Disclaimer: Parts of this chapter were directly adapted from Chapter 22 of Prisoner of Azkaban and from Chapters 5 and 6 of Half-Blood Prince.

Chapter 4: Temporary Home

"Resigned firs' thing this mornin'. Says he can't risk it happenin' again." Hagrid's words repeated themselves over and over again in Harry's mind. He couldn't believe that Snape was taking all of his frustration out on Lupin.

Lupin's office door was open. He had already packed most of his things. The Grindylow's empty tank stood next to his battered old suitcase, which was open and nearly full. Lupin was seated at his desk, staring at a young girl with long, black hair. She was crying, apparently more distraught at the news than Harry. He decided to sit outside the door, out of Lupin's sight, so he could continue his private conversation.

"I'm so sorry Dawn," said Lupin. "I don't want to hurt anyone, physically or emotionally, with my actions. Let alone my goddaughter."

Dawn? That sobbing mess in there was his sister? Harry sat there confused, especially by the second part. Goddaughter. Maybe Sirius was unable to take them in, what with his being a fugitive and all, but there was nothing stopping Lupin from doing so.

"I'm going to miss you," she choked out between sobs. There was a little silence before he heard the sound of Dawn blowing her nose and muttering a quick thank you. "You were one of the few people who cared about me. You even visited me when I was living at the Weasley's. You have to reconsider!"

"Listen Dawn, I have to leave my post. Come tomorrow, owls will arrive with dozens of letters calling for my immediate dismal. They will not want a werewolf teaching their children."

"But I could stay with you, right? You said that you would talk to Dumbledore and Mum and…" he voice trailed off into a sob for no apparent reason. Harry peaked his head around to look in the door, only to see Lupin sombrely shaking his head.

"I'm afraid I can't. Molly and Dumbledore agree that you can visit with me briefly, but you may not come to stay for the entire holiday. It is not safe."

"But…"

"But nothing Dawn. And after last night, I see why parents would be upset. I could have bitten anyone. Your brother, Ron, Hermione…even you if I found my way into the castle. That must never happen again."

"I know," the young first-year said bitterly. "I had just hoped that, since Mum said I couldn't stay the entire summer, you would let me."

"There is nothing I would love more, but we both know that it's just not in the cards right now. Harry, you can come in now."

"What?" Harry was shocked out of his hiding spot by his sudden discovery. "How did you…?" He stood up and entered the office, only to see that Lupin was bending over something on his desk.

"I saw you coming," said Lupin, smiling. He pointed to the parchment he had been poring over. It was the Marauder's Map.

"Oh," was all Harry could say.

"Dawn, would you mind giving me a moment with your brother?" asked Lupin. The twelve year-old nodded and stood up. She ran over to the other side of the desk and hugged Lupin.

"Promise me you'll visit!" she said. Lupin nodded and Dawn hurried out the room after giving Harry the slightest look. She seemed a little upset that he was interrupting her long goodbye.

"So Harry, what brings you here?"

"Same as Dawn, I suppose. We had very similar questions."

"Yes. I noticed you were there for quite some time. I didn't want to interrupt your sister though. She's like a…"

"Goddaughter?" Harry finished. Lupin nodded sheepishly.

"Yes. Your dad had insisted that I be her godfather because Sirius was your godfather. I had suggested Peter, but he shrugged it off. Now I know that he wanted me to be her godfather because Peter was their secretkeeper. He wanted us to know that, in his eyes, the three of us were equal."

"Wow." Harry was stunned. He shuddered at the thought of Peter, who betrayed his entire family, being so closely tied to his younger sister.

"I didn't want to tell you earlier, so I asked Dawn to keep it a secret. If you would have known I was her godfather, you would have asked if I knew your godfather, and we both know that that news would not have been well received." He chuckled slightly. "She seemed to like the idea of keeping something from you."

Harry nodded along absently. "But why can't we live with you or the Weasleys? You're both Dawn's godparents. There's really no excuse."

