A/N: This is a short chapter in preparation for the return to Hogwarts. Keep reading, let me know what you guys think. I appreciate all reviews, and I promise I'll have the next chapter up as soon as possible.

Location: Diagon Alley, late morning a few weeks later

"Why don't you four run ahead to the shop and see George?" suggested Molly Weasley with a soft smile on her face. "Arthur and I'll pick up your books from Flourish and Blotts, alright?" She looked at each of the four teenagers standing before her, and then back up at the hustle and bustle of Diagon Alley. There was so much going on, and despite the fact that there were scorch marks from wizard battles, and a few shops that had been completely burnt out, the people seemed to determined to try and put as much of the past behind them as possible.

Cheerful "hellos" and "nice to see yous" were heard all through the area, and there was a constant low hum of conversation that filled everyone's ears. It was this little piece of normality, this corner of the wizarding world, that set Harry the most at ease. This place, as with most wizards raised in muggle society, had been his first taste of a life where magic was commonplace.

"Alright," said Ginny catching Hermoine's arm and dragging her off before the other girl could protest. Ron and Harry followed along quickly, trying not to loose sight of the girls as they weaved their way through the crowd of people.

"There," said Ron pointing out the clearly obvious sign of 'Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes'. Bright, animated, and flashing signs and announcements covered the front of the building, adding to the highly upbeat and attention grabbing nature of the shop that had been started by Weasley twins nearly two years ago. When Fred died, George doubled his efforts on the shop now dragging his fiance, and former Quidditch team-mate, Angelina Johnson into the business.

Pushing their way through the throngs of people crowded at the door, the four friends were soon making their way amongst the rows of shelves. At the end of each row was a table with items marked as either "So new you'll think you died and went to heaven," or "so improved that you'll think it's new."

Several large signs pointed the way to "guaranteed solutions to boring lectures" and most prominently featured on a stand on the front counter was a thick book titled "The Ultimate guide to smuggling anything into Hogwarts, written by George Weasley and dedicated to the best twin anyone could ask for."

"Selling something like that is dangerous," stated Hermoine eyeing the book warily with Ginny at her elbow. Harry and Ron had stopped to look through several crates of discounted pranks.

"Aww, now Hermoine," came the ever upbeat voice of George Weasley as a momentary break in the customers gave him the chance to take notice of the two girls. "I thought that out of all people you'd be the one most impressed by the fact that I wrote a book." He grinned and slipped around the counter to bestow a hug on each of them. "Besides, this book sold so well it made it to the top of the Daily Prophet's Best Seller list just this morning," he chuckled. "A few minutes after we opened guess who shows up? None other than Filch himself. The old boy bought a copy of the book from Angelina, refused to speak to me, and left without so much as word."

"You really are incorrigible," said Hermoine.

"And he wouldn't be George if he wasn't," said Angelina Johnson smiling brightly as she made her way out of the back room with a blue pygmy puff sitting on her shoulder.

"Hello Angelina," said Ginny brightly.

The other girl grinned, "I was hoping I'd see you guys soon. I was going to send these by owl, but I thought it'd be better to hand them out in person." She handed them each a cream colored envelope with ornate silver designs laced across it. On the front, each girl's name was written in black ink.

Exchanging knowing grins, Ginny and Hermoine both opened their envelopes. As expected, it was an announcement for the wedding of Angelina Johnson and George Weasley, to take place on Christmas Eve at a lodge in the mountains.

"This is wonderful," said Ginny, her eyes skipping over the contents of the invitation once again. "Do mum and dad know?" she looked up at Angelina as George excused himself to help some customers.

"Not yet," said Angelina, "are they here?"

"Yes, they should be catching up with us in a moment, they were just picking up our books for us," said Ginny, folding up her invitation and sliding it back into the envelope.

"Look Ginny!" Ron's excited voice cut through the crowded shop as he pushed his way forward. "Can you believe this? We've been miniaturized!" He held out his hands and in the palm of each was a small lifelike figurine. One was an exact replica of Ron in his school robes, and the other was a masked figurine that was quickly recognizable as a death eater. "There's a whole set, of almost everyone that was in that final battle. And watch, they interact if you put them near each other." He set the two figures on the counter in front of each other.

