Author's note:

This is a repost. Most of the story is essentially the same but I had issues where it was headed and it took me awhile to have a satisfactory fix. I won't be deleting this one, I promise.

*Arthur*

Another day, another galleon. I went over to get a fresh cup of coffee so I'd stay awake while tackling the stack of pages before me. Five inches of parchment of appeals, reports, and general busy work. Five inches stacked vertically.

I didn't really hate my job, in fact I loved it. I just hated being stuck in the office for this many days in a row. When I was sent out to investigate a report of illegal muggle artifact reuse or when there was a legal item that was acting wonky, I was happy. In the office, I'm stuck in this room with one other wizard and there's more than a handful of ministry employees that won't look me in the eye.

Dealing with Muggle items is not a proper job for the head of one of the pure-blood families. But we aren't a proper pure-blood family, either. And of that fact I am very proud.

My lovely, gracious, kind wife. She has so much talent but no one knew it because she had spent the last twenty-odd years raising our children. Now, it was just the two of us again and we had been spending every minute possible getting reacquainted.

I was also proud of our seven wonderful children.

My oldest working for Goblins.

My second oldest serving dragons.

My next son… well, there's always one in the family.

The twins…. After their second year, I plum gave up on writing Howlers. They seemed to know where the line was and seemed to have an eternal competition of figuring out how close they could come to it without being in serious trouble. But with everything they did, they did bring a lot of happiness to many of us.

My youngest son. Always striving, loyal to the family but it's hard to stand out when you have five brothers that have already done everything. Until he met a friend that had to confront You-Know-Who at his first birthday and then at his first year at school. That had been right terrifying when I heard about it after the fact, but nothing compared to what was going on this year. I was ashamed to admit I was relieved that with our blood status I wasn't worrying about them, at least about that. I had always trusted Dumbledore's judgment and while cracks were appearing, I still believed he'd take care of it, even if he was suspended.

Then there was my youngest, my only daughter… the only daughter my family had known in generations. The one who I freely admitted had had me wrapped around her little finger since her fingers could barely wrap around mine. She had been quite… odd over the summer, which I was concerned with, until Molly told me that it had been our houseguest that she had been harboring quite a crush for her age. She had started off the school year quite excited, sending letters to us weekly, but that had tapered off quite a bit by Hallowe'en. I had promised myself to spend extra time with her this summer, hopefully figure out what was wrong.

Then all my plans were scattered to the winds. My door flung open and the last person I expected to see was there. "Minerva!"

She nodded and slowly walked in. Her face looked traumatized. "Merlin, what did the twins do…" She had never needed to come see me personally, especially in the middle of the day.

"Arthur, it wasn't one of your boys…" It took a second to realize what she meant. "There was an incident with Ginny," she said as she closed the door. "Somehow, she got ahold of a diary enchanted by Voldemort, and he has been using it to force her to open the Chamber." She paused as I tried to process what she said.

"How is she?" I could barely let out a whisper.

"She's physical fine, and it's all over now, but you need to come. Poppy is getting Molly."

I nodded and we quickly found the nearest floo, which took us directly to the headmaster's room. Thankfully, Dumbledore had already been reinstated. He was seated at his desk and in front of him was my daughter with my Molly, and as I should have guessed, Harry Potter.

Ginny was terrified and holding back tears. Poor girl never wanted anyone to see her cry. Harry looked even more worried than she did. I walked over to them and was reaching to hug my daughter when Harry jumped out and put himself between her and me.

"Sir, please don't punish Ginny. It wasn't her fault. I should have stopped it, please don't hurt her…" Harry was shaking scared but standing his ground.

I reached out and put my arm around his shoulder. He flinched and I let go automatically. I softly said, "Harry, I'd never hurt her. Professor McGonagall told me what happened, it wasn't her fault." I hugged Ginny tightly and Harry ended up in the mix as well.