"I'm afraid that there is. Dumbledore has said your home is with your family. But you'll probably move to the Burrow in a month's time. I wouldn't worry about where you're going to live. It's only ever a few months."

Nodding again, Harry was slightly content with that answer. Although he would be unable to live with anyone who considered him anything more than blood, he would be spending most of his summer among friends. "Can I ask you one last question?"

"Only if I can ask you one in return," replied Lupin with a grin.

"Do you think it's my fault that Dawn can't live with the Weasleys?"

Clearly the newly-resigned professor was caught off-guard by that question. "Your fault? Why would you say that?"

"The past two school years, she lived at the Burrow. But she spent the summers with me and the Dursleys."

"I wouldn't think of it that way. Imagine if you had to spend the entire summer alone with just your aunt, uncle, and cousin."

"I don't want to," Harry mumbled.

"Mrs. Weasley wanted to make sure that Dawn didn't ever have to know what it was like either. Dawn may have been living at the Burrow, but her home was always with you and your family. You get to spend the summers with the one girl who loves you most. You'd both be miserable if you were separated."

"I suppose you could say that," said Harry with a smile. "What was your question?"

"Tell me about your Patronus." The soon-to-be former professor smiled and sat down in his chair again so he could listen to Harry talk about his defence against the Dementors from the night before.

..::..

"Mrs. Weasley?" Harry asked as he walked down the stairs in the Burrow, careful to be quiet around Ginny's room.

"Oh no, did Fred and George leave their room booby-trapped?" Mrs. Weasley came out of the kitchen, readying her wand for any malady the twins' pranks may have caused. "Was it that bloody punching telescope again?"

"What?" Harry said with confusion before shaking it off. "No, the room's fine. It's just that Dawn's portkey arrived without her."

"I told Dumbledore to ignore Ministry policy and just leave a touch-triggered portkey, but he said it was important to ensure our safety." Harry expected her to walk out of the house, put instead she went back into the kitchen.

"Are you going to go get her?" Harry asked, though his tone made it clear that this wasn't a question.

"I can't," she said while reaching for Floo powder. "I have to ensure your safety. I can't very well leave you here without anyone competent of age."

"Er, isn't Fleur staying here?"

"Like I said, anyone competent of age." She then threw a pinch of powder into the fireplace and muttered something before sticking her head in.

"FRED! GEORGE!" she hollered into the flames. "Wake up, it's your mother!"

"Relax mother," Harry heard one twin say from a distance. "We know it's you…"

"Only you would start a conversation in the dead of night by screaming our names," the other twin finished.

"Right," she said agitatedly. "Anyway, I need you to run by Harry's house…"

"Can we take the car again?" the first twin asked.

"NO!" she screamed. "Just apparate there." She paused for them to groan, but continued. "Dumbledore already got Harry but Dawnie was left behind. Just knock on the door and get her quickly."

"Yes mum," two voices answered in harmony.

There was a pause. Then: "DON'T GET BACK INTO BED! GET GOING!"

Another pause. "Yes mum," the two voices said again.

"And don't forget your emergency kits. You never know when Death Eaters will attack."

"Yes mum." Satisfied, Molly pulled her head out of the fireplace. "All taken care of."

Hardly, Harry thought to himself. If she were all taken care of, Dawn wouldn't have to share his fate, living in that caustic environment every summer. Truly being taken care of would mean that Dawn could spend every holiday in the Burrow, where she was loved. Though Professor Dumbledore and Professor Lupin tried to get him to think otherwise, he knew for a fact that it was his fault Dawn couldn't be in the care of her godmother.

He had lied to Ron when he said that didn't want to tell her about the wards to protect her. In actuality, he didn't want her to hate him for ruining her childhood. He already felt guilty enough on his own.

..::..

