Chapter Four - Letters

Harry returned to Grimmauld Place feeling very unsatisfied with how the day had turned out. All the fun of going around Diagon Alley with Sirius, Remus, and Draco had been wiped away by the disaster of his double date with the Patil twins.

He still couldn't believe what had happened. Now that the concept was settling a bit, Harry felt bewildered and a little sad. He and Padma had been a couple for over half a year. They'd studied together, and his marks were better from associating with the Ravenclaw. She'd stuck by him through the hell of the Triwizard Tournament. Most of it, anyway. She, like most of the rest of the school had thought him culpable of hoodwinking the Goblet of Fire. That had been before the dragons.

He had asked her to the Yule Ball, and they'd danced the magical night away, ending with an utterly dizzying snog. She was the first girl he'd ever been serious about, the first one to leave marks on his neck. He'd never expected them to last forever, but he'd been taken completely unawares by the sudden break-up.

Padma had left him. Despite the words he'd shouted in anger, she'd left him. Whatever her reason, she'd dumped him. She wanted nothing to do with him.

He was uncomfortably reminded of the Dursleys. They'd never wanted him. They'd thought him some sort of devil and had treated his presence in their midst accordingly. He'd felt insignificant then, and he felt equally meaningless now.

Harry barely said two words to Draco as he went to his room and lay down on the bed. He didn't want to lift weights or work on his essays for school. He tucked his knees up to his chin and stared at the wall without seeing it.

There was a knock on the door.

"Harry?" Sirius called. "May I come in?"

"Sure," Harry said.

"Did you want to talk about it?"

"Not really."

"Would you be willing to anyway? It could help."

"What's there to say?"

"Why not tell me what happened?"

"I don't even know. Things started all wrong. Parvati jumped down Draco's throat first thing about not seeing him all summer. She knows there's something going on. Parvati kept after him and they finally lost their tempers. Then Padma jumped in and starting calling Draco names. I had to stand up for my best mate, didn't I?"

"Of course."

"Padma's been pestering me pretty bad all month, and I sort of dodged her questions. I'm sure I said too much though. Of course she would tell her sister."

"As she should."

"Yeah, I guess. I just wish Parvati hadn't been so pushy. She just had to know. It's not like we could really tell them anything. We don't know anything. Why wouldn't they believe us?"

"I don't know, Harry. Sometimes things just don't work out. Personalities clash. If it hadn't been this, maybe it would have been another thing. Don't eat yourself up inside because of it. Couples fight. Couples break up. It's the way of things. You don't always find the right one on the first time out. Trust me, I should know."

"I really liked Padma."

"She seems like a girl worth liking, and it doesn't make you bad people because you don't make a good couple."

"I can't believe we dated for seven months. Now it's over, just like that."

"Everything changes, Harry. Nothing stays the same."

"I know. Thanks, Sirius."

Harry gave his godfather a hug. Talking with Sirius had helped him deal with the stress of the Triwizard Tournament too. Not for the first time, Harry thanked Merlin for all the blessings in his life.

That weekend, Harry exchanged a flurry of letters with lots of different people. Poor Regal was constantly going here and there with envelopes clutched in his talons, pinched in his beak, and tied to his leg. The bird accepted the tying, hesitated a moment before accepting the second letter with his talons, and gave Harry a really bad look before snatching the third envelope out of Harry's hand and winging off into the sky. Harry didn't push his luck after that, sending just two at a time, and making sure to have lots of bacon available.

Harry's letter-writing began with a missive from Daphne received the morning after his impromptu break-up with Padma. It was penned in her usual unique handwriting, whimsy having led her to choose blue ink. He opened the envelope and unfolded the parchment, which was also decorated with small designs.

Dear Harry,

Would you care to take wagers on who is having the most boring holiday? I haven't done anythingfun. Mum refuses to let me leave the house with the stupid war back on. I've had to suntan in my room by setting up mirrors in windows. My tan is coming along great, if you were wondering. You might not ask, but I know you're thinking it. If you weren't, you are now!

It's going to be this bad all summer. I just know it. She's off her broom. Keeps on ranting about not going through this again. She doesn't talk much about the war days. I can't wait to get back to school where things are sane.

So enough about me and my problems. How about you and your problems? Tell me all about it so I can tell you to stop being a prat and get over it already. I eagerly await news from the outside world.

All my best,

Daphne

The evil-looking cartoon goblin that Daphne had drawn cackled and pointed at Harry, making him grin at her cleverness. She was pretty handy with her charms, and she wasn't half bad at drawing either. The lines were strong, and the shading was rather good.

Harry wondered at Mrs. Greengrass's foul moods. What had she gone through in the last war that she didn't want to endure again? Had she been in school, compelled by the collective of the house to support those with Dark ambitions? Had her family been threatened to make her comply? Those were Voldemort's tactics, and she would surely be worried about a repeat performance.

