Exiled Years

It\'s been a while huh. Sorry about that. The man\'s gettin\' me down. ...actually, it\'s just school. Ah, well. Whoever reads this, enjoy.

CHAPTER 6: And Then Came the Prophet


Deep March. Flowers. Cool winds. Green grass. Butterflies. Dandelions.

Cool white clouds dot the horizon, shifting and swelling with the gentle breeze. Spring is upon the castle and finals as well. Every face is visibly torn between the need to enjoy the atmosphere or study in dusty libraries.

The Future or the Present. The age-old decision. Some say to enjoy life while you can. Others say enjoy life when you deserve it. Some balance it out. The Future and the Present. For some there is no distinction.


My breath comes short and haggard as I lie on my bed. Another dream. Nightmare. Something. They’re so real, so completely tangible; sometimes I forget that they don’t actually happen, they are all in my head. It is said that the things that are horrible and true are worse that the things that are horrible and lies. If it happened...well, it had to be more horrible, hadn’t it? I’m not so sure ore.ore. I feel like the things I see are true, but some are just so terrifying I don’t want to believe it.

Grabbing my pillow I groan into it loudly. I don’t have to worry about dorm mates any more. I’m a prefect now, room all to myself and all. It’s lonely but I like it. Growing up with like a thousand and three older brothers and no space for myself it is nice knowing you don’t have to stay guarded all the time. At least in my room I can just sit and escape for a little while.

Finally I convince myself I won’t be able to sleep anyway and get up. I dress and then head down to the common room. I don’t expect anyone will be down there; it is four in the AM after all. I’m surprised to see there is a person. Harry Potter is talking into the fire to...to a head. More specifically the head of Remus Lupin.


Maniacal laughter fills the air as the dust settles. A handsome man falls to his knees and breaks his wand with his hands, laughing and staring into the sun. He is young, maybe twenty, twenty-one, and has black eyes and black hair. Sirius Black.

“That’s right, Wormtail! Die you traitor! Die!” Moaughaughter and the aurors come. He doesn’t even fight it.

I turn my eyes to the man again, he is still laughing.

“Alastor Moody?” some one asks.

“That’s me,” I grunt, turning to see Diggory. Amos Diggory, a fine young man, young, and just barely out of Hogwarts. He has a worried frown on his face and his arms are crossed.

“What happened here?”


I stop at the edge of the stairs and listen for a while.

“And he said that for sure?” Lupin asked.

“Yes. Two months from now, that is what he said in the dream,” Harry repeated. He looks tired, too old for his age. His normal sparkling green eyes are dulled, lackluster. He is pale, skinny and drawn. I pity him, really I do. My dreams must be child’s play to some of the things he’s seen.

“Have you told the headmaster?” Lupin asked.

“I was going to tomorrow,” Harry replied. “First thing when I get out of potions actually. I’m telling him everything.”

“Good. I’ll be there within the month, I’m getting my revenge…for Sirius…and for James.”

“Revenge is a dish best served cold,” I interrupt, stepping into the light. I frown at the scene in the common room and check the time. Four forty, still too early for even Hermione. “Or so I’ve been told.”

“Ginny!” Harry said to me in a hushed whisper, frantically trying to hide Lupin’s face. “What are you doing down here? Go back to bed.”

Walking down to the couches I sit down to one near the fire and look at Remus Lupin. He’s not so bad looking, not as evil as they make him out in the papers. He’s a sort of...glow I guess is the word. I’m amazed he’s still there. I guess that this has happened in the past and Harry’s just Obliviated the person. Not a bad strategy.

“I’m not interested in bed,” I say calmly. Looking at Lupin I say, “The war is still a while off. There’s no rush.”

“Ginny! Go to bed,” Harry says again, pulling me up.

I wrest my hand away and frown him into submission. “I won’t let you Obliviate me either. I’m not blind and I’m not stupid. If you’re talking to Remus Lupin so he can’t have done all those things they’re accusing him of. Besides I h Mum Mum and Dad talking about him, Harry. Calm down.”

“Weasley?” Lupin said, speaking for the first time. “Are you Ginny Weasley?”

“I suppose the hair gave it away,” I reply. “You remember me then.”

“Yes.”