They came to life almost instantly, drawing their wands and assuming dueling stances. Circling each other, tiny bursts of green and red flashed across the open spaces between them as high pitched voices called out curses and hexes.

"And you've got to see...they've got a plaque up above the box where these are..." Ron's voice had become solemn as he turned back in the direction he'd come and motioned for Ginny and Hermoine to follow.

The three of them made their way over a spot where quite a few people had gathered. The boxes of figurines were receiving a lot of attention, but it was the plaque on the wall above it that was getting the most stares. Harry was standing, staring up at the plaque, a heaviness about him that was easily sensed by those around him.

Ginny reached his side, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder before looking up at the gold plate on the wall. Engraved at the top, in large bold letters, were the words "Those who gave their lives in the battle against the Dark Lord." Four Columns of names seemed to finally put a face on the sheer number of lives lost.

Names of friends, family members, and complete strangers...they were all there, or at least all that could be accounted for. They were unaware of how long they'd been standing there, when the voice of Arthur Weasley came up behind them.

"Alright," he said softly placing a hand on Harry's shoulder and one on Ron's. "Let's go home, it's been a long day. Molly's already gone back to make lunch."

Slowly, and with a bit more coaxing, they all peeled themselves away and bid goodbye to George and Angelina. It was a silent group that disapparated from Diagon Alley and back to the Burrow.

Location: The Burrow, a few hours later

"Ronald!" Hermoine's tone was highly displeased as she stood with her hands on her hips in front of Ron, who was sprawled in large chair with a book on his lap and a half eaten apple in one hand. "I honestly, cannot believe that you actually bought that book." She reached out and snatched the volume away from him, snapping it closed.

"Hey now Hermoine give that back," said Ron reaching for the book. "It's highly informative. And I didn't buy it, George gave it to me."

"I had hoped that by this point and time you'd grown out of such childish antics," said Hermoine rather distastefully tucking the book under her arm and starting to walk away.

"Where are you going with that? I wasn't finished reading it," groaned Ron jumping up from his chair and following after her.

"Good, it hasn't done too much damage then," she said sourly as she walked out the front door with Ron's book still firmly in her grasp, despite the fact that he'd drawn his wand and was desperately trying to accio it.

The moment she was outside, she drew her own wand and held the book at arm's length for a moment...her first impulse had been to destroy it. A quick and simple blasting curse would get rid of it for good. She could feel Ron's eyes on her back...watching her.

In one quick moment she hitched back her arm, chucked the book up into the air, and flicked her wand at the book. A moment later, it disappeared. Replacing her wand in her pocket, she turned to face a rather ashen Ron. "What did you- where did it go?"

"I banished it Ron," said Hermoine looking directly at him. "We're mature adults now, and above the childish things that we used to do. We're still also house prefects, in case you'd forgotten, which means we're an example to the other students. Besides," she paused for a moment and looked over her shoulder roughly at the spot where the book had disappeared. "I have a bad feeling about it."

"Kingsley Shacklebolt has finally been sworn in as the official minister of magic," said Arthur rather cheerfully as he sat around the table with his wife, children, and the two that were already so close that they felt like family. Forks and knives clinked against plates as dinner was consumed."

"I say, well done," said Harry grinning.

"Kingsley's a much better man for the job than old Fudge ever was," agreed Ron with a grin and a mouth-full of food.

"I thought he didn't want to permanently take the position," commented Molly, looking up at her husband.

"Originally that was the case," said Arthur pausing long enough for a fork full of food to make it to his mouth. After swallowing, he continued, "But when all of the department heads came together, there really was no other person for the job, and Shacklebolt realized it. So he accepted."

"What does that mean for Percy?" asked Hermoine mentioning the third eldest Weasely boy.

"He'll retain his position as aide to the minister," said Arthur. "I've also heard that he may be spending time out at Hogwarts helping to oversee the Aurors that are being kept in reserve around the premises. They don't want to take any chances."

"Which is completely understandable," said Molly glancing over everyone's plates to ensure that they were all eating and that everyone appeared satisfied. "This year, I want everyone completely packed the night before we head to King's Cross. I don't want more of the chaos that's been happening every morning since Bill turned eleven."

