Chapter 2: Return to the Burrow

"Ronald? Ronald! Get up!" Hermione shouted at her boyfriend, who was still asleep. She took him by the shoulders and shook him violently. All the shouting woke Harry from his own slumber. Hermione acknowledged this, and she turned her attention to him. "Oh good, you're awake."

"Yeah, your shouting wasn't exactly keeping me asleep," Harry said groggily. He then noticed Hermione was practically on top of Ron, trying to shake him awake. "Am I interrupting something?"

"Cute, Harry," Hermione responded sarcastically. "I'm just trying to wake up Ron,"

"Well, that will surely wake him up," said Harry slyly. Rather than continue this battle of wits, Hermione returned to trying to wake up Ron. At last, his eyes popped open.

"Blimey, Hermione!" Ron asked, clearly startled. "How'd you get in the boys dormitory?"

"Seamus lent me his key," explained Hermione. "Come on you two! Get ready straightaway! The train will be here in half an hour."

"Wait, why are we taking the train?" Harry asked. "Aren't Mr. and Mrs. Weasley still here with the car?"

"Yes, but the teachers want us all to go on the Hogwarts Express so they can take a head count," Hermione said. "Naturally, since my things are already packed, I'll be waiting in the common room with Ginny." She then exited the room, allowing the two guys to talk.

"Since when are you such a heavy sleeper?" Harry asked skeptically.

"Alright, you caught me," Ron admitted. "I've been awake for ten minutes." Both laughed as they packed their bags with clothing. "It's probably the most action I'll ever get with all of her rules." Ron's mind suddenly changed to another subject. "By the way Harry, if you and Ginny ever-"

"You'll have me neutered, I know," Harry responded. The time they spent packing went by pretty quickly. The two boys discussed the new teachers for next year, Eloise Midgen's acne removal surgery at St. Mungo's, and the new prospects (And the last hopes) for the Chudley Cannons. Soon, they were all packed and ready to go. They picked up their massive bags and hauled them down the staircase into the common room. Instantly, Kreacher came in front off them holding four plates. Each plate had eggs in the shape of the Dark Mark, with a strip of bacon for the tongue. He placed these, along with four glasses of pumpkin juice, upon the nearby coffee table.

"Good morning, master!" Kreacher chirped cordially. "I made a special breakfast for you and your friends in honor of your marvelous defeat of the Dark Lord."

"Thanks, Kreacher, I really appreciate it," Harry replied. "And for the future, I'd like you to call him 'Voldemort'."

"As you wish, master,"

"And you don't have to call me master, either. 'Harry' would do just fine."

"Master is allowing Kreacher to refer to him by name?" Kreacher asked in shock. "Master, I mean Harry, is truly a great person! Thank you Harry. Now, if you have no more need of me, I will return to the kitchens." Then, with a snap of his fingers, Kreacher was gone.

With Kreacher no longer blocking his view, Harry was able to spot the person he was most looking forward to seeing. Upon seeing Harry, Ginny ran over to him and threw her arms around his neck. Harry then placed his lips on hers, and the two stayed in a fierce kiss for several minutes.

"Good God, some people are eating over here," Ron said as he sat on the couch, eating some of Kreacher's Voldemort-style eggs. "And these people do not enjoy seeing their little sister and their best mate snogging each other while they eat."

Harry and Ginny, remembering they were not the only people in the room, broke apart and grabbed plates of breakfast. They sat on the nearest couch together and began eating at their eggs.

"You know, Kreacher really outdid himself with these eggs," Ron commented. "And this bacon is delicious."

"Well, I'm glad you're starting to appreciate House-Elves and all the help they give us," Hermione said, leaning over and giving Ron a passionate kiss on the mouth.

"I don't really appreciate house-elves, I just like when they do things for me," Ron responded. Hermione gave him a murderous glare. "Come on, Hermione. You know I'm kidding. I just can't believe you're still on this S.P.E.W. thing."

"Why would I ever stop helping mistreated creatures?" Hermione countered. It was clear that this argument was going nowhere, so Ginny decided to step in.

"Can you two just shut up for a few minutes?" Ginny interrupted. "I swear, ever since you two began dating, all the time you two are either fighting or snogging. Can you at least be consistent?"

"Do you want us to start snogging more?" Ron asked.

"Not really," Ginny responded quickly.

"Now you know how I feel," Ron muttered. By the time the foursome finished breakfast, everyone in Gryffindor Tower had left already. Harry spotted Romilda Vane and the gaggle of fan girls smiling and winking at him. However, after receiving a threatening glance from Ginny, the girls faced forward and scurried out of the common room.

"Okay let's get going," Hermione stated as she dashed to pick up her things and run out the door. "We don't have much time before Hagrid arrives with the thestrals."

"You worry too much Hermione," Ron stated, looking at the grandfather clock by the fireplace. "It's only 10:05."

"That says 12:50, Ronald!" Hermione exclaimed. "You got the hands confused!"

