MetaFic

Harry Potter awoke the next morning with a horrible headache, a nasty taste in his mouth, and feeling as if he had spent the night sleeping in his clothes from the day before. Which, he reflected as he rose to consciousness, was exactly what he had done.

He found his glasses setting folded up on his nightstand. Slipping then on, he glanced at the battered alarm clock to find it was only a little after four in the morning. He looked toward the open window from where he lay and saw Ginger sitting on the sill, her tail swishing nervously. The bed groaned slightly as Harry sat up and Ginger quickly turned around on the sill and jumped to the foot of the bed. She sat there regarding Harry intently.

"Thank you," Harry said, trying to decide how he really felt about his watcher comforting him last night. "That was - that was very kind of you to stay with me last night." Harry tried to hide his embarrassment at having broken down so completely.

Ginger walked over to Harry and, climbing up so that she could reach his face, gave him a gently lick on the cheek with her rough tongue.

Harry actually blushed slightly. "I have to keep reminding myself that you're not really a cat. I probably shouldn't be handling you as much as I do, actually," Harry said as an afterthought. "Not really proper is it, you being a woman and all."

Ginger reached out a tiny paw and delicately put it over Harry lips.

"I'm just saying, I don't want you to think I'm some sort of pervert or something," Harry continued.

Ginger extended one sharp claw and placed it on his nose.

"Of course, if you like being petted, who am I to argue," Harry conceded, looking down at the claw.

Ginger retracted the claw and nudged him with her head.

"Look, I need to use the loo and I think I'll go get cleaned up." Harry got up and gathered his clothes for the day. As he turned back toward the bed, he saw Ginger curl up near the pillows. He supposed that she wouldn't go wherever it was she went every morning until someone came to talk to him.

Harry climbed in the shower, letting the warm water wash away the grime and tears of the previous day. He thought back to last night. At first, he had thought the woman in his room to be his mother, but Harry knew this was impossible. Still, whoever the mystery animagus was, she felt familiar to Harry. As he rinsed the shampoo from his hair, a sudden thought struck him. His head snapped up in surprise and the water from the showerhead struck him squarely in the mouth. He sputtered for a moment, then caught his breath again.

Once out of the shower and dried off, he changed into his clean clothes and went back to his room. As he entered his bedroom the first thing he saw was Tonks trying to make his bed, while Ginger sat on the desk, watching in amusement. The sheet was wrapped around one of Tonks' legs, and the more she spun around trying to untangle herself, the worse things became. When Harry opened the door, she looked up too quickly and over-balanced, falling with a complete lack of grace on Harry's bed.

"I wonder what Professor Lupin would think if I told him you sneaked into my room in the early morning and flopped into my bed?" Harry said with a slight smile.

Tonks sat up quickly, a blush slowly spreading across her face. "You'll do no such thing. I was only trying to tidy up a bit."

"Don't," Harry said. "So how did you get in here anyway."

Tonks pointed at the open window with her thumb. "Through there."

Harry looked at her in disbelief.

"What? I'll remind you I am a highly skilled Auror."

"Right. So I suppose Dumbledore sent you to reassure me that everything's okay," Harry said, a cold, flat edge to his voice.

Tonks was silent for a moment. She regarded Harry steadily, using her training to appraise the young man before her. It was clear from Harry's voice and body language that things were not all right between him and Dumbledore. She swallowed. She would have to talk to Remus about this. It was obvious in that one statement that Harry was far angrier with the Headmaster than anyone suspected. "Actually, Remus sent me to give you the straight story about last night."

Harry visibly relaxed. "Okay."

Ginger took that opportunity to jump up on the windowsill.

"Hey Gin," Harry called before she could begin her leap. The little feline looked over her shoulder at him, a surprised look on her face. "Thanks again for comforting me last night, and could you tell the Headmaster I need to speak to him in person, please?"

Ginger nodded her head and, ignoring the questioning look from Tonks, jumped.

"So," Harry said, turning back to Tonks with a wicked smile. "What news?"

***

Ginny Weasley pushed herself up off her stomach where she lay on Arabella Figg's kitchen floor. She stayed there on her hands and knees, waiting for the pain to pass. She was glad she had not eaten yet, because the gagging that came with the pain would surely have forced anything in her stomach up.

"Oh my goodness. Miss Weasley, are you okay?"

Arabella Figg moved down the stairs as quickly as her old legs would carry her. She had heard a noise in the kitchen and looked at her clock. She was well aware that it was too early for Ginny's morning visits, so she sent a floo message to Grimmauld Place then, picked up her late husband's fowling gun, and slowly moved downstairs. Arabella took one look at Ginny Weasley and, setting the gun aside, quickly went to her cabinet for a potion to help Ginny with the pain. As Arabella started pouring the potion down the girl's throat, the kitchen hearth roared to life.