Albus volunteered, "Harry and Ron found out where she was and went after her. Ron's in the medical ward for some bumps and bruises but he should be fine soon. Harry killed a basilisk but refuses to let Ginny be left alone."

"A basilisk? That was the monster in the Chamber?"

Harry said, "Yes, sir. Tom… Voldemort has been using Ginny. She was almost gone…"

I let them both go as Molly said, "Thank you Harry. I'm not sure what I would have done if we lost her."

Dumbledore filled us in on some more of the details. When he finished, he said, "Now, Mr. Potter, you do need to have Madam Pomfrey check you as well."

He looked a little reluctant but finally agreed. "Yes, Professor. Good-bye, Mr. Weasley, Mrs. Weasley. Ginny, I'll see you later," he said as he quickly squeezed her shoulder. Ginny nodded but kept staring at the floor.

After he left, Dumbledore said, "Ginny's excused from her classes for today, so you can stay in my office as long as you want. I need to go check on my school."

After he left, Molly said, "Ginny, dear, do you want to come home?"

"No, please. I need to stay. Take my end of year tests. I don't want to run away."

Her stubbornness was a relief. I patted her and said, "All right. But you let a professor, or your brothers or Harry know if you need help."

After a few minutes of silence, Molly said, "Something's not right with that boy at home."

"I think I have to agree." And after risking his life to save Ginny, I couldn't let him go back to what I feared was going on. "Ginny, would Harry staying with us this summer be ok with you?"

She smiled for the first time and nodded. Molly said, "Do what you need to, dear." Her trust in me meant so much.

I nodded and ran after Albus. He thankfully was walking quite leisurely and I caught up to him before he had gotten too far down the hallway, with no one else around. "Dumbledore, have you checked on conditions at Harry's life with his aunt and uncle?"

"They do not treat him as a son, but he is safe there. Also, getting away to a world where he is not a celebrity for a few months a year is good for the boy."

"I have to respectfully disagree, sir. He has had enough difficult circumstances… trauma… I don't think there is danger in the boy being spoiled, even if he ever figures out how many galleons the Potters had. He was locked in his room according to my boys last summer. Bars on the window."

Dumbledore was stubborn as ever. "Nevertheless, he needs to stay there for his own safety. With his mother's sacrifice, she enabled blood wards of protection as long as he lives with his mother's kin."

I shook his head and if it was any other man, I'd be screaming by now. "And do those wards of protection apply to his family?" His lack of response told me they didn't. "Did you see how he was in front of me? He was deathly afraid that I was going to beat my own daughter in front of him! Kids do not come up with ideas like that on their own."

"I believe his uncle has threatened him on occasion, but I would know if he ever was in any real danger."

"And being terrified his entire life isn't cause for concern? It's a wonder he didn't become an obscurus! Godric, help me! You may know students, but apparently you don't know children." I paused for a few seconds and forced myself to lower my voice a few levels. "I want Harry to come home with us. He needs people who care and love for him and he needs men in his life that aren't trying to scare him for being a wizard and put bars in his window or teachers who harass him for looking like his father or who seem intent on turning him into a weapon."

There was a brief flash in his eyes that he hid. "I can't allow that. He needs to return to his aunt's house every year to renew the wards."

I gave up on arguing with him and tried to not think too intently on my plans, just in case he caught a glimmer of it. "Well, I need to go then. Thank you for your time."

I walked back to his office where I found my wife holding my little girl, who was asleep. "He's becoming a stubborn old fool."

"So he won't let Harry come with us?"

"No. However, everything in the world is not up to Dumbledore, is it?"

I laid out my plan and she wholeheartedly agreed. I returned to work after that and put in for a few days off starting the day the Hogwarts Express arrived. That evening, I comforted my wife after the horrible events and the next morning, I visited the Department of Magical Law Enforcement to pull in whatever favors I had available.

