'So you're going to Diagon Alley today?' Harry asked Ollie at the breakfast table.

Ollie nodded her head in response as she swallowed her mouthful of toast.

'Well, I'll take you there before I head to the ministry' Harry said.

'Dad, I can get there myself!' Ollie replied 'I'm not meeting Phoenix until later; I can floo to the Leaky Cauldron if you think that it will be safer than apparating'. She had past her apparation test with flying colours back in March but her Dad still did not like her apparating without adult supervision.

'Ollie you're too -'

'Merlin's beard Dad, I'm 17! I'm not a baby anymore, I can look after myself' Ollie interjected angrily, tied of been treated like a child, not like the adult she legally was. 'Dad, when you were my age, you were gallivanting around the country by yourself, so why can't I just go to London?'

'Ollie, there was a war going on-'

'Dad, all I'm going to do is meet up with Phee in Diagon Alley. Buy some school supplies, have lunch, drop in on Gabby and Dennis and then come home'

'I just worry about you' Harry replied 'I'll meet you in Weasley Wizard Wheezes and we'll go home together' he suggested.

'Fine-' everything else Ollie was going to say was cut off by Ginny entering the dining room.

'Ollie sweetie, do you think you can do Arrie's hair?' she asked 'apparently I'm brushing too hard'

'Yeah, sure Ginny' Ollie replied, clearing her plate away and marching upstairs to sort out her little sister.

'Harry you shouldn't try to smother her' Ginny said as she cleared away the rest of the breakfast. 'Harry you have to realise that she is now seventeen years old and can practically look after herself, she's more mature than either one of us was at that age'

'I just worry about her Ginny, it's my job' Harry replied. 'A minute ago she was the same age as Arrie and Nick, sitting on my shoulders and speaking in lisping baby French and now she is all grown up and about to start her last year at Hogwarts'

'I know' his wife replied standing on the tips of her toes and kissing him affectionately. 'Now go, before you're late for work. I'll make sure she gets to Diagon Alley safely.'

'He's being so annoying at the moment. Unless there is some new dark threat out there, which nobody has told me about, his over protectiveness getting too much' Ollie said to her friend, Phoenix, as they walked arm in arm along Diagon Alley, catching up after the long summer holiday. Phoenix had been away with her family to Spain and had come back a golden brown colour which contrasted greatly to Ollie's pale skin. Ollie hated the fact that despite spending two weeks at her house in Italy, she still was still so white. Her skin did not tan, it only burnt.

'Well at least he let you come' Phoenix replied.

'Well, knowing my Dad, he's probably got his spies from the Auror department following us' Ollie remarked. 'Why wasn't Jon able to come?' she asked

'It's quite hard to make out, but I think that he is visiting his uncle this week, before the new Quidditch season kicks off. Well, at least I think that's what he meant' Phee replied showing Ollie her mobile. 'I don't think he's got the hang of predictive text'

Ollie laughed, remembering how muggleborn Phoenix had introduced their friends to mobile phones last year so they could keep in contact over the holidays because 'owls are too conspicuous in a muggle neighbourhood'. Ollie had known how the work a phone already and Jon, who had studied them in his muggle studies class, seemed to think it was a good idea, enjoying the challenge, but Heather, who had been brought up in an entirely magical family, rejected the idea immediately.

'Have you heard from Heather at all this summer?' Phee asked, enquiring about their other friend as they stopped outside Madame Malkin's.

'Only that she was spending the summer in New York with her mother' Ollie replied.

'I heard that as well, although I did heard from Austin that McGonagall's made her Head Girl'

'How would Austin know that?' Ollie asked puzzled as to how her boyfriend knew this.

'Didn't you know, Austin's been made Head Boy?' Phoenix replied

'He must've forgotten to mention that' Ollie mumbled, hurt that her boyfriend had not shared this piece of news with her and that he seemed to be communicating more with Heather than his girlfriend. She was also annoyed that Heather had not really contacted any of her friends this summer.

'Is everything ok between you and Austin?' Phoenix asked as they entered the shop and started to look through the clothing racks.

'I don't know' Ollie replied honestly, glad to get her troubles off her chest; this question had been bugging her since the start of the holidays. Austin had been great to be around when they had been at school and were working on the project. She had found him kind and endearing when they had gone on dates in Hogsmeade. They had been great dates in Hogsmeade, getting a drink in the Three Broomsticks before taking a romantic walk around the village and the school grounds. They had also had a great time being part of a big group of friends.

However when she had visited Austin at the start of the summer things had been awkward. When they were spending time together, there would be these uncomfortable silences, when they had run out of things to say to each other. Ollie had also found it irritating that whatever topic of conversation they got onto he always managed to lead it back to politics and law. After the ordeal with her Father's trial and the investigation into the corruption in the ministry which had followed, Ollie had come to dislike politicians.

When Austin had come round to dinner, to meet her Dad, he had spent most of the evening talking to him, discussing international politics and cutting down any opinions she held on the subject. They didn't really seem to have anything in common, he even didn't like quidditch, one of Ollie's passions, thinking it was a complete waste of time.

Ollie had considered trying to Ginny about all of this because she knew that Ginny had experience in these matters and it would be less embarrassing than trying to talk to her Dad. However she had decided against it because Ginny always seemed so busy looking after the twins.

