A/N: Thanks to everyone for reading! I want to thank everyone who read and reviewed Prophecy Fulfilled as well. I haven't taken the time to do that since I started the revisions, mostly because I've been trying so hard to get it finished before HP&DH. Since there's only 5 days left before DH is released, I'm beginning to recognize possible defeat. Either way, I will finish. I've worked too hard and too long on this story to be able to just abandon it. I already have everything planned out anyway! I understand most people wont be as interested in reading this once DH comes out, and that's perfectly fine. I'll mostly be finishing it for myself, to prove that I can finish something (other than a songfic). SO to everyone who has stuck with me these past two years (has it really been that long?), thank you! Thank you for the feedback and the support that has helped me get to where I am now, even if I'm a ways from the end still!

For Prophecy:
Brie- Thank you for reviewing, but would you mind elaborating? It would help me tremendously. I appreciate the honesty and the constructive criticism!
Verdad-y-Vida- I didn't mean to make Ginny sound whiny. She's actually my second favorite character of all the books. I don't think she'll be going along in the real version of Book7, but in my version I wanted her there. That's all I can say. I can't see Harry letting her come along without putting up a fight, and I can't see Ginny, as strong as she is, staying behind without a fight. I just wanted to show that she is stubborn and determined, but I fear she came off sounding like a 5 year old. Although, I meant to make her sound childish over the Fleur issue, because that's how I view Ginny's attitude on that subject :)
David305- Thanks for that. I always make stupid little mistakes like that! It's fixed now, though. Btw, are you the David408 from the writer's block?
me!!!!!!!- Read my reply above to verdad concerning Ginny. Again, I don't see her coming in Deathly Hallows, but this isn't Deathly Hallows, this is Prophecy Fulfilled/Order Rising. Like I said above, I didn't mean to make her sound whiny, just stubborn because that is how I view Ginny, and I like that about her. Harry still has resolve, but he recognizes which battles are important to fight and which ones he needs to let go of. To him, stopping Voldemort is more important than making Ginny stay at home. He also realizes (sorry if I wasn't too clear on this) that he coddles Ginny too much, and often doesn't recognize her for who she is.
Neville didn't hear the prophecy. Harry says, "I was the one who was born at the end of July, I was the one whose parents escaped him three times." At these words, Neville figures out that the prophecy could have pertained to him, and Harry confirms this. I'm sorry that you think 6 people is too many. I don't. To me, Harry has never been able to manage without help, and I don't see that changing. But I also wanted each one of them there for a specific reason, which may have come to fruition already or will in a future chapter. And the cupboard conversation was supposed to come out of nowhere, but it was my way of showing that Harry is not alone and that his friends care about him as if he were family. But, honestly, I appreciate the advice and the opinions, I really do.

For Order Rising:

LordHeaven- I'm so glad to see you're still reading! Thanks for continuing to review, I appreciate your feedback! I had the idea for the cave under the tree for awhile and I put the treasure in because I thought it would be a good cover for the cup. Then, I had the idea for the golden crowns and all of that. I've actually never seen Indiana Jones, and afterwards, when I saw the cover for DH, I laughed at the fact that it went along with mine.

Again, thanks to everyone for reading, even if you don't review. And thanks to all my reviewers, especially. I'm working double time with these chapters, writing every second that I can, though it seem impossible at the moment that I will finish by Friday! Well, we'll see! Here is chapter four!

Chapter Four: Percy's Law of Non-Discrimination Against Werewolves

"What are they talking about?" Harry whispered. Remus shook his head.

"What are you doing here?" He demanded of the other werewolves. "The full moon isn't for a week yet."

"We were sent here by Fenrir to guard this forest," the same one spoke. Harry could tell that this one was the leader.

"Do you always listen to Fenrir, Morgum?" Lupin shot back. "Is he your master now?" Morgum growled again.

"Fenrir has always been good to us. He helped us when wizards would not!"

"He made you this way! He's responsible for your condition!" Lupin shouted. "And yet you swear allegiance to him?" Morgum did not reply.

"Fenrir could not help himself when he bit me," he said stubbornly. "The same way I cannot help whomever I bite when I am transformed." Lupin laughed sardonically.

"Is that the sob story he gave you?" He demanded. Morgum twitched slightly. "Because I'll tell you what he said to me last June at Hogwarts. He laughed in my face after I condemned him for biting a human when he wasn't transformed. He remembered biting me, Morgum. He remembered biting you, too. He told me he keeps a list of those he wants to bite and crosses them off when he's completed that!"

"I do not believe you," Morgum snapped roughly. "Fenrir is our friend."