*Ginny*

Eight days after the chamber, I was in my bed, alone. I clutched the green jumper my mother made me for Christmas tight in my arms. I had asked for green for two years now. Other than my brother, Harry, and Hermione, no one else really knew what had happened. But everyone knew that I was in the Chamber and when Harry came up with me, everything was put to right. So, everywhere I went, people either stopped whispering and avoided looking at me, or they couldn't stop staring. I was quite tired of it and so I had been staying in my bed except when I forced myself to eat or for end of term tests.

I'm not sure what was wrong with me… besides the obvious. I was having nightmares almost every night. Me and the chamber and Harry never coming. Harry saving me just in time for me to see the light go out of his eyes. Harry being ashamed of me for what I had done and never talking to me again… We hadn't really talked but that was more my avoiding him and everyone else than anything from him.

But when I took my potions test, I knew something more was wrong. Snape never gave any Gryffindor special treatment, but I finished the written test in half the time as anyone else. He angrily accused me of cheating and after a heated discussion with the headmaster, I was told I had to retake the test. I did by myself, after he had performed numerous detection spells on me, looking for cheating devices. It had made me feel light-headed and so tired. Then I took the test, him staring at me with his sunken eyes the entire time. The new version of the test was so hard, I was afraid I was going to fail. I barely finished in the allotted time.

For some reason, Snape must have convinced all the other professors I was trying to cheat. They all knew what had happened to me. My foolishness. They were never going to trust me again. For the rest of my tests, I took them by myself (though that did let me avoid the looks or non-looks of the other students), and they were all so hard.

Even though Dumbledore did not expel me for the diary, I was worried I was going to have to at least repeat my first year. I felt I knew more than I should have, but that was all a mistake. I must not have learned nearly what I should have. Or my memory had so many gaps… what was I taught that I had forgotten?

Hermione found me a few minutes later. "Ginny, Professor McGonagall gave this to me at breakfast. And also said she's going to drag you to a hospital bed if you don't get more regular meals." It was a note that she needed to talk to me about next year in her office.

This was it. I slowly got up and straightened my robes and left the girls' dormitory. Ron was beating Harry at chess yet again. When the raven-haired boy saw me, he looked into my eyes but he wasn't staring like the others. Tomorrow could be the last time I ever saw him if they changed their mind and were snapping my wand.

I walked up to him and quietly said, "I haven't made a lot of friends with my year, with everything…. Is it ok if I sat with you guys tomorrow on the train?" I put on my best doe eyes.

Harry, not hesitating a second, said, "Uh, sure, Ginny, that's fine." Ron didn't seem quite as agreeable, but didn't argue. I was happy for a moment.

Then I remembered why I was up and about in the first place. I quietly slinked to the Transformations classroom. I heard the matronly voice of my head of house say, "Come in Miss Weasley and sit down." After I did, she said "Have a biscuit," and didn't continue until I did.

"I apologize for the deception, but the headmaster insisted you not be aware. You no doubt realize that your exams this year were a bit unusual."

I nodded. "Yes, ma'am."

"Well, after you had a perfect score in Potions in record time, Professor Dumbledore insisted on giving you a combination of the second and third year tests."

I was speechless.

"He suspects you may have retained some information from your experiences this last year. Tom Riddle became a horrible person but at one point he was a brilliant student. Based on how well you did, you would not receive much benefit from second year classes, much of which is review from first year. If you like and your parents agree, you can move up another level."

"Really? And be in the same class as Ron and… Har.. Hermione?"

"Indeed. You also would be in Hermione's dorm room. You may benefit from having someone older around. I'm not sure your current classmates will all be mature enough to help you… if you need it."

I grinned in relief. "I'd like that, Professor."

"I thought you would. Here's a letter for your parents with an explanation. If I don't hear differently, you'll be receiving a third-year list in August."

"Thank you, Professor." I took her leave and shoved the envelope in a pocket and started to pack my foot locker.