Meanwhile, Dawn was lying on her bed and was extremely frustrated at the situation. It wasn't bad enough that they left her behind (she was actually starting to get used to that). But they took all of her possessions: her clothes, her money, her toothbrush, her hairbrush, and even her reading glasses. If she had even a single galleon, she could summon the Knight Bus, but without any form of payment there was no way they would pick her up. Sighing, she started groping around under Harry's bed for any loose coins. Maybe with a couple of sickles she could make it to the Leaky Cauldron. Surprisingly, she felt something wooden.

Reaching into the darkness, she pulled out Harry's Firebolt. "Well, at least they left me with some way to get to the Burrow, even if they didn't intend to."

She turned out the light of her room and left the house without looking back. Once she was outside and past the driveway, she frowned at her clothes. Her dress was cute, but not meant for flying. Setting the broom on the ground, she pulled out her wand and muttered a few words. Her dress slowly turned itself into a pair of trousers and a tank top, though she knew the spell wasn't strong enough to keep the garments transformed for longer than an hour or two. She secretly hoped that such a small spell wouldn't activate the Trace, and her hopes were renewed when owls didn't descend upon her.

"Up," she said to the broom confidently. Thankfully, it went into her hand right away, not sensing her fear. Truthfully, Dawn had only flown a handful of times before, as every fibre of her being was terrified of heights. But desperate times call for desperate measures.

She pushed up off the ground, not noticing the slight pops that came from behind her.

"Was that Dawn?" Fred asked his brother.

"Where?" George responded.

"On the broom."

"Dawn doesn't fly," he chuckled as he recalled Dawn's feeble attempts of flying with white knuckles.

"Oh, you're right."

They both began to walk up the driveway to retrieve Dawn, when they came to a startling revelation.

"If that wasn't Dawn flying over a muggle town…" George began.

"Then it must be a Death Eater." Fred finished.

Reaching into their pockets, they retrieved a small box. "Engorgio!" They said in unison, causing the box to enlarge. They reached in and grabbed their new broomsticks ("a business investment" they told the salesman). They pushed off and raced after the unknown flier on their new Cleansweep Twelves.

When they caught up to the figure, who didn't seem to be a very skilled flier, they flanked him on either side. "Stop right there," they said together.

Dawn freaked out at the sudden appearance of two other wizards and decided that this was the time to see how fast the Firebolt could go, zooming away from her assailants at top speed.

The twins took this as an act of defiance and pulled out their wands. Fortunately, because of their experience as Beaters, they were rather good at multitasking on a broom. "Impedimenta!" Fred called out to George's "Stupefy!"

Dawn tried her hardest to stabilize her broom as she reached for her wand. "Protego!" The two expertly aimed spells bounced off her shield. Bracing her broom with one hand again, she pulled up on it, causing it to fly straight up on a ninety-degree angle. Aiming down, she yelled, "Expelliarmus!" A burst of red escaped her wand, headed straight for her two assailants. However, they separated at the last second and went in separate directions.

She attempted to straighten herself back out to fly forward again, but found it difficult without having both of her hands to manoeuvre. Unfortunately, she heard twin cries of "Stupefy!"

Her heart raced as the stunners headed straight for her. Unable to do anything else, she jerked back on the broom's handle, causing her to go up again. However, the motion was too jerky for the Firebolt and it began stalling. Dawn found herself unable to maintain a tight grip with her one hand and she found herself falling. She made the mistake of looking down, causing all of her fears to come to the surface in the form of a blood-curdling scream.

Fred and George recognized the girl as soon as they saw her face and realised their mistake. "Wingardium Leviosa!" they both called out, stabilizing her and the broom so she could grab onto it again.

"Fred? George?" she asked them, finally getting a good look at their faces.

"Um, we can explain…" Fred initiated.

"You see, we didn't think that could possibly be you…" George continued.