'I always told you he was weird' Phoenix finally stated after Ollie had finished telling her all of her relationship woes 'but you did not take my advice and now look at you. Austin does not care about anyone apart from himself. He is extremely ambitious.

'I'm sorry I have been bitching about your cousin' Ollie said apologetically

'Honey, he's my second cousin, who I did not even realise, existed until I received my Hogwarts letter.' Phee replied. 'No one likes him, not even Raven, who normally likes everyone. Now this would look really good on you' she said changing the subject and pulling out a deep purple top and holding it up to Ollie.

'It's nice' Ollie replied, holding it up to herself and looking in the mirror, momentarily distracted from her relationship problems.

With their money pouches considerably lighter, the girls sat under a giant floating umbrella, out of the hot August sun, having a quick lunch. Their bags, filled with all their new clothes, books and other necessary school supplies were on the ground under the table.

'So what are you going to do?' Phoenix asked Ollie, as they started on their huge ice cream Sundays.

'I don't know' Ollie replied 'I could just be being paranoid and everything might get better once we are back at school, so I'll just wait and see. Besides we've got out last year at Hogwarts to enjoy'

'To our NEWTs and beating the Slytherins!' Phoenix toasted

'To crushing the Slytherins!' Ollie added as they raised their glasses before breaking out into uncontrollable laughter.

'So what can I do for you today Ollie?' Gabby asked as Ollie entered the photography studio on Diagon Alley, which was owned by Gabrielle and Dennis Creevey. Phoenix had needed to buy something for her sister from Quality Quidditch Supplies and Ollie knew that if she even entered the shop she would be tempted to blow all her baby sitting money and savings on one of the new Blitzen brooms, which were on display.

'I came to visit you' Ollie replied, approaching the counter. 'How was your Honeymoon?'

'It was absolutely amazing' Gabby replied, as a wistful smile appeared on her face and she summoned a photo album off one of the shelves before passing it to Ollie. She flicked through the pages looking at all the beautiful photos Dennis had taken. It was easy to see why everyone had believed Gabby's cover story, of being a model in Paris, while she worked at the IDA because she looked absolutely stunning in all the pictures.

Gabby and Dennis had finally got married at the beginning of the summer. They had delayed it for ages because they had to help with the investigation at the Ministry and explain how they were able to break in unnoticed to all these high security places. Then they had been busy setting up the photography business.

'Dennis is out the back, if you want to say hello'

'I would but, I'm meeting back up with Phee in a minute'

'Have a good term Ollie and try and keep out of trouble' Gabby called out after her as Ollie left the shop, stepping back into the blinding sunlight. She raised her hand to block out the sun and caught sight of Phoenix waving at her from outside Weasley's Wizard Wheezes across the street.

'Got what you want?' she asked

'Yeah' Phoenix replied, showing Ollie the pair of chaser gloves she had bought. 'I thought I would give them to Raven as an early birthday present, she really wants to make it onto the house team again this year'

'I'm sure that if she plays as well as she did last year, she should have no problem' the new quidditch captain replied as they entered the garishly coloured Weasley shop. Ollie had to blink a couple of times to get used to the brightness of all the colours. 'They've re decorated' she muttered looking around.

'How observant of you, Miss Potter' came the voice of George Weasley, appearing from out of nowhere, to stand next to her. 'You're Dad's just talking to Angelina out the back, something about ordering some of our defence line for some of the new incompetent Auror recruits'

The two girls fought their way through the crowds of people in the shop to the front desk.

'...So Ron will be around next week to collect them' Harry said as he emerged from the back room with Angelina. 'Oh, hello Ollie, Phoenix'

'Hi Mr Potter'

'Hi Dad'

'Did you have a good time?'

'Yep'

'Did you have good summer Phoenix?'

'Yes, I spent two weeks with my family in Spain' Phee replied trying to ignore the tension that was forming between Ollie and her father. 'Damn, I've got to go, otherwise I'll miss the train home' she said turning to Ollie.

'Do you want a lift home? I could side-long apparate you' Harry offered

'Why don't you just apparate, you have your licence?' Ollie asked her friend at the same time

'No thanks Mr Potter, I would apparate but my muggle grandparents, who know nothing about magic, are staying at our house at the moment, so it would be a bit awkward to appear out of nowhere. I'll just get the tube from Piccadilly Circus to Paddington because it's easy to get the train home.'

'I'll see you on the train next week' Ollie said pulling Phoenix into a hug 'thanks for listening'

'No problem' her friend replied, before picking up her bags and walking out of the shop.

'Such a nice girl' Harry commented as his daughter stood next to him in silence. 'You wouldn't believe she was related to that boyfriend of yours' again he gained no response from Ollie. 'I mean he was very nice but doesn't he remind you of-'

'Dad! Can we please not discuss this right now' Ollie interjected angrily as they walked out of the shop.

'Ollie, are you ok?' Harry asked because this behaviour was not normal.

'I'm fine Dad' she replied 'I'm just tired'

Thanks to everyone who has been reviewing this story. This has been a very tough week for me and they have encouraged me to keep going. I hope you enjoyed this chapter and see you next week!

Cherry :) x