-1Disclaimer: I do NOT own Harry Potter or anything related to Harry Potter. End of story.

CHAPTER ONE:

It was almost midnight at the Burrow, and everyone in the house was still in full action. Fred and George were sitting in the corner going over business plans, Mr. Weasley and Lupin were having a discussion in the kitchen, Mrs. Weasley was going over wedding details with herself (she could be heard mumbling "only two weeks away!" and "Charlie's will be just around the corner!"), while on the other side of the room, Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Hermione played Wizard's chess.

"I win again!" cheered Ron.

"I let you win!" retorted Ginny.

"Yeah right, Gin. I could wallop you blindfolded with my hands tied behind my back."

"Now, that's just silly," added Hermione. "How could play chess blindfolded and with your hands tied? Think about what you're saying, Ron!"

"I don't know," laughed Harry. "I'd like to see him try, at least…"

"Oh, you can all suck eggs!" joked Ron.

"Molly," Mr. Weasley beckoned from the kitchen doorway. "Can we see you in the kitchen?"

Sensing by his tone that this was something serious, Molly immediately got up and went into the kitchen.

"Look at the time! You should all be in bed! Go on…go on…to bed, the lot of you!"

"Alright, Mum…we're going!" Ron snapped.

"Fred…George…you too!"

Fred and George compliantly got up from their seats and sauntered up the stairs, muttering things like "we're adults!" and "we don't even live here anymore!"

After wishing the girls goodnight at Ginny's bedroom door, Harry and Ron continued up the stairs to Ron's room, and fell into their beds.

"It's nice that Hermione's here," whispered Harry.

"Yeah…" answered Ron half asleep.

"And that your parents let me stay."

"Uh-huh…"

"And that you're sucking an egg , right at this very moment…" Harry teased.

"Yeah…"

Harry rolled over and chuckled himself to sleep.

Downstairs, however, there was anything but laughter in the conversation.

"No, Remus, absolutely not!"

"Molly,…" Mr. Weasley tried to reason.

"It is too soon for him to have anything else sprung on him, and I won't allow it!"

"I know it's soon, Molly, but he needs to know," said Lupin.

"Remus, I won't have you parading him all the way to Paris and bothering that poor girl just to relieve your conscience!"

"They both have the right to know, Molly! And I won't be made to feel guilty for going to see her!"

"What you do is your own business, Remus, and I can't stop you if you want to go. I can, however, put my foot down where Harry is concerned."

"Molly, I know you care about Harry, but you are not his mother, and you can't stop Harry from going if he wants to," reasoned Mr. Weasley.

"You're right, Arthur, I'm not Harry's mother, but I love him as if I were his mother, and I have always had his best interests at heart!"

"So have I., Molly!"

"Remus, do you honestly think that doing this to Harry is what is best for him right now?"

"Molly, I know that this isn't the best timing, but…"

"But what, Remus? Your best interests are more important than Harry's?"

"Look: neither of you are in control of Harry. Harry is fully capable of making his own decisions."

"What are you saying, Arthur?"

"I'm saying that we should let Harry decide."

"That's fair," agreed Lupin.

"I suppose that's correct…but that doesn't mean I have to like it…," added Mrs. Weasley.

"Alright then it's settled: we'll discuss it with Harry in the morning," declared Mr. Weasley.

Little did they know that Harry was sitting in the middle of the staircase and had heard the entire conversation.