"Seeing as you don't fly…"

"And we thought it must be a Death Eater trying to carry you off somewhere…"

"Seeing as you don't fly…"

"And it didn't help that you did so well defending yourself while flying one handed…"

"Seeing as you don't…"

"I get it!" Dawn screamed. They looked at her sheepishly. "Thanks for trying to save me."

"Our pleasure," they responded in unison.

The three pointed their brooms back in the direction of the Burrow and resumed their journey, seeing as they were nearly halfway there anyway and the twins really enjoyed their business investments.

"Dawn, you've got fantastic aim," George said suddenly.

"Uh, thanks," Dawn replied. "I wish I would've been better at flying the bloody thing with only one hand while I was defending myself, but I suppose I did alright."

"Alright?" Fred scoffed. "That was awesome. If it weren't for our new brooms, we would've lost our wands."

"I was nothing compared to you guys though," Dawn reluctantly admitted.

"We have years of experience on you," Fred said.

"Beaters and all. You get pretty good at controlling your broom with one hand when you carry around a giant bat for hours," George elaborated.

"Say…" they both said in unison.

"You should consider replacing one of us," Fred suggested.

"Huh?"

"On the Quidditch team," George explained.

"Seeing as we graduated…"

"You didn't graduate," Dawn interrupted.

"Flitwick would've given us whatever we wanted after we made that swamp," George defended. "Diploma, medals, galleons, you name it."

"Anyway," Fred said, attempting to get back to the point he was trying to make.

"You should try out for a beater spot," George finished.

"No, I can't" Dawn said, "I'm too afraid of heights." Well, she was, but that wasn't stopping her from flying; it was more looking down that was the problem. She just didn't want to play under Harry. Everyone knew that he would be named captain, and if she were to try out and make the team, there would be cries of favouritism. Besides, playing Quidditch would only encourage people to draw comparisons between her and Harry so…no.

"You seem to be doing fine now," they replied together.

"But…"

"Just think about it," George said.

"We'll be happy to give you pointers before you go back to school," Fred suggested.

"I really don't…"

"It's a lot of fun."

"Besides, you might be able to hit Harry with a couple of bludgers during practice," Fred added.

"I'll think about it!" Dawn exclaimed to end the conversation. The boys picked up on her exasperation and left her alone. "Sorry."

"It's okay," George said.

"Promise not to tell anyone about this? I don't want to get in trouble."

"Sure thing Dawnie," Fred said. They continued in silence for the remainder of the trip, though with their new brooms it was only about five minutes longer.

As soon as the Burrow and its unusual architecture came into view, the three teens descended. "Home sweet home," Dawn said with a twinge of longing in her voice that she hoped the twins wouldn't pick up on. Thankfully, they didn't say anything as they shrunk their brooms and returned them to their cases.

Fred and George approached walked up to the back door while Dawn put Harry's broom in the old outhouse that the Weasleys used as a broomshed. She was surprised to see that they were both still outside when she returned.

"Mum, you seriously won't let us in?" Fred asked.

"Your father insists that we follow Ministry guidelines and use passwords for entering the house. You could easily be Imperiused or imposters using Polyjuice Potion."

"She's got a point Fred," George admitted. "They would only need two of your hairs to impersonate you and a less-attractive me."

"Mum, it's clearly us," Fred again pointed out. "Who else would make fun of each other like us?"

"Fred, just answer the question," Molly pleaded. "In response to what incident did I punish you by sending you to live with your Aunt Muriel for a month?"

Dawn giggled as she saw the twins twitch at the mention of that punishment. She had always wondered how wizards punished their children.

"That's a toughie, right Fred?" George asked.

"I agree brother. I believe it was the time I gave Ron the acid pop…"

"No, no, it was definitely the Dungbomb at Christmas dinner…"

"George, that wasn't nearly as bad as the Unbreakable Vow incident…"

"Fred, we were spanked for that because it wasn't nearly as bad as the time you turned Ron's teddy bear into a spider…"

"Are you daft? That was no where near as worse as the time we dropped Ginny…"

"From the second floor landing or the third floor landing?"