I was worried the next morning that Harry would have changed his mind about me sitting with them. I was done with my second hand robes for the year finally. I found a pink tee and a pair of blue jeans that had a yellow flower sewn on the right pocket. I didn't always like wearing such girly clothes, but asking for them was a way to guarantee I wouldn't be wearing something that Ron had outgrew. One of the disadvantages of a large family but an advantage in being the only girl.

I found the compartment Ron and Harry were in, both of them having taken a window seat. My heart sank as I realized he had the opposite problem, and it was much worse. Then my head woke up and reminded me that I always acted like an idiot in front of him and why was I here?

I was stuck there frozen in the door, which wasn't any better. Finally, I heard a cough and felt a nudge. "Ginny, better door than a window…" said Hermione.

I snapped back to reality and moved to the side. "Huh?"

"Sorry, muggle expression." Ron sat there, perplexed. Hermione sat next to him and winked at me. "Honestly, Ronald…"

"Oh… that's brilliant. Though wouldn't always apply to you, Harry."

"What?" I asked.

"Oh, bugger," Ron said.

Harry interrupted. "It's fine. Ginny can you close the door?"

I nodded and took the only seat left. "What's the big secret?"

Harry said, "I have an invisibility cloak. It was my dad's."

"Wow… think of all the fun you could have with that. But it was your dad's?"

"Yeah, it's kind of special to me," he said a little sheepishly.

"No, that's cool! It's just like, pretty much all cloaks like that only last a year at most." I paused. "At least I think so."

Hermione said, "I didn't know that."

Harry said, "You picked up some things. From when he was a student."

I nodded my head, afraid. He could tell. "Don't worry about it, Ginny. I probably speak parseltongue due to this scar. It's not made me bad or anything. Same with you."

"Thanks," I said, relieved.

I settled down and stared at the window over Harry's shoulder. I was on my knees so I could see over him without leaning on him. He and Ron were busy playing a muggle card game Hermione had taught them. Harry won and Ron announced he was going to have a kip.

With the swaying of the train, Ron soon fell asleep. Rather than be drooled on, Hermione decided to check in on Neville and Collin.

A few minutes later, Harry whispered, "I'm having nightmares about the chamber. Are you?"

I nodded, slowly. "I'm sorry."

"Ginny, it's not your fault. I know every adult you've talked to has said that. But you fought him for almost a year. You took the diary back after I found it?"

"I didn't want you to be taken too."

"You let Voldemort hurt you to protect me. Just like… just like my mum. You were brave. I was so scared to see you lying there…."

I didn't feel at all brave, but I was starting to see Harry for who he really was. "Thanks."

"I can't stand the stares. People looking at me for something I didn't do and don't remember. Like I picked being famous for my parents dying. I'd trade everything for my family."

"I… I get that." Every illusion I had of Harry was crumbling.

"Can I tell you a secret? You'll be the only one that might understand."

I nodded. "Yes."

"I felt a connection with him… last year with the stone and Quirrell. And this year. Like he's always near."

I did understand. "I feel an echo still. Like someone else has lived here and left a box or two."

"At least I got the whole snake talking thing out of it."

"I have a surprise too… I wasn't telling my brother over there before Mum and Dad, but I remember enough from Tom's school years that I'm being moved up a year."

"Brilliant! It'll be great to have another friend in class."

My heart skipped a beat. "Are we friends?"

"I'd like to be, if you want."

I grinned. He was just a normal boy who could use another friend. So could I.

"I do." Without thinking, I reached over and hugged him for a minute. "For both our nightmares. I'll make myself remember that you are here, that you are ok. You do the same."

Hermione came back soon after that and nudged Ron awake. As we approached London, Harry became sullen. "I'm going to miss you all. Please write me. If you don't get a response, please tell someone. My uncle knows I'm not allowed to do magic outside of school. I'm scared of what he'll do."

*Arthur*

The morning after the children were home from school, I woke up to the smell of bacon frying. I spent more time than usual getting ready on a day that I had off. Shave, brush hair, put on my muggle-style suit. I needed to make my best impression for this to work.