Dear Daphne,

So you may as well know. I broke up with Padma. We had a double date with Draco and Parvati in Diagon Alley yesterday after we got done school shopping. They seemed convinced that there was something going on, that we knew more about the war effort than we really did. They didn't believe us when we said no. Parvati called Draco all kinds of names, and they said some pretty awful things to each other. Then she said she'd had enough of him, and he said he'd had enough of her. Then she said she never wanted to go out with him in the first place, and he said he'd only been fooling around with her. It was rather ugly, now that I think about it, but then Padma got into it, saying things about Draco. Well, I had to stick up for my best mate, didn't I? So, I told her to go ahead and follow her sister right out the door. I don't want a girl who thinks my best mate is a slimy bottom-feeder. It's not helpful.

My problems are much the same as yours. I am confined to the house. Glad you figured out a way to tan. The House of Black has a very nice skylight that I have considered laying under. Haven't been that worried about a tan to follow through.

I keep thinking about the war and how tough things are going to be now. I hope you can persuade your folks to stay neutral. It doesn't sound like they're eager to fight at all. Neutral is better than nothing, but you're with me at least. I couldn't ask for a whole lot more.

Cheers,

Harry

P.S.: I'm a prefect!

POTTER BREAKS HEARTS

by Rita Skeeter

Single witches from age 14-24 can start working on their new look - Harry Potter is available again.

The Champion from Slytherin persevered in the Triwizard Tournament with the comfort and support of his girlfriend, Padma Patil of Ravenclaw. She was radiant in turquoise at the Yule Ball. She was at his side as he prepared for the rescue mission under the lake and the twisted tangles of the maze.

What foul influence turned such sweet, promising love into poison?

Just yesterday, the pair met for a double date with Padma's twin sister Parvati and Harry's best mate Draco Malfoy. It should have been ice cream and sunshine, but the peace was shattered when the girls got pushy.

"We've been in hiding since the end of school," Draco said by owl. "With the war on again, security is a big deal. Those girls have been trying to get us to tell them where we are all summer. Then when we finally do get a chance to see them, they don't stop asking. I'd like to know why they were so insistent."

Mayank Patil is a dealer in fine perfumes, and he does much importing and exporting. Is he selling more than scents? Could the Dark Lord have put Patil under his thumb? What other reason could there be for demanding to know the details of Harry Potter's security?

Amelia Bones, Director of Magical Law Enforcement, had no comment when asked about a potential investigation of Patil. As we know, the Auror's office only comments when there is nothing going on. Readers, draw your own conclusions.

Harry plays Seeker on the Slytherin Quidditch team, and sport and weight-lifting have earned him a body to be proud of. He has the most dreamy green eyes a girl could ever want to get lost in. Harry's not just a pretty face, though. He is also a prefect. They'll be knocking down his door by the dozen.

Dear Harry,

YOU BROKE UP WITH PADMA FOR MALFOY?! You IDIOT! What a FOOL you are! It took a lot of guts, I'll give you that, but you're a MORON! Malfoy was not worth it.

So anyway. Who are you planning on asking out next? I'm not that serious about Terry, but a bit more serious than I should be to say yes if you ask me out. So I hope you'll spare me the anguish I would surely endure and look elsewhere. You may be the most eligible boy around, but Terry knows how to flatter me properly.

Millie STILL has the world's worst crush on Krum, even though they've been out together since the Yule Ball. I'd save your breath. Daphne, now, is a distinct possibility. She's the one who told me about you and Padma, by the bye. I think she'll try to catch your eye, and you certainly could do worse.

Maybe you could date one of the younger Slytherin girls. Laine is very well-connected. She's smart, clever, and ruthless. You couldn't ask for much more in a girlfriend. Or you could go for gusto and ask out Weasley. That would drive Weasel out of his mind. That makes it worth doing right there. It would almost be like dating outside the house, because from everything I've seen, she still acts like a bloody Gryffindor.

Or you could really look outside the house. Perhaps not in Ravenclaw or Gryffindor, though, given what you just did to Padma. That leaves Hufflepuff. Susan Bones is well-connected in the Ministry. Her aunt is Director of Magical Law Enforcement. She's going to be a legacy case if she goes into the Auror Corps. Good for her, I say. If I were any good at Charms or Defence, I still wouldn't want to be an Auror, but someone has to do it.

Or you could consider Hannah Abbott. She's got a good pedigree as well, even if her mother is Muggleborn. By all accounts, her mum is quite the artist. That hair of Hannah's is fantastic, and I'd kill Theo to have it.

So think about it and let me know. I'll fill you in on whomever you pick. Likes, dislikes, that sort of thing. Can't have you go out unprepared. Talk to you soon!

Conspiratorially,

Pansy

P.S.: I was named a prefect. I'm so happy!

Harry grinned. Pansy would kill Theo for just about any reason. It was awfully cute. Harry had hoped that they might finally realize how bad they each had it for each other when Theo asked her to the Yule Ball last Christmas. That whole night had blown up for Theo, Pansy, Terry, and Tracy. Terry and Pansy had started seeing each other soon after that, and now things between Theo and Pansy were worse than ever. At least it was entertaining when they bickered.