"Now that you mention it, that wasn't too bad compared to the time we tricked Percy into…"

"GET IN THE HOUSE!" Molly shouted, her blood boiling at the thought of the twin's poor excuse for humour.

"Thanks mother," George said amicably.

"Which was the answer you were looking for?" Fred asked innocently.

Molly groaned at the question, but allowed her sons into the house. As soon as they were through the door, she shut the door in Dawn's face to ask her entry question.

"Dawn, what's my favourite ice cream flavour?"

"Mother, that's dumb question…" Fred began through the door.

"Anyone in our family can tell you…" George interrupted.

"It's chocolate," they finished together.

Molly turned and faced her sons in disbelief. "It's pistachio," she said at the same time as Dawn. It took her a moment to register that Dawn, in remembering what her own flesh and blood could not, had correctly answered. She opened the door and hugged her goddaughter tight.

"We knew that," the boys said in harmony.

"Sure you did," Molly said with a laugh. "Thanks for the help! You can use the floo to get back to your flat."

They nodded and said their goodbyes before disappearing into the fireplace. "Now Dawnie," Molly said, turning to face her, "I know you've had a long night, but it's too late to wake Ginny, so I've prepared Fred and George's room for you."

Ordinarily, Dawn would have protested, but she was too tired from flying. "Is it safe?" was all she asked. Her godmother nodded, so Dawn was content to go up to her temporary bedroom.

However, she was not pleased to see Harry snoozing in Fred's bed. Of all the people in this crowded house, he was at the bottom of her list. Not wanting to wake him up to give him his punishment, she instead reached into a pile of the twin's discarded pranks and pulled out a punching telescope that she fondly remembered. Setting it firmly between Harry's arms, she decided that they were even and went to bed.

..::..

Harry did not receive a pleasant wake up call. He began to stir around ten-thirty in the morning, but as soon as his arms moved he was punched in the face by some telescope he must not have noticed under his pillow.

Clutching his throbbing forehead, he reached for his glasses and got out of his bed. He was relieved to see Dawn sleeping in the twin bed next to him and Hedwig perched on the windowsill, though the note Dawn had attached to Hedwig's leg which only read, "Next time I see you, you're so dead!" made him doubt that the telescope was under his pillow when he went to sleep.

"We didn't know you were here already!" exclaimed Ron as he entered the room. His lack of subtlety woke Dawn up and she seemed a little disoriented. "Blimey, what happened to your eye? It's disgusting."

"Ron, you can't just barge…" Hermione began as she entered the room, though she stopped talking as soon as she laid eyes upon Harry's face. "What happened to your eye?"

Hearing all the commotion about Harry's eye, Dawn burst out of bed laughing. "This is better than I imagined!"

"What did you do that for?" Harry demanded.

"Why did you leave me with the Dursleys?" Dawn responded.

"Dumbledore left you a portkey. Why did you miss it?"

"Why didn't you tell me that Dumbledore was coming to get us?" Dawn asked, unintentionally raising the volume of her voice loud enough that Dumbledore himself could probably hear her at Hogwarts.

"Enough you two!" Ginny yelled as she came in. "It's like Percy and the twins are back. Harry, what happened to your face?" Ginny walked over and gave Dawn a hug, struggling to contain her laughter.

"When did you get here?" Ron asked, seemingly numb to the argument that had broken out around him from being one of seven children. "Mum's only just told us!"

"Last night, about eleven o'clock at night."

"What about you Dawn?" Hermione asked encouragingly.

"I personally was escorted via broomstick and didn't arrive until one in the morning," Dawn sneered.

"You flew?" Ginny asked, genuinely surprised.

"I didn't think I had a choice!" Dawn exclaimed. "Until your brothers came to get me, I thought Harry's broom was my only way of getting here."

"Maybe now you'll try out for the Quidditch team with me!" Ginny said excitedly.