But first, I had to talk to my sons. Breakfast was the usual raucous affair. Percy was starting his internship at the ministry next week and trying to read while the twins were being extra loud trying to distract him. Ron was busy eating anything laid in front of him while Ginny was quieter than usual. Molly was delighted to have a full house again, but also exasperated at the antics.

Once everyone was finishing up, Molly stepped in to distract Ginny. "Dear, I was going to make a pie later today. Can you go check the bushes in the back?"

She was about to protest, but Molly said. "You'd rather do that than what the boys are doing today." Ginny tried to smile, found a basket, and headed out.

"Boys, I need your full attention for a few minutes," I said after they had cleared their plates. They slowly sat back down.

I didn't have a great way to start, so I just came out with it. "I am very disappointed that none of you were looking out for Ginny. Not even enough to realize she was being possessed by You-Know-Who, being forced to be out of bed at all hours doing who knows what. Percy. You're a perfect. It's not just a badge you get to wear. I'd have expected you to take a closer notice of all the younger students, especially family. Fred, George… with all the running around that place you do, you could have helped. Ron, you and Ginny were inseparable the last couple years. Did you once try to include her with your friends?"

I paused, waiting for arguments that didn't come.

Finally, I said, "And I should have been more involved and I feel more blame than anyone else. If I hadn't lost my temper with Malfoy, she may have never had the blasted diary to begin with.

"We all were too involved with our own lives and friends. I hope we can all fix that. I love all of you boys and Ginny and we will all have tough times in our life where we need each other. Family first."

They all nodded and slowly began to look at me again. "And there is someone else that needs our help. I was grateful for you busting Harry out of his room last summer, but I'm afraid he's going to get the same treatment or worse now. I'm going to his uncle's house this afternoon and will do everything in my power for them to sign over guardianship to your mother and I. If I'm successful, he'll be living here permanently."

Ron blurted out, "That would be brilliant, Dad!"

Fred and George agreed. Molly added, "Don't tell Ginny. If they resist, we are filing criminal reports and it could be long and difficult." They let us know they understood.

Molly then added, "Now off with you! I need the garden degnomed and weeded before you lot scatter."

I spent a good part of the rest of the day reviewing my paperwork and passing the time in the shed, looking at my plug collection. Finally, it was time to go. I walked to the edge of our boundaries and apparated out.

I appeared in Ms. Figg's yard. It was the closest location where the tell-tale crack wouldn't be suspicious. I walked over to the Dursley's and rang the doorbell.

A large, oafish boy answered. "What?" he asked rudely.

"I'd like to talk to your father, if he's available."

"Dad!" He yelled out. "Visitor!"

Harry's uncle appeared a few minutes later. "Eh, who are you? I already told Petunia, we didn't need another vacuum."

"No, sir. I'm here on a matter related to your nephew."

At that, his face paled and he shoved me inside, quickly closing the door. "Are you a solicitor? What has he done now?"

"Not exactly. I actually am here to take him off your hands, if you let me."

He eyed me suspiciously. "What are you playing at? Is there some money I don't know about?"

There was, I supposed, but I wasn't going to discuss that. "No, nothing like that. He's a friend of my children and I think everyone involved would be happier this way."

"You're… you're one of them, aren't you." The words seethed out of his mouth.

"Yes… but wait!" He was about to push me out the door. "If you agree, we will all be out of your life and you'll never be bothered again."

An unsettling grin appeared on his face. "I can agree to that. Where do I sign?"

I unfurled the parchment and explained, "This is a voluntary permanent transfer of custody and guardianship. Bottom left there's a line for your name."

I never had seen a man hurry to find a pen so quickly. "Your wife needs to sign too."

He yelled out "Petunia!" and charged after her. Five minutes later, he appeared with two signatures.

Molly had already signed and I drew a quill to put my name to paper and finalize the document. Vernon said, "And this is guaranteed permanent?"