More bothersome was the question she raised, one Harry had already thought about. Did he want to start dating a new girl right away? He still couldn't believe he had been dating Padma Patil, nevermind that he'd broken up with her. What sort of person broke up with the prettiest girl in school? Surely everyone would think him mad.

Pansy was offering him all the "juicy stuff" on whichever girl he decided to ask out. She knew reams of information about every one and every thing at Hogwarts and in the larger wizarding world. Harry wasn't entirely certain how he'd become so close with Pansy. She'd always been around but caught up in her world of gossip and girly things. During the last year, Pansy had been one of his nearest and dearest friends. She'd kept the vicious rumours that had been flying around the school from going completely out of control. Harry didn't know how he would have managed without her.

It was what he imagined having a sister might be like. He didn't think much of her romantically. Somehow she'd never given him that vibration. Well, there was the one time when she'd lured him to a secluded corridor, but it had only been to talk about Draco. She and Harry conspired together on all manner of things. It looked as though their next cunning Slytherin plot would be to find Harry a new girlfriend.

Pansy thought Daphne might be a distinct possibility. She was a lot of fun. Harry opened Daphne's letter up again and re-read her first paragraph. Daphne, flippant as she was, was nonetheless correct. The image rose in his mind of Daphne tanning herself. Her blonde hair was bleached brighter from the sun, and she wore shades to protect her eyes. She was wearing a very small green and silver bikini held together with thin strings.

Harry shook his head. Wow, he thought. Is my imagination out of control or what? Daphne would probably laugh at him if she knew what he was thinking. But maybe once she got done making fun of me... He shook his head again. He'd have to figure out a way to learn her real feelings before he attempted a move on Daphne.

He tried to tell himself that he had no romantic feelings towards his most irreverant friend, but now that the possibility was seriously being considered, the memory of their kiss at Christmas during third year suddenly sprang up in his consciousness. Now that he'd broken up with Padma, maybe Daphne would be interested in going out.

He pulled out a piece of parchment and reached for his quill.

Dear Pansy,

Your offer of info is gratefully accepted. I don't know who yet. Maybe I'll stay a bacholer and drive all the girls bonkers a bit. That could be fun too.

Draco is my best mate, and the way Parvati and then Padma started talking about him was absolutely uncalled for. You would have stuck up for him too, and you know it. Everyone knows how much you hate Parvati.

So you're serious about Terry, are you? That's so sweet! I think I might gag. Wait until I tell Daphne!

Mischeivously,

Harry

P.S.: I'm a prefect too! We're going to have a lot of fun this year! I've been practicing my prefect voice.

Dear Harry,

You broke up with Padma because Parvati broke up with Draco? Is that correct? In any case, that's hysterical. I'm not sure who you should ask out next. Pansy's pretty in to Terry, but I bet if you were really smooth, you could get her to go out with you. You can forget about Millie. Of course we all know Tracy is a non-option. If you don't have anyone in mind, you could sit back and see who approaches you with romantic ideas.

A prefect? Fantastic! Now we can get away with all sorts of trouble! We must talk further about this once I've done some plotting.

Cheers,

Daphne

Dear Harry,

If you had known what a firestorm this would ignite, would you still have told the world that the Dark Lord is back? Everyone is buzzing about it, and everyone is worried. Nobody knows what's going to happen. The Ministry is drawing up a lot of advisories and response apparatus and plans to strike back. Something a lot of people are saying is that the Dark Lord has made a mistake by taking such a public place as his headquarters. It's a good secure place, yes, but we know where he is. We can hit him hard and make it count.

I hope so anyway. My parents have decided that our best chances for the war are to back the Ministry. They're taking a hard line early, and my father likes that. With the right sort of attitude now, rather than trying to pretend it's not that bad or that it's no big deal - or worse, that it's not happening at all! - is what it's going to take to properly fight this thing.

As for me, you know I'll stick with you. I would never want to wear those ugly robes or stupid masks. I'll fight until my last breath to avoid that. As long as I get to choose my own clothes, you're my star.

So I hope you're doing well. Please give your godfather my greetings. Above all, stay safe. You're too cute to die ignobly. Or nobly. Or at all. So you'd better not!

Sincerely yours,

Laine

Harry didn't want to contemplate what might have happened had the Ministry not decided to recognize Voldemort's return. How much stronger would his power base be with more time to prepare behind the scenes? How much better would his posture be? How many good wizards could he corrupt, intimidate, or Imperius? He might even be able to topple the Ministry from the inside.

The prospect of such a bleak future was depressing, but what gave Harry hope was what Laine said about her father. Mr. Slater was a very important man, and if he had decided to support the Ministry effort, then others would too. Whether it was because they decided to follow his lead or because the very influential man decided to peddle some of his influence, Harry didn't rightly care. Every wand raised against Voldemort was one not raised against him. The more people he could persuade to sit out of the fight, if they wouldn't take up arms, the better.