“I figured. You looked younger in – in the pictures I’ve seen,” I say, recovering easily. He looks at me quizzically but says nothing. I turn to Harry (who is still frowning) before I glance at the stairs leading to the boy’s dorms.

Ron walks down stairs and his eyes open wide. “Harry? Ginny? What are you doing down here? Remus? Is that you?”

“I’ve got to go,” Lupin says quickly, face disappearing in the fire.

“Great, let’s just have a party,” Harry groaned.

“Ginny! Ginny! Get up, Gin!” I hear a voice say. Slowly my eyes unglazed. Damn it, it happened again. Damn déjà vu! Every time. I blink my eyes several times and take a deep breath, trying to calm myself down.

“What happened, Ginny?” Harry asked; an edge of concern in his voice. “Your eyes...they got all blue and crazy...”

“Ron’s coming down in like five seconds,” I say quickly, getting up and rushing to my stairs. Then I turn back to see Harry and Lupin’s faces. Lupin’s is contemplative and solemn, while Harry’s is worried and drawn. “Meet me on the third floor by the Prefect’s bathrooms tonight at midnight.”

Ducking into the shadow I hear Ron’s voice. “Hey, Harry. What are you doing in down here? Is that you Remus?”

Leaning into the shadows I sigh and then head quietly up the stairs to hide in my room. Why did I say that? Merlin! I need to tell some one, why not Harry?

Because he’s got issues of his own, my inner voice says dully.

My issues are related to his, I’m sure of it, I justify to myself. I nod my head sharply and bring out a book I got from the library. Déjà vu: A Funny French Word or Something More?


I pull my Hogwart’s robes around me tightly. I’m nervous to be out here alone. Filch is active these days, even more so than when I was new here. The whole world knows a war is brewing; the whole world is on edge.

I turn as a gust of air hits me. It has to be Harry in his cloak. I saw it in a vision...I’ve seen a lot of things in visions. “Harry,” I call softly looking around me.

“Sh,” his disembodied voice says to my right.

I nod and open the prefect’s bathroom, locking the door behind me after I feel a gust of air. The lights turn on dim, I’m thankful, though it adds to the conspiratorial atmosphere of the place. Shivering again I steal a glance around me. Large pool size bath, faucets, and large fluffy towels, practically the same as the girl’s room.

“Harry?” I say again.

He pulls his Invisibility Cloak off and sighs, casting a suspicious glance about him. He is still tired looking, still worried.

“I thought you wouldn’t come,” I continue. “I mean...look, some weird stuff is going on –”

“Tell me about it,” Harry said, interrupting me. “I’ve never seen McGonagall so twitchy. I talked to Dumbledore about you today, though I didn’t mention you, he did. He’s worried, but I think he knows something.”

“At least one of us does,” I mutter under my breath. “What did he say?”

“He just mentioned that I should use my cloak to come and meet you tonight. Told me to pass on the message that he would like you to go to his office tomorrow...well I guess it is today now.”

I swallow and cross my arms in front of me, turning from Harry. Of course the headmaster wants to see me. I’m having crazy dreams and he knows everything! How does he do it? In retrospect, I’d rather not know that.

“Ginny,” Harry said softly. His footsteps clicked on the tiled surface of the bathroom as he approached me. “What is going on? Ron said...well he said you were odd this summer. He said you slept a lot and had lots of nightmares, woke up screaming and stuff. I just want to help.”

“Help,” I scoff. “I doubt anyone can help me, Harry. No, not even Dumbledore.”

“Try me,” Harry pressured, putting his hand on my shoulder and turning me to him. His eyes were stern and commanding. But I trusted him still; I knew I could tell him. “I’m sure I can help, and if I can’t, I can help you find some one who can.”

I give in. I’ve kept it all a secret too long. “Harry,” I say, not looking at him, rather his feet. “Do you remember last year when we played Slytherin for the Cup?”

A chuckle. “Yes.”

“And do you remember...you know how I acted odd...not quite right during the match?” I press on.

I look up at him and he is frowning. “Yes.”

“Harry, I knew you were going to catch the Snitch. I knew it before you did, before you even saw it, before Malfoy did.”

“Thanks for the confidence but –”

“No!” I shout. Then I blush a bit and look up into his eyes again. “It wasn’t like that. I saw it Harry. I saw you diving over Malfoy and landing on your broom. I saw the cheers, heard them. That’s why I was off balance and confused.”