"Fenrir is no one's friend but his own." Lupin reached into his pocket and pulled out a scroll of parchment, unrolling it. "Would you like to know who your real friends are?" He cleared his throat and read:

By order of Percy Ignatius Weasley, Junior Undersecretary to the Minister of Magic, under new law all anti-werewolf legislation is hereby dissolved. Safe houses will be erected around the country for werewolves to use once a month when they transform. Wolfsbane Potion will be readily available, paid for by the Ministry, for any and all werewolves who seek to use it.

Any laws targeting werewolves as a specific breed are considered null and void. Any employers who discriminate against a werewolf will be fined 500 galleons for each offense. This law will take immediate effect today, the 12th of September 1997.

Signed,

Percy Ignatius Weasley, Junior Undersecretary to the Minister of Magic

Cornelius Oswald Fudge, Special Advisor to the Minister of Magic

Remus calmly rolled the parchment and stuck it back in his pocket, allowing the words to sink in for everyone. Harry couldn't help it; he grinned. Morgum was silent for a moment.

"If this is a trick, Lupin," he growled, but Remus held up his hand.

"What kind of werewolf would I be if I played that sort of trick?" He demanded angrily. "This piece of legislation means as much to me as it does to you!" Morgum hesitated, and then stepped forward.

"And what do you propose we do about Fenrir?" He asked. Remus smiled.

"Fenrir's power lies with Voldemort's reign." Several of them flinched. "We must stop Voldemort." Morgum nodded, and then held out his hand. Lupin shook it.

"Tell us what you need us to do."

Half an hour later, Harry and his friends arrived back at the Burrow, using the coins to forewarn Hermione of their arrival. Remus had excused himself to work out a plan with Morgum and the other werewolves.

Harry was anxious to see his best friends, and to be sure that Luna was not blaming herself for "killing" him. He was also anxious to see the horcrux that they had found.

Ginny had explained about the locket and how they had destroyed it. Harry was very proud of them for figuring that out on their own, and he was deeply touched by their loyalty, especially Luna's, for continuing to put themselves in danger for him.

Hermione opened the back door to the Burrow. When she saw Harry, her face went white.

"H-Harry?" She stuttered. He smiled gently and touched her arm.

"It's really me, Hermione. I'm not dead." She threw her arms around his shoulders and hugged the breath out of him.

"Oh, oh my goodness! I can't believe it! How did you-" She turned around. "Ron! Luna!" She shouted. "It's true, he's really here!" Ron came to the door, grinning from ear to ear.

"Hey, mate," he said. He gave Harry a quick hug. "Mum told us, but we didn't believe her. She got a bit frustrated and finally just said we would see for ourselves when you got here." They hurried inside. Mrs. Weasley gave Harry a fierce hug.

"I'm sorry I scared you earlier," he said into her shoulder, his voice muffled. She released him and smiled.

"Don't worry about it," she said. "I'm just happy you're alive." She turned around and gestured at the table. "Sit down, all of you. You're going to eat a decent meal before you run off again." They all sat, except for Harry and Luna, who peeked at Harry from behind Mrs. Weasley, looking apprehensive.

"Hi Harry," she whispered. Harry smiled gently.

"It's all right, Luna," he assured her. "I'm just fine, no harm done." With a hearty sniff, she rushed forward and threw her arms around his waist.

"I'm so sorry!" She wailed. "I really didn't mean to kill you!" Harry chuckled.

"You didn't kill me, Luna. I'm not dead." She nodded as they sat down.

"How are you not dead, though?" She wondered. "I performed the killing curse, or, at least, he performed it through me. It's supposed to be unavoidable and unblockable." Draco raised a hand.

"I think I can answer that, if Hermione would consent to help me." Hermione nodded.

"Well, you see," she began, "Draco's friend couldn't help us with Neville's condition. But he did teach us something useful, something he's been working on for awhile now. Something he worked on with your mother, Luna." Luna stared at her.

"What? Who was it?" Draco shook his head.

"We can't tell you that." He looked at Harry. "Your mother developed it." Harry dropped his goblet onto the table, spilling his butterbeer. Hermione pulled out her wand and silently cleaned it up. Harry ignored this and looked straight at Draco.

"What are you talking about?"

"A long time ago, she figured out a way that the killing curse could be stopped, or blocked, if you will. See, the killing curse goes straight for your life force. To protect you from it, you would have to surround your life force with a magical shield. This is very dangerous to do. Your mother figured out a way to do it without harming the life force.

"But she was never able to finish her work before she died. Luna's mother continued working on it, but she, too, died before it was perfected. She left all of her work with – with my friend – and he finished it only recently."

"So you're telling me that there is a block for Avada Kedavra?" Harry asked, dumbfounded. "And that you both know how to perform it?"

"Well, yes and no. See, it's still somewhat temperamental," Hermione explained. "Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. You can't use it on yourself, either, it won't work properly. Only someone else can do it for you, and that person has to care very deeply about you." She blushed as she said this. "Not in a loving sort of way, that is, just in a friendly way." Harry raised an eyebrow as Ron grinned.