Dear Laine,

You always choose very nice clothes, so I support you in your determination to not become a Death Eater. I'm glad to have your support, both magically and as a friend. You've really come through for me in a big way in the past year, and I appreciate it. I won't forget it.

Sirius sends his greetings in return. We're both well. I'm going a little stir-crazy with the war on, but it's to keep us safe. I don't like it, but the adults are doing it for a good reason. We're not fully trained wizards yet, and Death Eaters are very, very nasty bits of work. Sirius has told me a lot of stories from the last war. The idea of an attack in public against children is awful, and when they put it into perspective like that, it really makes you consider. I know as Slytherins we're widely thought to be half-evil at birth and fully baptised upon the Hat shouting "Slytherin!", but Slytherin families, the old blood, are really only safe as long as they follow Voldemort. My father's family is old blood, but Voldemort still came after them because they wouldn't play his game. Granted they're a line of Gryffindors, but still.

So I'm glad your dad has decided to support the war effort. I'm sure his words will be taken seriously. Please tell him I said thank you.

I've got to go now. Sirius, Remus, and I are lifting weights today. We do that a lot. Not much else to do when you can't fly or get outdoors.

Sincerely,

Harry

P.S.: I'm a prefect!

Harry was about to tie the letter on to Regal's leg when he was interrupted by the arrival of another owl. It had been a long time since he'd seen the Davis family owl, and during last summer, Tracy had been trying to get him to go on dates with her. Whereas he had once viewed Neil's arrival with dread, now it seemed a positive thing. He quickly opened the envelope and gave the bird a strip of bacon.

Dear Harry,

I heard you broke up with Padma. Good for you! Sticking up for your best mate is always the right thing to do. She doesn't get the right to talk about our Draco that way, even if he is a right ditherhead at times.

My folks are very nervous about this war thing. I think they hope to just stay out of the way. Neither of them is what you might call gifted. They'll probablymake a gift - anonymously - of Galleons to the Ministry to fund the effort. Aurors like to be paid, you know.

Jamie is thinking about signing up for the Healer training now that it's free. Mother and Father didn't approve - they probably still don't - and they wouldn't pay for her enrollment. Now they don't have to. Father probably will let her go. He'll tell her to go ahead and waste her life. Honestly, he's never forgiven her for being a girl. If only I'd been a boy, maybe he'd like her a little more. Unless he and mother- eeeew!

Okay, I am not ending this letter like that. Have you started your homework yet? What did you think of Snape's assignment? Can you believe he wants two scrolls about Rolappine spores? I know he's our Head of House, but that's a bit much! I'll be forever at it. Then there's McGonagall's thing I've been afraid to even open. Maybe you can give me some help with it. You've become the best in our year at Transfiguration.

Write me back soon!

Sincerely,

Tracy

P.S.: Do you know who the prefects are?

Harry put down Tracy's letter, thoughtfully digesting everything she'd said and, perhaps more importantly, what she had not said. She'd heard about him breaking up with Padma, but she didn't make any hints at all about getting back together. Oh, she'd mentioned getting his help with Transfiguration, but Harry had looked at McGonagall's assignment, and Tracy was right to be afraid. Aside from that completely reasonable request, there was nothing even suspicious in her missive. Was she finally starting to accept that he only thought of her as a friend?

Dear Tracy,

I cannot believe you rambled into discussing the possibility of a new sibling. Are you trying to gross me out on purpose?

Tell Jamie I think she'd make a great Healer. We're going to need good ones for the dark times that are coming. I'm glad your parents will make a donation. Everyone helps in different ways. We can't all be Aurors.

I'm a prefect! I got my badge on Wednesday! I'm so excited I think I might burst. My mum was a prefect too. Sirius says my folks would be proud of me. I hope so.

Gotta cut this short. Sirius and I are lifting weights today. Sorry!

Sincerely,

Harry

P.S.: I cannot help you on the theoretical portion of Transfiguration. I just can do it really well. I think we're both going to have to seek Merlin's blessing to get through old McG next year.

Harry gave the letters to Regal and headed to the weight room. Sirius was already there and looking through the music crystals.

"What shall we listen to today?"

"Wand Smasher?"

"Again?"

"Unless you've got a better suggestion," Harry said. "I've had a letter from Laine. She says hello to you."

"Which one is Laine?" Sirius asked, sounding confused.

"The long auburn hair. Slytherin. Year below me. The twin."

"Ah! Okay. Sorry, but it's hard to keep track of all your girlfriends."

Sirius sounded very serious with his apology, and Harry blushed to the roots of his hair.

"Sirius!"

"Well it is, isn't it? I can't even keep all the names straight. Laine, Daphne, Susan, Hannah, Padma, Pansy-"

"I'm not seeing Pansy!"

"But you are all the rest? I understand."

"Sirius!"

"Ah hah! How about this?"

"Rabid Hippogryff? Yeah, all right."