Ginny giggled, and glanced over at Hermoine who was shaking her head slowly. Both girls fully aware that nothing would ever be anything short of chaotic when Harry and Ron were involved.

"I told you to have everything packed last night!" Molly Weasely's voice came echoing up the stairs and down the halls. "If you're not down here in ten minutes you can walk to King's Cross!"

Harry, and Ginny were outside with Arthur, busily packing things into the car. Hermoine was off searching for Crookshanks. The bandy-legged cat had decided to go off gnome hunting that morning and hadn't been seen since. Ginny's pygmy-puff, Arnold, was in his little cage, sitting next to Pigwidgen, waiting to be loaded. Everyone noticed the absence of Hedwig, the beautiful snowy owl that had been with Harry almost from his first moment as a wizard. No one said anything, Harry had refused to get another owl and hadn't been interested in any other pets...so for now an empty cage sat upstairs in Harry's room.

Molly came bustling out of the house, "Haven't you gotten those things loaded yet? We're going to be late. Where's Hermoine? We need to have that cat in his cage." Momentarily distracted, she went off to help Hermoine look for Crookshanks. Several minutes later Ron came out of the house dragging his trunk behind him and looking slightly disheveled.

"Finally decide to get out of bed?" teased Ginny as she handed Arnold's cage to Harry to be packed into the magically expanded interior of the car.

"I couldn't find my quidditch robes," he said mournfully as Arthur helped him lift his trunk into the boot of the car. "I was up looking for them all night, and tried to get up early and look for them this morning."

"Don't worry about it Ron," said Harry stepping back from the car. "I'm sure you're mum'll find them in the washing and send them to you soon enough. First match shouldn't be for a few weeks, and you can practice in your extra school robes."

"I know," said Ron, "but it really makes for a sour start to the year."

"Are we ready?" came Molly's voice as she came striding back from the garden. Hermoine was close behind with Crookshanks swinging from her arms. The cat was quickly caged and placed in the car, followed by the humans who were being militantly ordered into position by Mrs. Weasely.

"Quickly, quickly, quickly," Molly repeated the words over and over as she followed along behind the four teenagers and their luggage carts. Expertly crossing the barrier and stepping onto platform nine-and-three-quarters there wasn't a single person in the group who didn't feel a slightly relieved little sigh at the sight of the familiar red Hogwarts engine. Familiar faces were everywhere, as they moved along to load their luggage onto the train.

"Harry! Hermoine!" came the high-pitched and whisical voice of Luna Lovegood. The petite little blonde hadn't changed very much since they'd last seen her. Light hugs were passed around to each of her friends before she stepped back to smile brightly at each of them. "I was afraid you wouldn't come, there were a lot who didn't think that people so famous as you would want to go through another year of school."

"We wouldn't have missed it for the world," said Ron grinning brightly.

"Neville's already got a compartment saved for us," said Luna. The warning whistle for the train broke through the air, and Harry turned slightly...just in time to catch sight of his one time enemy, and long time rival, Draco Malfoy. His eyes narrowed slightly, but a quick prod from Ginny snapped him out of it.

"We need to get on the train," the young red-head reminded him.

With loving hugs from Molly, and Ron demanding that she find his quidditch robes, the four of them hastily boarded the Hogwarts Express.

Reaching the compartment where Neville was seated, Hermoine left Crookshanks with Harry and dragged Ron off to find the rest of prefects.

Harry settled into his seat next to Ginny with a genuine grin on his face for the first time in months.

To my readers: So glad to have you all and hope to have your input and thoughts on my writing. Suggestions to improve my style, criticism and praise alike, are both welcome.

NavyBlueDreamsandKhakithoughts: I'm glad to hear your thoughts on the story so far. Her hair color actually does have something to do with her heritage, but that'll be revealed more later.

gary-t: Thanks for the patience, so nice to see that you're so interested.

Ishi'vanah Zuma Halcyon: Your opinion means so much to me! Thanks for the encouragement.

Mirai Gogeta: Here's more for you to read, with the next chapter already in the works.