MetaFic

Ginny opened one eye and looked around the room. Harry was sleeping facing her, his hair even messier than usual. He looked relaxed and contented. Ginny smiled.

She rolled over and looked at the clock. Five in the morning. With a resigned sigh she sat up, trying not to disturb the sleeper next to her. She knew once she was awake that was it, she wasn't going back to sleep. She pulled on her dressing gown and stepped into her slippers. Quietly she padded out the door of the bedroom and headed downstairs.

There had been a general outcry when she had told everyone she would be moving in with Harry for the rest of the summer. Despite the various arguments about what was proper, or in some cases, what was fair, her mother had made it abundantly clear that she felt Ginny should be living with the father of her child. Bill had added his voice to his mother's, pointing out rightly, if a bit tactlessly, that the damage was already done, so there was no point keeping them separate. Surprisingly, Penelope had added in a low, shy voice that the two might as well learn each other's foibles before their child was born. The final blow had come when Remus and Jeren both made the case that it would be easier to protect them if they were living together.

Ginny moved out of the Burrow and into the Den that night. She was forced to constantly remind her mother that she was just moving down the road a bit, as her mother had started to cry at the sight of her youngest child all packed up and moving out. The boys had helped her move her things, with Hermione and Ron both staying the night again.

Ginny smiled as she remembered Remus and Sirius telling Ron and Hermione that they wouldn't keep them from sleeping together but they expected them to use some sense. Her smile widened at the memory of Harry, a serious frown on his face, taking Ron by the elbow and steering him into a room for a 'private talk.' She still didn't know what Harry had said to Ron, but Ron had emerged a bit pale and looked at Hermione with apprehension.

She made her way into the kitchen, where she again found Jeren awake and reading a rather large book on the mythology of the Celtic peoples. Ginny wondered if he ever really slept.

"Good morning," she said softly.

He put the book down and looked up. "Good morning to you, Miss Ginny."

She poured herself a cup of tea. She took a sip and looked at the angel. "Not bad." She took another sip. "I've been meaning to talk to you."

Jeren refilled his cup and sat down across from her. "Would you like for me to fill you in, then?"

"Please."

He took another drink of his tea. Ginny studied him closely. He looked a bit apprehensive, but finally he plunged ahead.

"I won't bore you with the details of how Dumbledore managed to contact me. It's some of the most powerful and frankly dangerous magic there is. What I will tell you is a bit about what I do."

Ginny sat up a little straighter. She was eager to hear about how this worked.

"We, that is guardian angels, are able to influence things around our charges that are not directly tied to that person's primary life destiny. For example, I couldn't protect Harry directly from Voldemort when he was captured. That was part of both Harry and Voldemort's primary life destinies. I could have, however, given him a nudge to notice you earlier. I could also have given a nudge to his life that would have allowed him to be free of the Dursleys quicker. These things were not bound up in his primary life destiny. Are you with me so far?"

Ginny nodded. "I think so. You're saying there are things you can't change, things that will happen, but there are little things you can change."

"Right. But understand that those little changes can have a dramatic impact when it comes time to meet the things you can't change. How Harry reacted to his capture by Voldemort, how he will react when it comes time for the final battle, those things are effected by what has happened to him before."

"So your job is to try and prepare your charge for when they meet their true destiny, right?"

"Right, and to protect them from random events that could bollux everything up."

"So you could have stopped us from having a child?"

Jeren smiled wickedly at her. "No."

Ginny let that statement sink in before she continued.

"Can I ask a question?"

"You already did," he grinned at her.

"Was Harry destined to save my life in the Chamber?"

"Are you sure you want to know?"

"Yes."

"No."

Ginny paused. "Then why did he do it?"

"Because he's Harry. Because even then, on some subconscious level, you two were starting to connect. All I did that time was give reality a push to make sure Lockhart got his hands on your brother's wand. Harry did the rest."

Ginny thought for a moment and then asked, "So what's different about how you protect him now?"

Jeren sighed. "We can, if we so desire, make what's called the 'Mortal Choice.' If we do we give up what we are and become a mortal protector of our charge. In my case, what I'm doing is masking Harry's location. He can't be found if I don't want him to be found. I do have certain other magical abilities, but hiding Harry takes most of my power. And I'm only here to protect Harry. I'm not allowed to interfere with any other mortal destiny."

"What happens if you do interfere with another's destiny?"

"There would be consequence I would have to face."

Ginny thought about everything he had said. "So you're mortal now?"

"For all practical purposes, yes."

"And you'll live a mortal life?"

"Yes."

"You're hiding something from me, aren't you? You asked Dumbledore if he knew what he was really asking of you. That's what you're hiding, isn't it?"

"Yes."

"And you're not going to tell me, are you?"

"I'm sorry, Miss Ginny. Maybe someday I will."

"I'm not going to like the answer, am I?"

"No."