Wow! So I expected this story to sneak onto the site unobtrusively, then I woke up this morning to find my inbox full of notifications of favourites, follows and reviews! So a big thank you to all those people! I'm possibly setting myself up for a fall by updating so quickly, but I've written a few chapters so you might as well get the next one. Sorry these early chapters are a bit short. They will get longer, hopefully they'll stay longer.

CHAPTER TWO: Preparations are Made

Ron Weasley, Minister of Magic, was shuffling papers nervously in his office. His deputy, Parvati Patil, entered and looked at him with eyes full of sympathy. "Are you nervous?"she asked, knowing full well what the answer was.

Ron sighed. "The announcement's tomorrow."

"I know."

"A lot of people aren't going to like it. I mean, there are some things they still consider sacred. And this…"

"It makes sense though, with the number of break-outs we've had from Azkaban over the years."

"I'm not even sure how long it will be effective for. Someone will probably find a way around it eventually."

"That's not a reason not to use it now."

Ron nodded. "Well, I guess we're committed."

"Have you told anyone? Your family?"

"No. Not even Harry."

Once in the Great Hall for the welcome feast, Nymphadora had been separated from Gemini and Bradley, who had gone to their respective tables of Slytherin and Hufflepuff. She and Beverley had headed for the Gryffindor table where Beverley had soon started chatting to their friend Maxwell Jordan. The sorting ceremony had progressed without a hitch, with everyone cheering the new members of their houses and politely applauding the others. Nymphadora found it rather strange to no longer be one of the youngest. She had noticed her parents and her brother James among the teachers and fought very hard the urge to wave at them.

Finally, everyone was called to order as Neville Longbottom, the headmaster of Hogwarts, stood up to address them. "Welcome to Hogwarts, which I'm sure you're pleased to see is still standing. I'm sure those of you who weren't here at the time have heard about the pitched battle fought in the school last year. I assure you this is not a regular occurrence. It's only happened four times in my memory." He paused, hoping for a laugh, but instead he just got worried whisperings. He cleared his throat. "I have a special message to you from the Ministry. Tomorrow evening, they will be making an announcement to the whole Wizarding World of Britain. Students will be required to gather in their common rooms under the supervision of the prefects in order to witness it. So, as you're going to be subjected to a speech then, I'll cut this one short. Dig in!" He took his seat and was soon chatting animatedly with Ernie Macmillan.

Beverley leaned over to Nymphadora. "What do you think it's about?"

"I don't know,"Nymphadora admitted. "I've never heard of anything like it happening before."

"Do you think it's to do with what happened last year?"Maxwell asked. "The business with the True Way?"

"Maybe they're passing new laws against muggleborns,"Beverley suggested worriedly. "I mean, it was our people that were behind the True Way."

Nymphadora shook her head vehemently. "Uncle Ron's spent all his time in office getting rid of laws like that. I can't believe he'd change his mind now."

Maxwell shrugged. "Well, I guess we'll find out soon enough."

Harry and Hermione retired to their quarters in Gryffindor Tower after the feast. The students had still been fairly rowdy when they left them but Harry preferred to leave the task of keeping them in order to the prefects unless he was specifically called upon. Besides, he had other things on his mind.

"What do you think Ron's planning?"he asked.

Hermione paused in the act of undressing and looked at him with a sigh. "I don't know, Harry. Contrary to popular belief, I'm not a font of all knowledge or an expert on everything."

Harry shrugged. "You were married to him."

"You were his best friend,"Hermione countered. "In fact, I remember a time when you both spoke to each other more than you did me."

Harry sighed. "Not any more though." He stood looking out the window, the grounds of Hogwarts shrouded in darkness. "He hasn't mentioned anything at Order meetings."

"Well, we haven't really had any formal meetings since that business with Bartholomew James and the True Way. He might have mentioned something in passing to the other members."

"Not to Neville. I sounded him out about it afterwards."

"Seamus then?"

Harry shrugged. "It's a possibility, I guess. But I suppose we'll find out tomorrow evening."

"Good idea." Hermione came up to Harry and put her arms around his neck. "Now, can I please stop worrying about my ex-husband and start focusing on my current one?"

Harry smiled and fell into the kiss.