Molly Weasley took one look at her youngest child and wanted nothing more than to gather her up and take her far away from the war. Instead, she knelt on the floor next to her daughter. "Ginny dear, what happened?"

"I had to transform by myself last night."

"You changed forms?" her mother asked worriedly. "Did Harry see you? You know you're supposed to keep yourself secret."

"It was kind of an emergency mum," Ginny said, starting to recover now that the potion was taking effect.

"Is Harry okay? Do we need to send someone over?" Molly helped her daughter up from the floor and into a chair at the kitchen table. Molly sat next to Ginny.

"Everything's clear," Moody said, walking in through the backdoor followed by Hestia Jones and Dedalus Diggle.

"Harry's fine," Ginny told the assembled Order members, "Tonks is with him right now." Ginny took a drink from the cup of tea Mrs. Figg offered her. "I need to talk to Dumbledore."

"He's a little busy after last night, Miss Weasley," Moody growled at her. "In case no one told you, the Death Eaters burned down a large chunk of Kent."

Ginny looked at the grizzled Auror. "I'm well aware of what happened last night, Professor."

"Then you should know that Professor Dumbledore is very busy right now," her mother said. "Tell us what you need and we'll make sure he gets the message."

Ginny Weasley sighed inside. She knew they were not going to like what she said next, but it did not matter what they liked. This far too important to worry about hurt feelings. She was quickly beginning to understand what it must be like for Harry when the adults refused to take his concerns seriously or listen to him when he needed their help. And frankly, a small, nasty part of Ginny was glad to turn the tables on the adults who had kept her in the dark far too long.

"I'm sorry mother, but I can't discuss this with anyone until I've spoken to Professor Dumbledore."

"Ginevra Weasley," her mother thundered. "Harry's safety is at stake here, and I won’t have you acting like a spoiled little girl who can't have her way!"

Ginny kept her voice low and even. "I'm sorry you feel that way mother, but the fact remains, I can only tell this to the Headmaster, so would you please contact him."

"That's it," Molly said standing from her chair. "I never liked this little plan anyway, and I see you've let the tiny bit of trust we've placed in you go to your head. I demand that you tell me what you're hiding right now, and I forbid you to return to Harry's. You've no business being involved in this mess, you're far too young to understand the seriousness--"

Ginny Weasley cut her mother off with an angry hiss. "I've been involved since my first year at Hogwarts, and if you take me out of Harry's you may as well slap him in the face for all the trust he'll have left in the lot of you. Now mother, if you please, I need to speak to the headmaster." Ginny's fingernails had extended and were gouging ruts in Mrs. Figg's kitchen table.

Before Molly Weasley could retort, a calm, soothing voice spoke from the door leading from the kitchen to the backyard.

"And I am here now, Miss Weasley. If I may ask, what information do you have? I assume this is about Harry in some--"

"I know why you keep Professor Trelawney at the school," Ginny said in a steady voice.

Albus Dumbledore's mind started whirling at an even faster pace than normal. For several seconds he said nothing. Finally, he turned to the others in the room. "Leave us.”

"Professor?" Mrs. Weasley asked quietly, shock spreading across her face.

"Please, Molly, I need to talk to your daughter in private."

Molly Weasley looked about to rebel, but something in the suddenly pale face of Albus Dumbledore made her change her mind. "I'll just be in the parlor if you need me then."

Once everyone had left the room except for Ginny and Dumbledore, the old wizard took out his wand and cast several charms around the room. After five minutes worth of work, he seemed satisfied with the protections he had put in place. He turned to the young redhead, who was currently pouring them both a cup of tea.

"I take it Harry has told you about the prophecy?" Dumbledore said after taking a sip of his tea.

"Among other things," Ginny nodded. "I'm sorry to say this professor, but you've bollixed it up quite badly with Harry."

"Yes, I am all too aware of my shortcomings concerning young Mr. Potter."

Ginny took a drink of tea and gave the Headmaster a steady gaze. "You need to stop thinking of him as young. You need to stop acting like we're silly children who know nothing. Harry knows evil all too well, but everyone around him keeps forgetting that. He's responsible for defeating the greatest Dark Wizard of our time once already, and he knows he has to do it again. You're not helping him by hiding things."

Dumbledore smiled at her. "Has Harry figured out who Ginger is?"

"I think he's close. I think we should just tell him."

"The need to keep your own talent secret is nearly as important as protecting Harry. If Harry knows you're an animagus, it is possible that Tom will discover it as well. Also, it might encourage Harry and his friends to try and become animagi, which could have terrible consequences."

"He trusted me last night professor, he deserves the truth," Ginny idly stirred her tea as she spoke.