Sirius put the crystal into the wizard's wireless. Music began to play. They took time to stretch, always important before lifting. After they'd limbered up, they started with some low-density weights. When Harry's muscles had warmed up, he tapped his wand to the barbell and turned up the density to his personal maximum setting. His repetitions were coming easier, and he could manage more of them. He reached twenty and set the bar down with a grunt.

"You're getting stronger. That's good."

"I think it might be time to turn up the weight a bit more. I bet I can lift more than this."

"Give it a try."

Harry tapped the weights again. This was the most he'd ever tried to lift. He set his feet shoulder-width apart. He crouched down and grasped the bar. He inhaled deeply and exhaled sharply. Though he strained with the effort of picking it up, he was able to stand up. Stars swam in his vision, but he held the barbell at his chest.

"Well done, Harry!"

Harry had no breath to respond.

He inhaled again and pushed the bar up above his head. Though his arms trembled, the bar didn't drift. He'd done it! Now to bring it down safely. Back to the chest, down to the ground. His breath was ragged in his lungs. He'd done it!

When he'd recovered from his exertion, Harry turned down the density slightly. He would attempt to manage repetitions at a lower weight to build his stamina. Today, though, he could only manage four.

"I'm taking a rest."

"Sure, Harry. Have some water."

"Kreacher!"

Kreacher appeared with a bang. he bowed low, nose to the floor.

"Master Harry is calling. Kreacher answers like the good elf he is. How may Kreacher serve the noble and sweaty Master?"

"Some water, please. A large pitcher and some ice, too."

"Kreacher is bringing the water."

Though old, the Black family house elf was devoted and attentive. He lived to serve, and with all the activity in the past two summers, he'd been in his glory. He, like his Mistress, was thoroughly hateful of all things not pure, but that's who had come to the house. Master Sirius was back in his childhood home, Harry was his godson and had a good pedigree on the Potter side, all of Harry's friends were from pureblood Slytherin families, and now Lucius Malfoy, patriarch of a very old family indeed, was residing under the very roof. His language muzzled through Master's command, only Remus' presence cast a blight on Kreacher's existence.

The water was crisp, cold, and thirst-quenching. Harry held the glass up to his forehead. The cool kiss against his hot brow was heavenly. He sat on the floor against the wall and caught his breath.

"Sirius, tell me a story, please."

There was nothing like hearing the old stories about his parents. His godfather was full of adventures that the Marauders had been through at Hogwarts, in the Forbidden forest, and even on the streets of London. Other times the story was darker, about the war. Those were instructive rather than entertaining, and Harry always paid close attention.

"Sure, Harry. Pour me some of that water, if you'd be so kind."

Harry handed him the glass, and Sirius drank deeply.

"Marvellous. A story, a story. Well, your father and I went on a raid this one time. We'd done a fair number of raids by that point, so breaking into a well-guarded house to spy on a Death Eater meeting didn't seem like any big deal. Dumbledore gave us the location. We got on my motorbike, because the place was heavily shielded against intrusion. Anti-Apparition Fields, Redirection Charms, and nasty countermeasures to boot. No, going in by the street was the only choice. Good thing the house was in the city, that's all I'll say. Otherwise we would have been forced to walk the whole way."

"Though you could have run in your Animagus forms."

"We could have done that, yes, but the motorbike is so much quicker. So we go. I managed to trip the perimeter spells, but before anyone could arrive to investigate, I bounced us actually up on to the roof and hit the invisibility booster. We left it there while we snuck inside. Turns out we were in a bad neighborhood, because all the windows had bars on them, and those bars were inscribed with runes. There was no way we were getting in that way. We couldn't go down to the ground level because the lowly Death Eaters sent to look for the intruder were still in the middle of their search."

"So what did you do?"

"I wanted to go straight down through the roof, but your dad said there was no way of knowing what we'd find beneath us. He suggested we find some holiday spirit and go down the chimney."

"Like Father Christmas?"

"Exactly so. Well it was brilliant. No spells whatsoever on the chimney. We were able to get down inside the house. Of course we were covered in soot, but these things can't be helped. We got under the invisibility cloak and went to find the meeting of the important Death Eaters."

"Wow. What happened then?"

"We found them in the dining room. They went over the plans for their next attack. We got out, got back up the chimney, hopped on the motorbike, and flew off."

"You got away just like that?"

"The properties of protective enchantments are particularly interesting. One must take care to prohibit passage in opposite directions. The average shield is unidirectional. It will keep people out but not in. We got away just like that."

Dear Harry,

Well, you've gone and done it this time, haven't you? Voldemort's back and there's going to be trouble. It's all over the Prophet, isn't it? So far I haven't seen your name mentioned hardly at all, which surprises me greatly.

Being back home at the Burrow is hard. Ron's upset because he was supposed to go to Romania to live with Charlie for the summer, but Mum won't hear of it now that the war is back on. He's being a right beast, always asking me when the Slytherins are planning to sign up for the Junior Death Eater club. I'm so very tired of him. Threatening to hex him doesn't work anymore. Says he's had it as rough as it gets from you and your lot. Would you like to assist me in twisting his brain a bit?