"What!" Ron shouted. "We only have 5 minutes to make it to the front of the school! We'll need to use brooms if we want to get there in time! Hurry up!" Harry, however, didn't move. "What are you doing Harry?"

"The security charms were broken during the battle," he stated. "We can apparate down in 5 seconds. Ginny, you're gonna have to go side-along with me."

"Gee, how thoughtful of you," said Ginny sarcastically. Hermione and Ron closed their eyes in thought, then suddenly, they weren't there anymore.

Harry took Ginny in his arms, and gave her a quick kiss on her lips before beginning apparition. He thought about the front doors of the school, and soon he felt a familiar sensation of being compressed, as if he were being squeezed through a tight, rubber tube. However, he was used to this feeling, and it no longer felt as uncomfortable as it did his first time apparating with Dumbledore.

Instantly, Harry felt his feet touch the ground and he felt the warm, summer air. When he opened his eyes, he saw his Ron and Hermione standing next to him, surround by around 240 other students. All of them were awaiting Hagrid's arrival with the carriages, which, though most didn't know it, were pulled by winged, reptilian horses called thestrals.

"That was the weirdest thing I've ever felt in my life," stated Ginny. Harry looked at her to see the same look of alarm and nausea that he himself had felt his first time. "Remind me to skip my Apparition Test in August."

"Wait, didn't you take lessons this year?" Harry asked.

"You're forgetting, Voldemort was controlling the entire ministry and all of Hogwarts," Ginny explained. "I don't think he would want us apparating to safety if he wanted absolute control." Anticipating Harry's next question, Ginny continued. "Professor McGonagall says we'll be having lessons every day for two weeks starting July 1st. Every bloody day."

"Sounds fun," said Harry sarcastically. Harry glanced back over in Ron's and Hermione's direction to see if Hagrid had arrived. The arrival of the carriages was causing an unusual uproar in the older students, and Harry had an idea why. Most of them were now able to see the thestrals.

"Whoa!" Ron exclaimed. "I can see them, the thestrals!" Hermione and Ginny agreed that they could see the beasts as well, and Harry knew it was because they had all seen Fred's death. Everyone around was in a state of confusion. Those who could see the thestrals didn't know why they were there all of a sudden, while those who couldn't were wonder what the reason for commotion was.

"All righ' evrbody!" Hagrid shouted through the crowd. "Fer thosa yer that never seen 'em befir, these critters'r called thestrels. These beasts've bin movin' these here carriages fer over 50 years! The reason ye couldn, or can't, see em is cuz ye can only see em' if yer seen death.

"Since mosta yer saw people die if yers fough' in the battle or sawr it, thosa ye can now see thestrals. Now, if ye'll be so kind as ter get in the carriages. These critters never hurtcha befir, and they ain't gonna hurtcha now, just 'cuz yers can see 'em."

Most of the students were able to get into the carriage, though some of them were too afraid to move closer. However, eventually these people managed to get in the vehicle. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny found Neville's and Luna's carriage and decided to sit in that one. Harry took Ginny's hand and helped her into the carriage, and Ron did the same with Hermione.

When everyone was safely in their carriages, Hagrid signaled to the thestrals to leave the grounds. As told, the beasts began moving their wings quickly. Then, they took off. Within minutes, they were in Hogsmeade. The students traveled in an orderly fashion behind McGonagall down to the train station and boarded the Hogwarts express.

After taking a head count, all the students piled into their comprtments. Harry and his friends all went into one of the back compartments, which were reserved for sixth and seventh years.

"I can't believe it," Ron stated. "This could be the last time we're at Hogwarts forever."

"Somehow I doubt that," Hermione commented.

"How do you figure?" asked Ron.

"I mean that we're coming back in September to take our N.E.W.T.s," Hermione explained. "Since we weren't able to take them this year, we're having the make-up exam on the first day of school."

"Wait, how did you not know that?" asked Neville. "They had an assembly about it yesterday."

"Because as usual, Ron was sleeping through the entire assembly," Hermione mocked.

"You only make fun of me because you love me," stated Ron. He then placed his lips on Hermione's and held her in his arms. The two separated when they heard a knock on the door.

"Anything from the trolley, dears?" The lady pushing the tea trolley asked. "Wait, you three are Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger, correct?" The three of them nodded. "Well, I have special packages for you and your three friends." She then pulled out six containers about the size of a shoe box, with a letter attached to three of them. The lady passed the three letter boxes to Harry, Ron, and Hermione, and gave the three unmarked ones to Neville, Luna, and Ginny.

"What are they?" Luna asked as the Trolley woman exited their compartment. Harry opened his letter and read it aloud.

Dear Mr. Harry Potter,

In honor of your inclusion in our Famous Wizard Cards, please feel free to enjoy this package of delicious sweets free of charge.

Sincerely,

Richard S. Drooble and Bertie T. Bott, co-founders of Drooblebotts Candies™

P.S. Make sure you try the Chocolate Frogs.