“So you had déjà vu?” he asks.

“No,” I say again, shaking my head. “I studied up on déjà vu and I most certainly don’t have that. Besides, déjà vu doesn’t allow you to see the past Harry. I – I saw your parents Harry...they were...” is sniff and lick my lips, I’m losing my breath, “...so happy together...so...”

His eyes go wide and he grasps my arms forcefully. “Tell me, Ginny.”

“I – I,” breathing hard I try to speak, but my vision is going blurry again and I know a bad one is coming. I can’t stop it. The world gains a bluish tint and I collapse against a nearby wall, by breath ragged and uneven. “Harry...help...”

“Ginny!” he says, practically shouts. He crouches down next to me. “Ginny! Ginny, wake up! Don’t go, Ginny! Stop!”

Then the convulsions start, but body practically jumps with power and energy. I can feel the pain coming, just on the brink of my mind it watches. “Ginny!” I hear him say. He grabs my arms as I flail uncontrollably and pulls me close to him, keeping me still. “Ginny! Stay here!”

And the amazing thing is I do. My vision clears and I can see Harry’s face near mine. Tears sting my eyes as I look at him. He saved me. All the pain in those visions, I feel it all. Every neuron in my body reacts, electrifying and torturing me. I imagine it is twice as painful as the Cruciatus Curse, maybe more. I did need help. It wasn’t normal; I needed to see Dumbledore. Not like I needed to beat around the bush like I did last year, I need to really tell him now.

Looking at Harry a small tear rolls down my face. Then he smiles and wipes it away. “It’s all going to be all right,” he says softly, smoothing my short and jagged hair away from my face.

I feel safe and calm. Finally I’m going to be all right, everything is going to be all right now. Harry could save me. I look deep into his eyes and see what I saw before, but different. His eyes are given some life, some spark. A kind of wonder comes over me as he trails his finger over my jaw and to my chin, tipping my face lightly.

“Ginny...” he says softly.

“Yes,” I ask quietly.

His lips brush mine. There is nothing brotherly about this kiss. Hand sliding under my back he brings me closer to him and I adjust so that I can put my arms around his neck. His tongue meets my lips cautiously, almost fearfully, but I open my mouth and shiver as he slides his tongue over the roof of my mouth.

Then Harry pulls back slowly. “I’m sorry, Ginny. I don’t...I don’t know what I was thinking. You were...I was – gods Ginny I’m hard – I mean this is hard! This is...hard...”

He starts toentaentangle himself but I stop him tightening my arms around his neck and diving into his mouth, flicking quickly at his velvety tongue with mine. Startled he doesn’t respond right away, but soon his strong arms fly around me possessively, forcing me closer to him. Straddling his slim waist he grinds into me and I shudder at the primal contact. Like lightning need shoots into my head, warming me and creating a dull ache in my abdomen.

Crushing his pelvis into mine I groan into his mouth, feeding his desire and mine. But then like lightning he stops and pulls away. “Ginny...we can’t do this. I can’t let you get close to me right now. I’ve got –”

“I know,” I say. “I had a...vision about it.”

“I can’t afford for you to be in danger, Ginny. I – I think I...over the past year or two...you’re different and...”

“What?” I say, tears coming into my eyes. He’s going to say it. “No, Harry, please.”

“I think I love you.”

The tears roll down my face and I pull away, standing and crossing my arms.

“I’m sorry Ginny,” he says pleadingly, standing as well and following my retreating form.

“Me too,” I choke out backing into the door. I’m so confused...so...gods I don’t even know what I am. I need room; I need air. “Don’t come after me, Harry,” I say desperately, opening the door and flying to the Infirmary.

Madam Pomfrey accepts my story of not feeling well easily. After my incidents last year I could have said I have a hangnail and she’d let me in. So with out question she leads me to an empty bed and tells me to sleep some, she’d tell my teachers I wouldn’t be coming to class.

Tears run down my cheeks silently. I’m sorry Ginny...I love you...I love you...I think I love you...I’m sorry Ginny... I can hear his voice perfectly. He loved me. After all those year I’d loved him. I’d given up in my fourth year, leaving it as a fancy daydream and nothing else. My feelings were fake and young. I got to know him as a brother and a friend.

