus as he promised, but he wasn't sure how. Thankfully, Ginny agreed to help him.

Soon he heard footsteps and looked towards the girls' staircase to see the red-head descending. She joined him on the couch and leaned into him.

"Where do we start?" Harry asked.

"This is how you do it…" she replied, pulling the parchment towards her.

They spent almost an hour writing the letter and talking before they left for their dormitories. Their discussion was continued on into their dream.

 

---

Dear Remus,

I really don't know how to write letters as this is my first letter. You were right!
Sorting is easy and I got sorted into Gryffindor. The train ride was ok.

You will never guess who I met on the train. Ginny Weasley. She's really nice.
I also met her brother Ron, but he left quickly. I'm not so sure about him.

Actually, Ginny is helping me write this letter. I'm not sure if I could do it
without her.

Hogwarts is really great, and everything is amazing. I'm looking forward to
the classes.

But there is this professor, I think his name is Snape. At the feast he was
looking at me and I don't think he likes me. I'm not sure why.

I hope you're well! If you'd like, you can send a reply back with Hedwig.

Love,
Harry

---

 

Imagine a piece of soul latching onto your own, holding, even hiding. It drains you and leaves a certain mark on you. It is almost impossible to get rid of it. But until you do, you are not really yourself.

But what if your soul is joined by another? We cannot really know, but we could speculate. Two scenarios come to mind. One where the mentioned piece of soul merges together with the two souls, or the other where the piece is thrown off by the sheer energy of the merging.

This brings us to two questions: What did really happen and if the second scenario is true, where does the piece go?