"Yes, but that's not going to be an issue regardless." I paused for a bit as all of it came crashing together. These… people… had just signed away their nephew to a complete stranger. No regard for anything but getting him out of their door. I could have been a murderer or worse for all they knew!

I swallowed my anger before I lost control. I calmly took the quill, signed my name, and neatly folded the authorization into my pocket. "Now, if you'll show me where Harry is, we won't take any more of your time."

Vernon grunted and said, "Top of the stairs, first door." He turned around and went into his living room without another word.

I cautiously walked up the stairs and undid the lock on the doorknob. Harry was sitting on his bed facing the wall. A few pieces of bread were half-gnawed on the floor.

He turned around and had the shock of his life. "Mr. Weasley?"

"Hello, Harry. How are you doing."

"I'm fine. A little bored and hungry, maybe."

"Well, I'm here to fix all that." I sat down next to his bed. "I've just finished a conversation with your uncle and if you want, you can come live at the Burrow."

"I won't have to see them until next year?"

I smiled. "No, Harry. You won't have to see them ever again, unless you want. Molly and I will be your new guardians. If that is what you want."

"Why? You don't have to…"

"We want to."

He nodded, apparently still not quite believing. "I'll pack your things." With a couple quick flicks of my wand, the few sets of clothes he had taken out we're back in his foot locker. He must not have bothered to get anything else out. "You have Hedwig?"

"Yes, sir."

I put one hand on his things and another around his arm. "Hold on, this may feel a little strange."

In a blink, we were back at the border of the Burrow's wards. I sent Harry's things floating on ahead of us to Bill's old room, which was now Harry's and directly above my daughter's. We had the space and he didn't need to be sharing with Ron anymore.

I put an arm around him and said, "Welcome home."

*Ginny*

Dad had said he would be gone for an hour or so and he wanted me to help Mum in the kitchen. She was working on a roast and had me chopping vegetables while my brothers were outside gardening. I so wished I was allowed to use magic to chop carrots and potatoes and especially the onions. I forgot the advice about not rubbing my eyes which made it worse. Mum also was baking a couple more rolls than she usually did. I didn't think Bill or Charlie were coming.

"Ginny, how about you fix your hair and put something else on."

"Mum, it's fine."

"Ginevra, sometimes you ought to trust your mother…"

Ok, something was up and I didn't feel like arguing at the moment. "Fine." Thankfully, the bathroom was clear and not a total disaster. Sharing with six boys growing up… I got used to a lot of different smells. I put on a purple blouse and spent a few minutes brushing down my hair. After a full day, it often poofed out to the point of looking like a mane. I had stopped wearing two braids and decided a simple ponytail would work. I took my brush and dirty shirt back to my room just in time to see a foot locker float up to Bill's old room.

"Mum, what's going on?" I asked as I walked downstairs.

My dad was back, hanging up his suit coat while Harry stood in the middle of the living room.

"Harry?"

"Hey, Ginny."

Dad said, "I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner, but I didn't want to make you worry, with everything else you've had to deal with."

I grimaced. I was always babied as the youngest and the only girl and now it was ten times worse. Then Dad continued. "Harry is moving in with us. We couldn't let him stay with those people anymore."

"Forever?"

Dad chuckled. "At least until he's old enough for a place of his own." Did I just hear that right?

Harry looked down at the floor for a few seconds and then asked me, "Is that ok?" I responded by running over and hugging him as tightly as I could.

"Of course, I'll love having you here."

He awkwardly returned the hug. "I'm not used to all this still."

Mum was over soon and joined me. "You will be," she said.

A loud trampling indicated my brothers had finally walked in. Ron yelled, "Harry! Dad worked things out?"

"Yeah, I don't know what your dad did, but it must have been brilliant to convince them to let me go."

"That's great. I can have someone watching my back with those two." He motioned to the twins. "Supper ready?"