Harry opened his package to find an assortment of his favorite candies. The box contained two bags of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, three packages of Drooble's Best Blowing Gum, one cauldron cake, two pumpkin pasties, and five licorice wands. What really interested him however, were the three chocolate frogs.

"Bloody Hell!" Ron exclaimed as he opened one of his chocolate frogs. "We're on the Famous Wizards Cards!" In his excitement, Ron allowed his frog to escape from his hands and leap toward the window.

"Petrificus Totalus," Hermione said, causing the chocolate amphibian to start falling to the ground. "Wingardium Leviosa." The frog then hovered in the air, allowing Ron to reach out and grab it.

"Thanks Hermione," said Ron as he stuffed the frog in his mouth. After eating their frogs, three of them took turns reading their cards aloud.

"This is wicked," Neville commented in awe, eating at his cauldron cake. Ginny seemed strangely silent, however.

"Whats's up, Gin?" Harry asked concernedly, running his fingers through her hair. "You haven't spoken much."

"It's just that, my boyfriend, my brother, and my best friend all made it onto the famous wizard cards, and I'm still a nobody,"

"Don't worry Gin, I'll make sure you have a card, that way everyone will know who you are." Harry knew this wasn't actually what Ginny was upset about, but he decided not to press the matter.

"Thanks Harry," Ginny said gratefully. "You're the best." Harry then put his lips on hers, and held her in his arms. The two stayed lip-locked for several minutes.

"Well, would you look at the time," said Ron awkwardly. "Come on Hermione. It's time for our prefect duties. Well, see you later." Neither Harry nor Ginny responded as Ron and Hermione left the room, as they merely continued their passionate kiss.

Neville, who was beginning to feel somewhat uncomfortable, began speaking with Luna while simultaneously looking out the window. As none of them were looking out into the hallway, they did not see Blaise Zabini enter the compartment.

"Well, what do we have here?" Blaise asked mockingly. "Harry Potter making out with a filthy blood traitor? Just when I though you couldn't be any more pathetic."

"Get out of here, Zabini," demanded Ginny angrily, drawing her wand and pointing it the Slytherin.

"If anyone's pathetic here, it's you," Neville said to Zabini.

"Hmm, killing a snake seems to have made you cocky, Longbottom," Blaise taunted. "But then again, with your size you could probably have killed anyone by sitting on them with your fat ass."

"Insulting other only insults yourself," Luna stated calmly.

"And you must be that Lovegood freak. I heard that your father tried to arrest your friends last year. Shows how much loyalty he has. Then again, what is there to expect from the writer of such an idiotic magazine?" Ginny began to say a curse against Zabini, but before she could, someone else shouted one first.

"Stupefy!"shouted Malfoy, and Blaise flew backward several feet and fell to the ground. When he managed to get to his feet, Zabini dashed down the hall and went back into his compartment.

"Um, thanks Draco," Harry said awkwardly. Draco however, did not respond, and merely shot him an unpleasant glance.

"Oh, Ginny, Luna?" Harry asked as they reentered the compartment. "There's something I want to talk to you about."

"Yes, Harry?" Luna asked with interest.

"Well, now that Ron, Hermione, Neville and I are leaving Hogwarts, I want you two to continue Dumbledore's Army," said Harry.

"I would love that Harry," Ginny said, leaning her head on his chest, while Harry held her in his arms.

"I agree," assented Luna. "Dumbledore's Army was the one place I felt I really fit in, and I would love to help run it.

"Then it's settled," Harry said. As he looked out into the hallway, he saw Ron and Hermione walk by and open the door.

"Harry, great news!" Hermione exclaimed as she entered the room. "I've become Head Girl!"

"That's great," said Harry. "But the years already over. How can you be head girl for one day?"

"It's just an honorary thing," Hermione stated. "Since there were no real head girl or boy this year, they decided to give me the position." She took off the medal from around her neck to show Harry. It was a large golden medal in the shape of the Hogwarts seal.

"And it gets better," said Ron, a hint of jealousy in his voice. "You're the Head Boy! They were so amazed by yours and Hermione's job against Voldemort that they decided to give you the titles as reward." Ron then took out an identical medal out of his pocket and handed it to Harry. When Harry put the medal around his neck, he felt a sudden feeling of power and justice, which he had learned was because of a spell cast on the medal.

"We're pulling into Platform 9 ¾," declared Neville. All six of them pulled out their bags from the overhead compartment and prepared to get off of the train for one last time. At last, the Hogwarts Express came to a stop, and one by one the students exited the massive steam engine. When they got off of the train, Harry and his friends gave one last glance at the Hogwarts Express. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny bade farewell to Neville and Luna before they apparated to the burrow.

Ron, Hermione, and Harry all closed their eyes to concentrate, with Ginny holding tightly to Harry's arm. In an instant, they were teleporting across Great Britain. When the four opened their eyes, they were standing in front of the Weasley's lifelong home, The Burrow. However, the next few days there would not be a joyful few days. In two days was the funeral of Fred Weasley, Remus Lupin, and Nymphadora Tonks.