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The Ritual

Disclaimer: I don't own the Potterverse!
Author's Note: I was chatting with my Indian friend and this weird fic was born. This is fairly obviously A.U. so I’m letting you know I’ve altered the age kids leave for Hogwarts to thirteen. This makes Harry seventeen, almost eighteen at the start of the fic and Ginny is sixteen, almost seventeen. This means that wizards are legal adults by the time they get their OWLs and getting NEWTs is optional but required for the more advanced positions. It also means they are both over the age of consent for their country of origin at the time of the story.

Chapter One
The first full day back in Privet Drive brought Harry a surprise. He was washing breakfast dishes when his uncle stomped into the kitchen, "Boy! You'll be wondering why there was so little in the fridge today. Its because we're leaving this morning and won't be back until September so why leave food in the fridge to go bad or get eaten by a freak. We'll be gone soon and I hope you starve so I never have to see you again."

Harry blinked in shock and before he knew it he was alone in the house. "I've got to tell Hermione," he said to himself aloud. Then he called her.

“Hello Harry,” Hermione said. “I had the weirdest conversation with the Headmaster yesterday.”

Harry replied, "I just had an odd one with my uncle. They've left for a cruise and won't be back until September."

She smiled unseen, “I’m glad. The twins said they had a plan but I honestly wasn't expecting that. Do you want to come over and talk in person? My folks are at work.”

“Sure!” Harry said. He grabbed his stash of non-magical money and took a cab over.

"Hi!" Hermione said when she opened the door. "Come on in. Want something to drink? We only have sugarfree soda, juice, and water sorry."

“No problem,” he said. "I'd love some juice."

She poured two glasses, "Come out by the pool and sit," Hermione said. "It's a lovely day."

Harry followed her out, “So you talked to the old codger yesterday?”

She giggled then tried to look stern, “He is our headmaster Harry. You should be more respectful.”

“He’s a politician too,” Harry said. “And I’ve yet to see a competent politician in the wizarding world.”

“What about Amelia Bones?” Hermione asked.

“She’s a policewoman not a politician,” Harry replied. “She may be the head auror but there’s still a difference.”

She smiled, “Well I won’t argue with you Harry. And to answer you, yes I did. He was being subtle again.”

Harry snorted, “You mean he was covering his ancient arse so he could later say he knew nothing and keep his hands at least theoretically clean.”

Hermione smirked, “Po-tay-to, Po-tah-to.”

“So what was his oh so subtle hint this time?” Harry asked.

“He started off rambling on about rituals,” she said. “How most are illegal now and even the ones that aren’t are illegal for minors to use. He also mentioned that its a shame you can’t use any rituals before the next school year as you’ll probably need one before then. He referenced the time turner incident then just in case I’d missed the hint.”

“And you call that subtle?” Harry asked.

Hermione smirked again, “For him it was. Anyway he then stated that ‘hypothetically’ you would need a second person to do this ritual with and a private location.”

“You think he knew the walrus family would be gone?” Harry asked.

“I think not Harry,” she said. “But you’ll have to let me finish to find out how I know!”

“Sorry,” he said grinning. “I’ll be quiet.”

“Good,” she replied firmly. “He then mentioned that there are three people in the U.K. who speak Parseltongue now and you've met both the other two.” She frowned thinking, “Then he gave that little fake laugh of his and said he was sure you’d pick the right one to accompany you.” She brought out a large leather bound tome and a small, ornate box. “When he finally left he ‘accidentally’ left these two things behind. “I have read the book. It has an incantation in Parsel but the rest is in Hindi. Also there is a portkey in a box.”

“I don't think I can read that,” Harry said.

“Honestly Harry,” she said, rolling her eyes. “Don't you speak anything other than English and snake?”

He blushed, “Err, no.”

She smiled fondly and patted his arm, “That’s why we make such a great team. You do the fighting and intuitive leaps that defy logic and I do the planning, organizing, and logistics.”

“If we’re such a great team,” Harry said, “why aren’t you doing this ritual with me?”

“Well aside from the hint that it should be another speaker of parseltongue,” she said slowly and trying not to blush. “It is one of the naughtier rituals and I like you a lot Harry but not that way.”

Harry blushed and looked away, then his mind made one of those intuitive leaps she had referenced and he suddenly said, “Ginny!”