The twins keep reading all the articles about the Ministry preparations and looking through the help wanted section. I think they're harboring thoughts of not going back to school for their N.E.W.T.s. Mum would kill them of course, but they keep talking about Uncle Fabian and Uncle Gideon who fought in the last war. That's why Mum would kill them. Uncle Fabian and Uncle Gideon didn't come home one night. Bad times have come again, and Mum wants no part of it.

Charlie is visiting. We got to see him when he brought the dragon up for the First Task, but he was working and couldn't drop home. Then he came home at Christmas and surprised us all. Now he's here again at the start of summer holiday. Something is going on, even if he is playing it cool. Mum is so happy to have him here, she hasn't pressed him for his reasons. Now if only Bill and Percy came home, the whole family would be together.

I hope all is well with you. Talk to you soon!

Ginny

Ron Weasley was a constant thorn in Harry's side. He could never seem to resist tossing off a vile insult whenever he saw the Slytherins. No matter how many times they hexed him in return, he always seemed to find it in him to keep being mouthy. His tired mantra of "slimy Slytherins" was aggravating in the extreme. It seemed to be his personal mission to antagonize Harry and whomever he happened to be with. It made no sense to Harry that Ron hated him just for being a Slytherin. Harry hated Ron because Ron was an arse; it was personal.

But Ginny was all right in Harry's view. Driven from her house by roommates who didn't understand what she'd gone through her first year, her brother Percy had asked Harry to look after her when he finished school. At Harry's asking, the Slytherin girls had taken her in. Ginny had repaid his kindness with friendship. She'd stuck up for him during the damned Triwizard Tournament, and she hadn't hesitated at all to sign up in the fight against Voldemort. Regardless of where she slept, she had the heart of a lion.

Percy was the other Weasley Harry counted amongst his friends. Once a Gryffindor prefect, he'd stopped his siblings from practically killing Draco during second year. For the subsequent ban of the twins from the Interhouse Quidditch Cup and the loss of more points since anybody could remember, Percy had been dubbed a traitor to his house. Gryffindor's Quidditch Captain, Oliver Wood, had been in Percy's year and took things rather personally.

Things had finally come to a head when Harry had discovered Percy bound and gagged, dangling upside down by his feet from the Astronomy Tower. The Slytherin sixth years had acted at that point. Percy had saved Draco, Draco was younger brother to Elan, and Elan was the leader of their little group. Given a home in Slytherin, Percy had turned out quite well. He was Head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation and he was barely nineteen.

Harry didn't really know the twins aside from that rather stand-out incident. They were two years ahead of him, and the forms generally didn't mix. The Slytherin soon-to-be fourth and fifth years were an exception. Charlie he'd met just once before, at the Quidditch World Cup. They'd had a bit of a pissing match about who was the better Seeker. Harry didn't really hold it against Charlie that he was an egotistical prat. That was Seeker's prerogative. Bill he'd also met at the Quidditch World Cup, and he'd largely remained quiet.

Mrs. Weasley had raised quite a brood. Harry had met her before, too, and she was a very nice lady. The first thing she'd ever done was to show him how to get on to Platform Nine and Three-Quarters. Then in his second year, she'd sent him pot roast when it had come out about how Harry had been treated at the Dursleys. They'd starved him, so she'd sent him food. The last time they'd met, Ginny had introduced them on the platform. He'd introduced them to Sirius.

Actually the only Weasley he'd not met was the patriarch, Arthur Weasley. He was a Ministry employee, manning the desk in the Centaur Office, a job which paid little. He moonlighted as a driver for the Knight Bus. Harry had not introduced himself on the occasion in third year when he'd taken the bus away from Privet Drive, but the man had been kindly enough. He apparently had a great interest in all things Muggle, one of the reasons he'd been side-lined into unimportant jobs. Though perhaps with the war back on, the Ministry would need all the people it could get. It might prove a blessing in disguise for Mr. Weasley, and he could achieve some distinction in whatever wartime task he was given.

Dear Ginny,

All is well. Spending a lot of time cooped up, as most of us are, I imagine. Sorry I ruined your summer. I think I'll be saying that a lot come September, but what was I going to do? Not say anything? Not likely. Frankly, I'm just as glad that I don't have to get out there and make speeches to try and convince everyone he's back. We realize it. Now we just need to kill the tosser.

Sorry about Ron being a beast. Maybe if you feed him a treat and scratch his belly, he'll roll over and make nice. What sort of twisting did you have in mind? I've got a few Jinxes that might do nicely at twisting his insides.

If your brothers want to join the fight, then they should. As long as they know what they're getting themselves into, they should. They know the stories about your Uncle Fabian and Uncle Gideon? Then it's their informed choice, and Merlin watch over them if they see combat. I think it'd be smarter to finish school and take the N.E.W.T.s, myself, but depending on how they were to go about it, it might not be necessary.