"You all need to get out of gardening clothes and wash up first!" Mum said.

Harry joined them, he looked like he needed a moment too. I gave my mother a quick squeeze and whispered, "Thanks."

She smiled. "I knew you didn't want a repeat of when you came down in your dressing robe last summer."

In a few minutes, we were all seated. Harry was between Ron and me. My youngest brother said, "This looks great, Mum. I'm hungry."

Harry added, "Thanks, Mrs. Weasley."

Mum said, "Ginny helped with the vegetables. I wasn't sure if you had eaten supper yet."

"No, ma'am."

Dad spoke up. "I don't think he had breakfast or lunch yet either."

Harry looked a little embarrassed. "This is better than anything I would have gotten anyway, Mrs. Weasley."

At some urging, Harry finished off a two helpings. Afterwards, my brothers scattered to their rooms. I started going upstairs and then Harry got up and started clearing the dishes. "I'll get that, dear," Mum said. "You've had a long day."

"Please let me help." He stood there pleading.I quietly watched from the stairs.

She nodded and said, "Just stack the dishes, I have a spell to wash them. Thank you."

He put the plates down and hugged Mum tightly and I could hear a whimper turn into tears. She softly quieted him and he let go a couple minutes later.

Harry slowly walked to the stairs, his eyes red. Before he could say anything, I said, "I understand, Harry. I felt so alone this last year. I can barely think of having eleven years like that."

He silently nodded. "I think… I think I'm going to lie down. It's been tiring."

"Yeah." Sleeping was still a bit hard for me too. "I'll help you with some sheets."

The linen closet was actually near his bedroom. "We don't have anything too fancy. We have red and yellow."

"I'll take the red, please." I fished out two sheets, a pillow, and a blanket, though he probably wouldn't need it.

I leaned over and handed him the bundle. I said, "Good night," and before I knew it, I softly kissed his cheek.

He didn't freak out or push me away. He whispered back, and said "Thanks, Gin," as he grazed his lips on my left cheek.

He closed the door and I stood there heart pounding, not able to move. No one else would he allowed to call me that.

I finally went to my room, feeling funny but not sick. I slipped on a light nightgown and fell asleep.

In my dreams, I was back in the chamber. There was the pain as I felt myself slowly drift away. And then Harry was there and I remembered that this was all over and he was barely ten feet above me. Suddenly, I was on a horse riding through Diagon Alley. Dreams are weird.

I woke up pretty early in the morning since I finally had a full night's sleep. I was rewarded in having a bath for more than five minutes.

When I was done, I put on a pair of blue jean shorts and a v-cut red tee. I walked downstairs and saw Fred and George sitting quietly. Too quietly.

"What'd you do…" I asked with suspicion.

"My dear sister."

"Whatever do you mean?"

Suddenly, I heard a yell of surprise from upstairs and a trample down the stairs.

"Harry's up," Fred said casually.

Suddenly, at the bottom of the stairs, stood a Harry with bright red hair, just in time for mum to run inside to see what the commotion was.

"Boys!"

Harry smiled and sat down on the table next to me. "It's ok. I was just surprised."

George said, "We thought he should have a proper introduction as an honorary Weasley."

"Thanks," he said. "However, you do realize that turnabout is fair play and your sister's picked up a lot of your tricks. If you'll help me, Gin."

I tousled his hair and said, "Of course."

The twins acted in mock fear and scurried outside. "I like the black better," I said.

"I still have pickled toad eyes though."

I felt heat rise to my face in embarrassment. "I'm just taking the mickey on you. It was the only valentine I've ever gotten."

Molly broke the awkwardness and said, "Well, I will have to get after them for not being able to undo their little prank." She picked up her wand, muttered an incantation and suddenly his hair was back to the normal raven black. "That's better. How about you and Ginny go feed the chickens?"

"Sure." I was less confident but I didn't want to make my mother worry. Harry was already at the door and I hurried to follow.