"So, Malfoy, that's what you were doing." Harry nearly choked.

"Malfoy? You cast the block?" He'd been expecting Hermione to say that she'd done it. He knew Hermione cared about him, but Malfoy?

"Look, let's not make a big deal out of this, all right?" Draco demanded, his face very red. "The point is, the Dark Lord knows nothing of this shield, and that can work to our advantage."

"So, you two need to show us how to do it," Harry said. Draco shook his head.

"That's the thing, we can't. I didn't even really know what I was doing, but I had no other choice in the matter so I tried it anyway. It's not really something you can practice, obviously, because who would be willing to be the guinea pig?" Harry nodded. That much made sense.

"So, is there an incantation, at least? Or is it nonverbal?" Draco nodded.

"There's an incantation, though of course it can be performed non-verbally, just like a normal shield. The difference is you have to be thinking as hard as you can about how much you care for that person." He flushed as he said this, glaring at Ginny and Katrina, who were giggling again. "Obviously, for this reason, you cannot cast it on yourself." Harry nodded.

"So, what's the incantation?" He asked. "I know we can't practice it, but I think it would be best if we all at least knew what it was." Draco nodded.

"Right, and I'll teach you all how to say it properly. We'll do it without wands, though. If one of us were to accidentally cast it at someone else, you could really hurt them." Mrs. Weasley bustled over with a plate of sandwiches just then.

"You all look incredibly peaky," she complained. "What exactly have you been doing with yourselves?" She noticed the cut on Hermione head. "Hermione, what happened to your head?" Hermione blushed.

"Just an accident, Mrs. Weasley. I'm perfectly fine now," she assured her.

"Well, I hope you're at least being cautious," Mrs. Weasley muttered. "I still don't like the idea of any of you out there, risking your lives-" Ron and Ginny both gave her murderous looks- "but I know there's no stopping you, so I'll get over it.

They finished their sandwiches in silence, eating as quickly as possible. Harry wanted to find the tiara horcrux as soon as possible, but now he was very unsure where it might be. After they finished eating, Draco suggested that they go into the living room and he could teach them the incantation for the Avada Kedavra shield. Harry nodded.

"Good idea. And then we can discuss where to go next." As everyone moved from the kitchen to the living room, Harry reached out and grabbed Ginny's arm.

"I, uh – could I talk to you?" She nodded, looking bewildered. Harry watched her for a moment, at a loss for words. Was he crazy? What was he supposed to say to her? Ginny, I'm an idiot. Well, that would be a good start.

Harry didn't know what to say. He wasn't even sure what the right thing was to do. He knew one thing: when he had awoken at the Burrow to find himself very much alive, only one person came to his mind. Ginny.

He had almost lost her, and now she had almost lost him. Whether or not that meant as much to her as it had to him, he wasn't sure, but he didn't care. He had to get this off of his chest.

But you promised to protect her.

I can still protect her!

What if Voldemort finds out?

He can't get to her if she's with me!

He almost got to her before. If Neville hadn't saved her…

"Just shut up," Harry told his conscience stubbornly. Ginny raised an eyebrow at him.

"I haven't said anything," she reminded him, looking scared for his sanity. Shaking his head, Harry smiled slightly.

"Ginny, I-"

Selfish! You only care about yourself!

I care about her, too! She wants to be with me!

If you cared about her, you would keep her safe.

"I deserve to be happy!" Harry said loudly. Ginny's eyes were wide and somewhat fearful.

"Harry, do you need to see a healer?" She asked delicately. Harry shook his head firmly, his jaw set resolutely.

"I deserve to be happy," he repeated, this time talking to Ginny. She nodded.

"Of course you do." She patted his arm. When she pulled her hand away, he reached out and caught it in his own.

"And so do you." He blushed ever so slightly and looked at his feet before looking back up at the girl – young woman – that he loved.

"Harry, what is this about?" Ginny demanded. Harry took her other hand.

"Ginny, I can't do this anymore. I can't-" he paused, searching for the words. Yanking her hands away, Ginny glared at him.

"Look, Harry, if you want to tell me to get lost, just say it!" Harry stared at her in astonishment. She couldn't possibly think that!

"Ginny, the happiest I have ever felt in my life was when I was with you. I spent last year fighting my feelings for you because I didn't want anyone to get hurt. That and I didn't want to betray Ron."

"But Ron is perfectly fine with us." Harry grinned.

"My irrational mind did not believe that at the time. I was afraid he would punch me if I told him how I felt about you." Ginny giggled quietly.

"I would have punched him if he had." She looked up at him, suddenly serious. "Harry, what are you trying to say?" He sighed, then took a deep breath.