I wish I could get into the fight, but I'm still not trained up enough. I need more knowledge. Compared to Voldemort, I'm just a little kid. I might as well be twelve. Once I get through the O.W.L.s this year, I'll be able to say I've got some sort of small accomplishment. Right now, though, I'm just the Boy Who Lived. I want more than that. I want to be the One Who Defeated Voldemort, and for people to be able to say his name without fear.

On the subject of needing more knowledge, I need to do my reading for Potions. Bye!

Harry

P.S.: I'm a prefect!

Harry sent the invitations to his birthday party to only a few people. Five boys, six girls, a mixture of fifth and fourth years. Draco, Pansy, Daphne, and Millie were automatic choices. Crabbe and Goyle were a considered decision. Tracy was as well, except in a different way. Laine also deserved an automatic invitation, considering how strong she'd been with him during last year. Ginny was a safe choice as well. If he was inviting Laine, he might as well invite Lucas, and Arcen could come with Millie.

The security had been devised with Marauder trickery. The group would meet briefly at the Three Broomsticks before making the remainder of the trip by secret transportation. They were all going to to be Side-Along Apparated one by one by Sirius, Remus, and Mr. Malfoy into the Shrieking Shack where they had been hard at work to get the place in order.

They were definitely going out of their way to make sure that Harry could have a fun birthday, and Harry appreciated it more than he could ever express with words. Sirius was doing his best to make up for ten years without parties or presents. A whole decade lost and all the fun birthdays of a young child missed. Every party from here on out would be stellar, Sirius had promised.

Harry had no idea what sort of entertainment was planned, and he wouldn't dream of trying to pry it out of Sirius either. The grown-ups were all going to such lengths, it wouldn't properly be fair if he spoiled the surprise.

Dear Harry,

I think the perfect time for us to set you up with someone will be your birthday party. Several of the potentials will be there, and parties are always good for this sort of thing. That is if you've invited the girl you're interested in. If you haven't done that, you're a few orders of magnitude away from a good Lumos Charm, if you know what I mean. So is it Laine, Daphne, Ginny or me? I should like to break things off with Terry before I entangle myself with you.

I have indeed been practicing my prefect voice! The respect, the esteem, oh, it's absolutely wonderful. I can't wait to give my first detention! I hope Patil isn't one so she can't cancel it.

All the best,

Pansy

Harry read the last two lines of that first paragraph several more times. Surely she wasn't suggesting something. Surely. He wrote back a quick note that he hadn't made up his mind yet on whom he wanted to ask out and sent Regal on his way.

Within minutes, another owl delivered a letter from Tracy. He hoped she didn't react too badly when he asked out whomever he eventually would. It would be nice to be able to think of her as a sister, like he thought of Pansy.

Dear Harry,

Congratulations on being a prefect! I'm not one. I'd hoped. I tried to get the best marks, but there's more to it than that, apparently. Do you know who the other new prefect is?

Have you looked at these new books? The new Defence professor isn't fooling around. This is practically combat training. The Standard Book is pretty interesting too. I'm nearly done with my first read through.

Thanks for the invitation to your birthday party. I'll be there.

All the best,

Tracy

Dear Harry,

Theo's finally been allowed to leave the hospital wing. Can you imagine two weeks under Madam's thumb without even the normal school stuff to distract her? He's been a brick about the whole thing, I swear. Still hasn't said a word yet. Not to me, not to Professor Snape, and not to Madam. It's the most peculiar thing. He understands us perfectly fine, and he'll nod or shake his head, but he's got nothing to say to us. I've been sitting with him for a few hours every day, and it's really starting to get creepy.

So I never did have the chance to tell you, but I've found this amazing room up on the seventh floor. You've got to do a bit of pacing, but it's so very tally. What's inside depends on what you're thinking when you go in. I've only begun to imagine the possibilities. Imagine bringing a girl up here, for instance. No cramped broom closet or uncomfortable desk in an empty classroom for us! Not anymore! I made the room conjure up this great big four-poster with green and silver sheets! There's a wizard's wireless, plenty of music, lots of soft pillows. I can't wait for classes to start.

Write back soon.

Your best mate,

Draco

Draco's discovery sounded like a lot of fun. What wonderful mysteries there were at Hogwarts!

Harry made sure to give everyone the update on Theo's condition. He was very relieved to hear the good news. He went to find Sirius and found him with Mr. Malfoy in the drawing room.

"Theo's been allowed to leave the hospital wing."

"Good show," Sirius said. "Poor lad."

"I'm impressed at his recovery," Mr. Malfoy said. "I've seen others stronger than he become much less than he after enduring the Cruciatus Curse."

"Counting yourself amongst them?"

"I have tasted it many times under the Dark Lord. Failure was not tolerated."

"Tell me," Harry suddenly requested. "Tell me one of your stories from the war."

Mr. Malfoy drew a deep breath. "I do not like to speak of those days."