So he loves me now. He decides now he loves me. Great! Just great Gin. Look at the hole you’ve dug yourself now. I cry myself to sleep.


I’m calmer in the morning. Madam Pomfrey lets me sleep as long as I want so I get up around eleven, still tired by feeling much better. She lets me take a shower and get some clothes on and I tell her I need to see the headmaster as soon as possible. Of course she agrees and forty minutes later I’m sitting in the headmaster’s office, sucking on a lemon candy. They’re rather good.

“So, Miss Weasley,” Headmaster Dumbledore begins. “I understand that you had something very important to tell me.”

Swallowing the last bit of my candy I nod, looking at my feet before meeting his powerful eyes. I’m not sure where to start, and I’m doubting whether or not I should tell him at all. His pressing gaze convinces me though. I need to tell him.

“Yes,” I confess. “I don’t really know where to start though...”

“I’ve found the beginning is always the best,” Dumbledore prompted.

There is wisdom in his words and I let out a sigh. The beginning it is then. “I suppose it started about a year ago in my fifth year. I began seeing things over again. Like during the Quidditch game we played Slytherin. And then afterwards when I saw you on the field. I know it isn’t déjà vu, I read about it thoroughly. I also see things I think are in the past. I see Sirius Black and Mad-Eye Moody and Arabella Figg all the time. And you too! And Harry’s parents as well.”

“Do these visions come to you in dreams?” the headmaster asked.

“Sometimes,” Ginny explained. “A lot of the times they do, but sometimes I’ll just see something and think it’s real, but it’s not and then it happens like I saw it. I don’t know how much sense that makes.”

“Perfect sense,” Dumbledore said kindly. “What do you feel during these visions?”

I sit silent for a moment. “I’m scared...until I find my spot in them. It’s like I’m flying free thought something really big, but then I attach to someone. I was Moody a couple of times and a few times I’ve been Lily Potter, Harry’s mother. I was even you once. When I connect with a person I am them, but I’m not. I know that I’m still Ginny, but I’m in someone else’s body thinking their thoughts.”

“Do they bring you pain? Do the visions hurt?”

I nod. “Very much so, Headmaster.”

He sighs and leans back in his chair, observing me over steepled fingers. Ginny shifted nervously under the weight of his stare and found herself looking on the ground. “How,” he finally asked, “would you feel about a small test, Miss Weasley?”

“A test for what?” I ask cautiously.

“It will confirm my suspicions as your status as an oracle, Miss Weasley. I cannot confirm whether or not it will hurt or how long it will take. I can, however, tell you that it will give us the answers and possibly a solution.” He sighed and leaned over his desk. “I’ve been worrying about you, Miss Weasley. I can’t impress enough how important this is.”

I lick my lips and say bravely, “I’ll do it, Headmaster.”

Oh, I must be insane. “I’ll do it, Headmaster.” I’m going to die. This is going to kill me. Or it’s just going to hurt a lot. Oh, well, the test it is. I wasn’t put in Gryffindor for nothing you know. All bravery and courage, pip-pip, cheery-o, and all that. Gods I’m stupid.

He looks at me oddly and stands. “Good. I want you to meet me here at seven, after dinner. There is someone I want you to meet. We will give you the test and you will decide what will be done. Good afternoon, Miss Weasley.”

Standing up I give my thanks and take one last look at Dumbledore and his phoenix. The teary eyed bird seems to nod his head at me as I leave. Walking down the stairs I frown to myself. I know the bird is smart, human-like even though it doesn’t speak.

I enter my common room and go up to prefect’s bathroom after collecting my stuff. I rather have some time to myself for a while. Locking the door behind me I sigh and lean back on it, running my hands through my short, jagged locks. I don’t want company. Much good it does me, someone begins banging on the door.

Sinking down to the floor, towel in my lap, I groan and yell, “What do you want?”

“Virginia Anne Weasley!”

My brother.

“Get your arse out here right now!”

Pft, like that is happening.

“Go AWAY, Ron,” I yell back. The door pounds against my head and I grit my teeth. “I don’t want to talk about whatever you are yelling at me for! Just leave me alone!”

I hear muffled voices, Ron, I think, is talking with Hermione.

“Ginny.”

My brother’s girlfriend. How low do you sink, Ron?