I tensed up as we got close to the coop. It was bright red and had a dozen hens and a rooster. Enough for Mum and Dad and one or two of us, but not when everyone was home. Harry asked, "Thinking about Hagrid's roosters?"

"Yeah."

"Tom showed me some memories… one with you in feathers and blood. You can stay back if you want."

"No, I need to do this." I walked ahead of him and started filling the water trough. Once I started, I was able to stay distracted. Halfway through, I forced myself to ask, "What else did he show you?

Harry was scooping the corn for them. "Uh, you painting the wall. Writing in the diary and trying to get rid of it. He was bragging to me, really. Like he was so big for hurting a first year girl." He was getting mad and then paused for a moment. "I didn't see anything um, private."

That was a relief. I showed him all the hens. "I used to have names for them all last year. But there's been a few new ones when I was at school."

"Ow!" Harry yelped. A big black chicken came from behind him.

"Margaret's a bit anxious around strangers," I explained.

Harry said, "I think she almost walked away with a piece of me."

Ron called out as he walked from the house. "Hey, you two done? I just finished up in the kitchen. I was going to go swimming."

"Sure!" I hadn't been in the water since last summer. A good pond was something Hogwarts could have used.

Harry stammered. "I don't have anything to put on."

Ron said, "Mum can find an old pair and adjust the fit. Come on!"

Harry finally agreed. I ran upstairs to my room and found my suit from last year. I closed the windows, put on a swim cap, and then my suit. It was pink and honestly maybe a little bit too little-girl. It was a one piece with a small diamond cut out, showing just a little bit of stomach. I wasn't sure if Dad was ever going to let me have a two piece. Not that I had anything worth showing. At any rate, it fit, maybe a little tight. I hoped I wasn't done growing already. I grabbed a green towel and headed out.

The boys had already left the house. Typical. I ran to catch up with them and saw Harry sitting at the edge of the stream, his legs dangling over, while I saw Ron's head bobbing in and out of the water, everything else submerged.

I dropped the towel next to Harry and then got a running start and jumped in. I almost leapt back out, it was so cold. I should have remembered, it normally was pretty chilly until July.

I swam from one side to the other and back, about forty feet total. Harry was still just sitting there. I swam up to him and put my hands on his calves under the water. "Do I need to pull you in?"

"I'm not that good of a swimmer, Gin." Come to think of it, he had always found a reason to not last summer.

"You're not gonna get better sitting here. The current's not strong or anything. And I'll protect you," I said with a smile.

Harry didn't make any more excuses. He stood up, revealing a pair of faded blue trunks, I thought they had been Charlie's a long time ago. He took off his shirt. I could see the outline of his ribs, but he wasn't starving. I was so glad Dad got him away from his uncle when he did.

Harry slowly slipped in. "Merlin, that's cold."

Ron said, "It's fine once you get it over with."

"All right, here we go." He dunked himself completely under and came up a moment later.

"Better?" I smiled.

Ron grabbed a small rubber ball and yelled, "Keep away from Shorty!" as he threw it over my head and into Harry's waiting hands.

"No fair!" I said playfully. I swam over towards Harry, who had tossed it back to Ron.

After a couple throws, I decided that Ron was too tall for me to get it from him, and Harry was too good of a Seeker to miss the ball either.

I had a chance with him, though. After the next time he caught it, I did something I had only dreamed of. As best as I could in the water, I jumped onto him, grabbing him around the shoulders.

"Hey!" he said. He quickly put his hands behind his back, keeping the ball out of reach.

I wasn't giving up that easily. I reached around his right side. "Not happening, Gin."

Suddenly, he took a breath and went limp, pulling us both under.

I jumped out squealing and then giggling. "You prat!"

"Here," he said giving me the ball after he got up. "You deserve it." He had a big grin on his face.

Ron came over, with almost a look if shock. He gave me a great big hug that I returned.

"What was that for?"

"I haven't heard you really laugh in such a long time. I missed it."