"Harry..."

"Harry.."

The echoing voices of Ron and Hermione brought Harry back from the pensieve. He was enjoying some of the highlights or Sirius and James' first year escapades that Harry was sure Sirius had added in just for fun when they called him back. Though witnessing his father prank students ranging from innocent bystanders to even the Slytherin prefects hardly helped him see the responsible, honorable man he was supposed to see, Harry still couldn't help but gain a few laughs from their exploits. They put George and...just thinking the names brought him with a screeching halt back into the present.

"Are you okay, Harry? What happened? Are you upset with us?" Hermione asked as she fretted over him.

"Calm down, 'Mione." Ron soothed.

"Don't call me that Ronald." She struck back.

"I saw them in first year," Harry began, in an attempt to quell the argument before he would have to dive back into the pensieve.

"What did you see?" Ron asked, forgetting the retort he had planned for Hermione.

He recounted all he could remember from the pensieve, even the friendship between Snape and his mother, despite the fact that he, himself, not quite adapted to the idea of Snape and his mother being anything but enemies, let alone friends. Throughout the two listened intensely and Harry actually felt relieved that he would be able to have their perspective on the matter.

"All in all it didn't really show me much I didn't know." Harry said with a sigh, "If Remus was trying to make me see them in love, I don't think he's quite done it."

"I don't think that was the intention," Hermione reasoned, "I think he wanted to show you the truth. If you only saw the good memories, you'd probably think he was lying to you."

"I guess you're right." Harry said.

"Besides, mate, just because they hated each other then, doesn't mean they always did. They probably just fancy each other and don't know how to tell the other." Ron reasoned. There was a beat of silence among the group as the obvious parallel struck each one and a blush crept upon Ron and Hermione's pallors.

"I guess I'll just have to wait and see." Harry shrugged again, "In the meantime, I have some ridiculous meeting with the ministry tomorrow morning about accused Death Eaters or some such nonsense. I should probably get to bed."

..........

The two bade Harry goodnight and left him on his own. They walked in silence down the steps of Grimauld place, Hermione contemplating the exact same thing Ron was trying to forget. At the doorstep they paused, he rubbed his neck awkwardly. She looked up at him expectantly, wondering what he was trying to say, if he was going to comment on the tremendous inadvertent confession he may or may not have made.

"Hermione..." he started.

"Yes, Ron?" She breathed. She felt herself inch closer, assuring herself mentally it was in response to his own movement.

"I can't disapparate."

"...what?"

"The ministry's back in full swing and, well, I never actually got my license. I was wondering if you could take us back to the Burrow, you're staying there tonight anyway, right?" He explained as Hermione made every attempt not to throttle him by the neck and strangle that adorable goofy grin off his face.

"Of course," She replied through gritted teeth, that, in an unfortunate betrayal of her feelings, softened the moment he took her by the hand in preparation and closed the gap between them.

With a familiar whoosh they were back at the burrow, which had long since gone dark of light, though they both knew Mrs. Weasley was still up, waiting for them to return so she knew they were safe. She still did it for Harry, though he moved into Grimauld place to accommodate the sheer number of people staying in her home. They suspected she hadn't really slept since Fred, but any approach to talk to her about her own issues were deftly turned onto their own. Hermione's questions turned into questions about her parents, Ron's about his time away from home. It was uncanny and troubling how she managed to do it.

"Ron?" Hermione ventured as they entered the Burrow, about to go their separate ways.

"Yeah?"

"That thing about Harry's parents...how hating each other doesn't mean they don't f-fancy each other...do you really think that?" She asked, the dark preventing her from gaging his reaction.

"Course I do." He said after a pause. She waited for elaboration as to why as another pause made her feel anxious.

"G'night 'Mione." was all she got. It would have to do for now.

..........

Harry awoke some hours later, his dreams mixed with memories that weren't really his and memories he wished weren't his. As usual he woke up to the stony silence of his Godfather's home, got ready, and immediately made his way to the Burrow. He knew if he didn't go there immediately, he would never hear the end of it from Mrs. Weasley. It was a comfort to him to know she cared, even after what he had cost her family.

Once there he enjoyed a brief breakfast with the family and Hermione, who seemed determined not to look Ron's way, though the boy was oblivious to her actions. He smirked slightly at the sight of her rather obvious, somewhat cowardly movements, until of course, he caught sight of Ginny and immediately became far more interested in the pancakes on his plate. Anything but make eye contact with her.

"Harry, are you ready to go?" Mr. Weasley asked him, stirring him from his feigned attempts at casual.

"Yes, Mr. Weasley." He responded immediately, rising from the table and joining Arthur Weasley at the fireplace.

He followed Artur into the fire and to the Ministry of Magic. There were few places he loathed quite as much as this place. It was with intense satisfaction, however, upon his first return there to see that the horrendous statue that had been placed within its walls had been thoroughly destroyed, though there didn't seem to be a lot of other damage to the building.

"Collateral damage." Was all Mr. Weasley would say on the matter, though there was a glint in his eye that made Harry no longer question where Fred and George had gotten their mischievous smirks from.

"Now, Harry, I know this will be difficult for you, but I don't want you to worry, if this is too much too soon we can schedule this for another time. Like it or not you did save the Ministry's tail not too long ago, I'm sure you have pull enough to postpone these meetings" Artur cautioned.

"I'll be fine," Harry responded with resolve he wasn't quite sure he had.

The morning meetings progressed in much the glacial speed they had every morning for the past few weeks. Arthur, Kingsley Shacklebolt, and a few others arguing over semantics and politics, while Harry thought of other things. How he would much prefer he was playing Quidditch or hanging out with Ron and Hermione, or, much more frequently, how he would much rather be spending his time with Ginny. That afternoon, however, was different. It was that afternoon in which several suspected Death Eaters were placed in custody and questioned.

Harry had his doubts as to why he even had to attend these meetings, they were mostly there to formalize the charges being brought against people. There were some who were clearly guilty, still spouting the return of the Dark Lord and other such nonsense. There were others who seemed more repentant, ones Harry could at least understand acted to save themselves or their families and made poor decisions. The meetings, however, were long and Harry was beginning to grow restless. He was about to ask why it was he was there, when in through the doors walked the next person to be formally charged.

Draco Malfoy.


Ah finals week, thou art a heartless bitch.

Sorry I posted it a day late, I've got a bit distracted by studying for next week.

Anyway, how is it going so far? Comments? Suggestion? Review, please, and let me know how I'm doing.