Smirking again Hermione said, “Is she the other speaker or were you just imagining doing naughty things with her?”

He tried to ignore that last bit and said, “She must be another speaker or she never would have gotten into the chamber back in her first year.”

“Don’t you think she would have said something?” Hermione asked.

“Not necessarily,” he replied. “You know it’s not well thought of.”

She nodded, “True. So let’s go get her and ask.”

“Not at the Burrow though,” he said. “Her mum would go ballistic.”

“She gets hysterical a bit too often if you ask me,” Hermione said.

“I’m just glad Ginny does not take after her that way,” he said. “She has the Weasley temper but not the Prewett love of histrionics and drama.”

“You’re lucky then,” she said. “So how are we getting to her?”

“Well it turns out you aren’t the only one who was visited,” Harry said. “Luna showed me a very interesting spell that would help now.”

“Oh?” she said. “You ARE going to share right?”

“Of course,” he replied. “It allows you to temporarily connect a fireplace to another fireplace without it registering in the control office. She showed me then warned me that doing so was technically illegal. She said she showed me so that I might want use it to go see Ginny and make sure she was fully recovered from our adventures.”

“Ah, she's subtle too I see,” Hermione said.

Harry snorted, “Yeah.” Then he moved to fireplace and pulled out his wand, “I’ll show you the spell now and we can practice later.” He cast the spell and suddenly there was a green fire in the hearth and it was ready to use. “Hello?” he called out. “Anyone home?”

It took a bit of persuading but once she learned that Hermione was there too Molly was willing to let Ginny go through to him unsupervised.

After hugs all around and an offer of refreshments Hermione showed Ginny the book and asked if she could read it. Ginny shrugged and opened it. She looked at a page and realized it wasn’t in English. “What’s going on Hermione?’

“I’m sorry to trick you a little Ginny,” Hermione said. “But I needed to check to see if you could read written Hindi.” Then Hermione explained her visit from the headmaster and the ritual.

“So you both think I’m supposed to be the other person in this ritual?” Ginny asked.

“Yes,” Harry said. “Obviously, you don’t have to do it. It is illegal and I don’t know what it even involves. I wouldn’t ask you to do something like this normally, but I think I will need the extra power to win the coming battle with Riddle.”

Ginny hugged him fiercely, “Of course I’ll help you Harry!”

“Are you sure?” he asked. “Maybe you ask Hermione to translate it and read it through first before agreeing just in case you change your mind?”

Ginny put one hand on the book and pulled her wand, “I swear on my blood and magic that I will do this ritual with Harry James Potter.” The book glowed and she grinned, “That should show you how serious I am about it.”

Harry gulped, “Well then I guess there is nothing for it.” He looked at Hermione and said, “You said it needed to be done someplace private right?”

Hermione shook off her shock and nodded, “Yes.” She handed him the box.

In it was a note and an old coin. The note said that the coin was a portkey to an island owned by the Potters for nine hundred years and it can take as many people as are touching it but it can only be activated by a Potter. Harry read the note out loud and looked at Ginny.

She said, “I’m already committed but I hope Hermione has a plan to keep my mom from thinking we’ve eloped or something.”

Hermione nodded, “I’m sure I can come up with a good one. I already have some ideas but I’d like to discuss them over food.” She looked at Harry, “In the mood for pizza Harry?”

Harry nodded, “Sure, come on it’ll be my treat.”

For all she said she wanted to discuss things Hermione didn't say much at the pizzeria. She mostly scribbled in a notebook and muttered to herself. She excused herself once to leave the table and they were surprised when she left for about five minutes then came back and resumed scribbling. Eventually she nodded to herself and took a bite of now lukewarm pizza, "I think I have it. if all goes well your mum will be getting a letter tomorrow and she'll want to send you somewhere safe. Take the portkey she gives you. It won't be what she thinks but will instead be my place. I'll call Harry and when he gets here I'll hand you a copy of the ritual and send you on your way. How does that sound?"

Ginny blinked, "It sounds brilliant Hermione, but are you sure you can do it?"

Hermione smiled, "It's done already. Unless something goes wrong soon you'll both be on a tropical island alone."

"Thanks Hermione!" Harry said. "I don't what I'd do without you."