Dumbledore looked at her, "I could simply modify your memory. I could force you to forget what Harry has told you. I could force you to forget how to change forms. I'm sure your mother would be relieved if I did."

"But you won't."

"Are you certain? It would be the safest thing to do."

Ginny's eyes never left the Headmaster. "I'm sure I couldn't stop you if you wanted to Obliviate me, but I would try. And you know eventually Harry would find out. Then how would he feel about you?"

"I'm sure Harry would hate me."

Ginny nodded in agreement. "Besides professor, it isn't your style to impose your own will on others in such a violent way."

Dumbledore sighed wearily, "I suppose I shall simply have to trust your judgment, as well as Harry's."

"It's a good first step. More tea?"

"Please." Dumbledore held out his cup. "How are the transformations?"

Ginny's lips thinned. "Painful. I'll be glad when Professor McGonagall can start teaching me to do this the right way. This morning was worse because I changed last night without the potions to help."

Dumbledore's eyebrows shot up. "You managed the transformation by yourself?"

"I didn't have much choice in the matter," she said. Ginny looked up from her cup. "What?"

"That is a very remarkable accomplishment." Dumbledore took out his watch and gazed at it. "Alas, I need to return to the Ministry and you need to return to Harry. And Miss Weasley, would you please tell Harry to met me here tonight at seven sharp?"

"Of course, sir. Someone should tell mum I've gone back."

Dumbledore gave her an amused look. "I will discuss the matter with your mother before I leave."

Ginny stood. "Better you than me,” she laughed, reaching for another potion bottle, the one that would aid the transformation and ease the pain of her joints and muscles re-arranging themselves during the process.

"Are you sure you need that, Miss Weasley?"

"For now."

"Very well, I'll go talk to your mother. Oh, and Miss Weasley, well done on every account. You've exceeded everyone's expectations in this matter."

Ginny blushed under the praise. "Thank you," she said to his retreating back.

Ginny started to drink the potion to aid in her change, then had a thought. She placed several bottles in her robes, then found a scrap of parchment and a quill. She quickly scribbled a note, then rolled it up, leaving it on the kitchen table.

Uncorking the potion bottle, Ginny drank the thick, sickly-sweet liquid in one gulp. She put the bottle down and concentrated on her cat form, feeling the magic flow along her limbs as they changed shape. She pushed the magic in the way McGonagall had taught her over their three-day crash course, forcing the magic along the formula markings all across her body, until finally, with a last shudder, she found herself as Ginger once more.

Jumping onto the kitchen table, she picked the rolled parchment up in her teeth and, with a quick look around the kitchen, jumped toward the window over the table.

***

Harry and Tonks had spent a companionable morning together. She had briefed him on the attack in Kent, giving him what information the Order knew, and pulled no punches when describing the destruction. Harry filed it away as another reason to destroy Voldemort.

She also brought him several letters, including one where Ron told him that Molly had finally threatened to send him off to a far away monastery if he didn't stop pestering her about Ginny's whereabouts. Hermione's letter, after reading between the lines, told Harry that she and Ron where getting serious, and that waiting for the OWL results were driving her insane. Both of his friends said they could not wait until they would all be reunited at The Burrow later in the summer. Luna sent a letter telling him that she and her father were back in England, and while she was in hiding, her father refused to be intimidated and had decided to use The Quibbler to aid the public in gaining information about the war. Neville sent him a short note telling him that Luna was staying at his family's country estate and that McGonagall had told them they would be visiting Harry at The Burrow later.

After Harry finished the letters he returned to his conversation with Tonks, asking her how much she could actually change her appearance. She told him that she could look like anyone, but couldn't changer her basic mass. So she could appear as Lupin, but would only be as large as she already was. Harry asked to see her change into someone else, and with a small smile Tonks changed her appearance to that of Ginny Weasley.

Ginger landed on the windowsill, looked at Tonks as Ginny, and skidded off the sill onto the floor.

With a laugh Tonks returned to her own shape, "Well, time for me to run." She started to climb out the window, "Try and have a good day you two, and I'll–" She lost her balance and with a small shriek, fell out. A thud, followed by the words, "I'm okay," let Harry know Tonks had survived the fall. He wondered for the life of him how the Dursleys hadn't heard all the racket.

"Have a good outing?" Harry asked Ginger.

The tiny Animagus cat picked up the parchment she had dropped and walked up to Harry. He took it from her and unrolled it. He blinked rapidly at its words.

Harry, I don’t care what anyone says, I'm not going to hide the truth from you any longer. You're allowed to do magic this summer. Please lock the door, close the window, pull the shades, and cast a silencing charm.

Harry did all these things, then turned to regard Ginger, ready to know the identity of his mysterious houseguest.