"I'm trying to say that I'm tired of holding back. I'm tired of allowing Voldemort to make my life miserable." He took her hands again. "Ginny, I almost died. And do you know what the only thing I could think about was?" She shook her head.

"No," she whispered.

"All I could think about was how I never got to tell you how I really feel." Her eyes were shining.

"Harry," she began, but he stopped her.

"I just want you to know, Ginny, that no matter what happens, I'm always with you, right here." He placed his hand over her heart. "And no matter what happens, I – I love you."

She was silent for several seconds. The lack of sound was so deafening that it hurt Harry's ears. Tears slid from her deep brown eyes, to the end of her nose, over her cheeks, connecting the freckles in odd patterns. One other time in his life, Harry had been fascinated by a pattern of freckles on a girl's face. But those freckles had not fascinated him near as much as the ones he was studying now, and that girl had not provoked the same gut-wrenching, heart-pounding love he felt right now.

"Oh, Harry," Ginny whispered finally, before leaning up and kissing him. "I love you, too."

"Oi!" Ron's voice broke them apart sufficiently. "What the bloody hell…?"

"Ron," Hermione appeared behind him, taking him gently by the arm. "Come on; let's go into the living room." When they were gone, Harry and Ginny looked at each other and burst out laughing.

"Leave it to my brother, eh?" Ginny joked. Harry grinned.

"He is the biggest mood killer." Ginny laughed again. Wrapping her arms tightly around Harry's waist, she laid her head against his chest. Harry folded her into his arms and they stood there for several seconds, a comfortable silence enveloping them.

"Harry?" Ginny whispered. "Are you sure about this?" She pulled back and looked down at her feet. "I just don't want you to do this only for me. I can survive until after You-Know-Who-" Harry stopped her with a quick kiss.

"I'm sure," he replied firmly. He didn't want to tell Ginny what he'd been thinking all along – that there might not be an "after Voldemort". He was beginning to understand that his destiny might include the end of his life. And if that was true, then he was going to enjoy the little bit of life he had left… and take down Voldemort with him.

A few minutes later, Harry settled himself on the coach next to Hermione. Ron, who was on Hermione's other side, gave Harry a half-curious, half-exasperated look. Harry smiled and mouthed, "I'll talk to you later." Ron nodded and looked away.

Turning to the group, Harry sighed.

"All right, we have another horcrux to find. The tiara was supposed to be in the woods, but the cup was there instead." Hermione pulled out the Hufflepuff cup, which she had wrapped tightly in her cloak.

"But I thought the tiara was the last one he made before he came after you," Draco said, bewildered. Harry nodded.

"It had to have been. Dorcas Meadowes was killed less than a week before he came after my family. He wouldn't have had time to make another one." Katrina gave him an odd look.

"Did you just say Dorcas Meadowes?" Harry nodded, suddenly remembering what Dumbledore had told him about the woman.

"Yes," he replied quietly. "She was your aunt." Katrina looked away.

"She was like a surrogate mother. My mum and I weren't very close. Aunt Dorcas was my best friend until I went to Hogwarts." Her eyes began to shine and her nose grew red. Ginny patted her arm gently.

"She was a hero," Ginny assured her. "She was the one who discovered that You-Know-Who had something hidden in Albania." Katrina nodded.

"Dumbledore told me. I just hope I can do as much for the Order as she did." Harry smiled.

"You already have," he said, and Katrina smiled back.

"Thanks, Harry." She cleared her throat. "So, the tiara was not in Albania. Yet it was the last horcrux he made, and he was drawn to Albania after he, well, didn't die." Hermione looked lost in thought.

"What we need to figure out is where the tiara could be, and why he wasn't drawn to it instead," Harry summarized.

"Maybe it wasn't as strong as the cup?" Luna suggested. Hermione shook her head.

"I had to have been stronger. He made the cup into a horcrux a long time ago, around the same time as the locket I assume. He made the tiara into one at least thirty years later. The cup has been separated from his body a lot longer."

"So, we have two possibilities," Harry said. "First possibility, though not probable, is that someone – either Regulus or someone else who found out about the horcruxes – has already destroyed the tiara. I doubt anyone else knows about them, and R.A.B. didn't seem to realize that the locket wasn't the only horcrux. He also seemed pretty sure that he would die soon, so doubt he would have had to find it." They all nodded in agreement.

"What's the second possibility?" Ron asked.

"The tiara is somewhere that Voldemort could not get to when he attacked me."

"What do you mean?" Katrina broke in. Hermione smiled knowingly.

"He means that the tiara was in a protected place. Somewhere that whatever was left of Voldemort could not be transported to."

"Somewhere guarded by magic," Katrina said, catching on. Ginny cocked her head to the side.

"Where do we know that's guarded by magic that strong, to keep someone from a piece of their own soul?" Hermione raised an eyebrow.

"I can only think of one place." Harry nodded.

"Hogwarts."