“Why don’t you come out? We are all worried about you.”

“I said leave me alone!” I shout.

More muffled voices and then angry foot steps followed by tired ones. I sigh and slip inte hoe hot water. And I thought fifth year was fucked up...


Sighing I follow the headmaster out onto the expanse of grass near the lake and stop. He seems to be calling something to him. Lo and behold a clear liquid makes its way towards us. I shiver as clouds begin forming in the distance. Sky gray and wind sprinting over the grassy fields I look up at the headmaster. His eyes are serious and his mouth set in a firm line, not smiling but not quite frowning.

His friend – Orphel? – looks at me questioningly. He’d barely spoken half a sentence to me. Tall with dark, curly hair and sea-blue eyes he looks like a regular, stereotypical clerk boy. Not hard to look at, but hard to have a conversation with. The setting sun, the dusky sky, distorts his features, causing him to look a bit more regal than I think he would in the light.

“Ginny,” he says, surprising my by using my first name. “Do you know what this is?”

I shake my head.

“This is called Lindarion, a very special potion, hard to make and hard to come by. Do you know what it does?” he asks me.

Shaking my head again I swallow. I am brave; I will go through with this. I cast a look at Orphel but he is impassive.

“It reveals the true power of a person, Ginny,” the headmaster explained. “It used to be strd frd fare to give it to newly born witches and wizards for it told the magical strengths of each. It was stopped because it’s very painful and quite expensive, though a few pureblood, high-class families still do it. This will tell us what is hidden inside you. If it is what I fear it is it will hurt a very large amount. Are you sure you want to do this?”

I inhale, my breath ragged as I breathe out. Adrenaline is coursing through my veins as I nervously try to keep the fear out of my eyes. It’s now or never. “How do I...use it?”

Dumbledore looked at me, a strange sharpness in his gaze. I’d be lying if I said it didn’t worry me. He just nodded, almost imperceptivity, and opened the vial. I could smell it from three feet away. It had a stench so horrid I almost gagged. Like something that was really awful smelling but had been covered over to smell decent. I don’t know how to explain it, but it was wretched.

He held it out to me and I took it, my hand shaking a bit. Then he and Orphel began to walk away. My eyes widened and he looked at me with a calm expression, not worried at all...I think. Smelling the rancid brew again I swallow.

It is thick and oily, not crisp as you think a clear liquid would be. But it hung in the back of my throat and I had to swallow harder to get it all down. I could feel the liquid sticky sweet in my veins; clouding over them and making my blood run slower.


Everything seemed to slow and speed up at the same time. The clouds began whizzing by fast, lightning streaking out over the sky in temperamental little fingers. Students began walking slowly down from the castle, I can’t figure out why. Maybe the storm called them...

The clouds slowed and the students sped up, compensating, perhaps, for the earlier distortation. Then the pain came. Slow and humming, it seemed as though my very veins were turning to stone, barely flowing and thickening. I can feel my body becoming lighter, my head in a daze and fighting unconscious.

My breath comes barely at all and my lungs ache from the lack of oxygen. I try to inhale and I hear myself gasping slowly for air, back contorting and thrusting out my chest. I throw my head back and try to scream, but no voice comes out of my mouth.

Lightning crashes down from above me, long, spindle fingers, thin but with strong warning. Slow motion again. Slow. Slow. To me. Slow. Stop. Fast and over my head. A creeping sensation builds behind my eyes and I blink. It’s the sticky potion, climbing in my eyes.

A scream. It could be me. It could be an onlooker. There are so many now. I look down on them and don’t know why. Am I flying? Am I dying? I feel like I’m dying. I’m not breathing and great shocks of electricity seem to fill my body, causing me to twitch. The liquid builds and builds until I can only see through it.

He will die. He will live. She will be betrayed. She will kill herself. He will join the Death Eaters. She will become a professional Quidditch player. He will surrender to the Death Eaters and his family will be killed. Her firstborn will die in her arms.

Lives of people, people I knew people I didn’t, flashed before my eyes. Quick and steady. Everyone I looked at I knew what would befall them. I knew.

I knew...everything. The universe was open. I knew what was going to happen to me. And it scared me. I shouldn’t be here. It’s dangerous. I should leave. This place will kill me.

Then I remember nothing.