"I need to know. What things did he have you do?"

The former Death Eater was silent for a long moment. His eyes grew distant, and Harry wondered if he was going to answer. He finally spoke in a voice that was hollow and dispassionate.

"It was a house where Muggleborns were taking refuge with some sympathetic purebloods. We were to breach the perimeter and capture everyone in the house. Those wizards and witches of pure blood would be given the choice of executing one of the Muggleborns and earning the Dark Lord's pardon. Those who repented would torture those who did not."

"Disgusting," Sirius interjected.

"We Apparated to near the house and from there up to the roof. It should have been a nice, easy insertion followed by a quick spat of fighting on the inside. Should have been. Someone made a mistake. That house was guarded by some very old magic. I had never seen a gargoyle sentry before. I thought it was a simple bit of animation. Never underestimate the stone daemons. He grabbed Milles by the head and just squeezed. His head burst like a melon. It made the same noise too. The thing killed Ghant and Hallion before anyone got a spell off. It took three blasts of the Killing Curse before it crumbled to dust."

"Wow!"

"Absolutely terrifying, that was. Of course the spellwork alerted the other guards. We were overwhelmed. Half of our attack force was dead. The Death Eater in Charge was dead. I ordered the retreat. Only ten of us made it out alive."

"How'd Voldemort take the bad news?"

"Not well. I blacked out several times during my punishment, and he woke me up in order to keep cursing me. I later learned that it had been nearly half a day."

"Yikes," Harry said with a wince.

"So you say. I made my first priority to never go through that again. My second, rather. The first, naturally, being that my family never endures it even once."

Harry,

Happy early birthday. You figure out a way to stay in top form, or I'll make you wish you were never born.

Cheers,

Miles

Fly outdoors, Harry could not, but indoors? Harry had once observed that the cavernous open space that occupied the centre of the house was not quite suitable to play Quidditch in. Harry had since learned that certain patterns actually took advantage of interior space, patterns that let the rider train for torturous twists and turns that sent blood rushing from his head and his vision down a long tunnel. Struggling, straining, Harry fought his way back to consciousness each time a little quicker.

He wound up unconscious more than a few times as well. Cushioning Charms on the floor and the bannisters helped keep him from harm, but waking up in a pile on the floor next to his broom was more than a little embarassing even without anyone there to see him but Sirius, Remus, and Mr. Malfoy.

Remus found him that particular day. Harry came back to the world with a start. Remus was standing over him, tucking his wand away.

"Having fun, Harry?"

"Practicing," Harry corrected. "Some of these Quidditch routines are ruddy obscene."

"Let's have a cup of tea, shall we?"

Kreacher served tea in the sitting room. Harry picked up his cup and inhaled the aroma of the tea. No cream, no sugar.

"What have you been up to, Remus?"

"Aside from work, you mean?"

"Not that I wouldn't love to hear about how you managed to keep order while dispensing frozen delights to dozens of screaming children, but yes. How's the cute girl you haven't brought around yet?"

Remus smiled. "Perhaps soon. She hasn't even told her parents yet."

"Why don't you tell me about her?"

"Well, she has this great sense of humour. She has a really pretty laugh. She's passionate, loyal, and just wonderful."

"What's she do?"

"Not telling."

"Aww," Harry said, disappointed. "How'd you meet her?"

"Not telling that either. No more questions."

"Okay, I'll stop asking about the girl. I'm really happy you found someone you like."

"Thank you, Harry."

"Is there anything going on with the Order? Anything at all?"

"No, not particularly. I know at some point I will have a very particular mission, but the time is not quite right."

"What's the mission?"

"Werewolves have always been shunned by wizarding society. Many of them aren't magical, you know. Quite a goodly number are Muggles, but they're subject to Ministry jurisdiction, and some of them have quite a problem with that. Voldemort tapped into that resentment in the last war, and a lot of my fellows joined him. Well I went under cover in the werewolf community trying to collect information on bases and hideouts and such. I took up with this really loony woman named Gail who was convinced that Voldemort was going to reward her loyal service by turning her into a witch and giving her a wand."

"Is that even possible?"

"Not so far as we know, but consider first that he was lying to her, and second that she was crazy enough to believe him. She was the ringleader of the gathering cell. I got close to her, got in good with the organization, and then we arranged for her to be picked up by the Muggle authorities. The Order took care of it from there, but I presented myself as the replacement, and suddenly I was responsible for recruiting. Needless to say, I ended up being quite bad at it."

"Naturally."

"Almost abyssmal, really. Why, one might have thought I had no interest in getting anyone to sign on at all."

"How inconceivable."

"I sent all of the key people off on 'secret missions' that would take long periods of time. I intercepted and destroyed communications of orders and plans, faking return post promising compliance."

"Sounds like you did a lot."

"As much as I could. Eventually someone finally got wise to what I was doing. I barely got away with my skin. If it hadn't been for the full moon, I probably wouldn't have. I killed seven Death Eaters during my escape."

"Is that your lucky number?"