"Well, flying wasn't that bad, but I don't think I'm quite over my fear yet," Dawn admitted. She attempted to give a Ginny a look that said "drop it," but sometimes Ginny could be just as dense as her brother.

"But we could be chasers together!"

"Actually, your brothers think I should be a beater…"

"You took my broom?" Harry asked, interrupting their innocent conversation.

Dawn stared at him incredulously. "You should be thanking me for bringing it with me after you left it behind."

The five teenagers felt all of the air being sucked out of the room. Ginny, Ron, and Hermione, as excited as they were about Harry and Dawn's arrival, wanted the two to resolve their differences quickly so the bickering would stop while the two siblings were more content to bicker than talk about the events of the night before, both clinging to their excuses of protection and ignorance respectively.

"So, what's been going on?" Ron asked awkwardly after a few moments of silence.

"Nothing much…" Harry began.

"We've just been stuck at our Aunt and Uncle's, haven't we?" Dawn sneered.

"Knock it off you two!" Mrs. Weasley yelled as she came in the room with a tray. "I have enough of a headache. I don't need you two adding to it with your argument." She set the tray down in front of Harry. "I'll fix your eye after you've eaten. Bloody telescope. Now, Dawn, I'd like you to eat your breakfast downstairs while Ginny and I prepare lunch."

"Why?" the two girls asked at once.

"It's not that big of a request!" she huffed as she exited the room.

"She only wants me there so she doesn't have to be alone with Phlegm!" said Ginny crossly. "And I'm guessing she wants you there so you and Harry shut up." Dawn shoved her best friend out the door.

"I'm glad she left," Harry muttered as he began cutting into his eggs. Ron silently swiped Harry's toast but Hermione seemed affronted by the comment.

"You're glad she left? Why, so you wouldn't have to defend your actions?"

"Not you too…" Harry mumbled quietly, though he intended Hermione to hear.

"Oh yes me too! You didn't even tell her Dumbledore was coming?"

"I tried to tell her last night before she left but she didn't listen."

"You twied to tell huh lasht ite?" Ron asked.

"For god's sake Ron, swallow!" Hermione hollered.

"I said," Ron paused to gulp, "you tried to tell her last night?"

"Yeah, what of it?"

"There weren't any opportunities to tell her before then?" Hermione smirked at Ron's surprisingly intelligent question.

"Well, I couldn't find the letter."

"Why didn't you tell her when the letter first came?" Hermione asked.

"She wasn't around when it came."

Hermione clearly wasn't pleased with his attitude. "And you just couldn't…"

"Quit it with the questions!"

"Well, then tell us why you really didn't tell her the truth?"

Harry paused and turned his gaze away from his two best friends. "I don't know, I guess I never found the right moment. It's dumb, but I didn't want her to think that I planned for Dumbledore to come that night so I could ruin her date with Colin because I don't like him."

"Why would she think that?" Hermione asked.

"Because I don't like him."

She sighed. "You could have told her and she would've understood. Just apologize and maybe she'll drop it. You've really got to be more honest with her."

Her words cut him deeply, especially since they echoed Dumbledore's sentiments from yesterday. "Speaking of honesty, I'm going to be taking private lessons with Dumbledore this semester."

"Blimey… private lessons with Dumbledore!" said Ron, dropping his toast. Hermione whipped around with a dropped jaw.

"Yeah, he told me last night. He didn't say anything about what we'd be learning after he asked me about my scar."

Hermione walked towards him and sat on the bed between the two boys. "He asked about your scar?"

Nodding, Harry continued, "He wanted to know if I felt Voldemort in my head."

"I thought you said Dumbledore didn't think he'd try that again."

"He did say that." Why would Dumbledore suddenly change his mind? It didn't make sense…unless something already happened that changed everything.

"Something weird is going on," Ron echoed Harry's unspoken sentiment. Hermione nodded in agreement.

"Well, at least you know one lesson you'll be having this year," Hermione said, changing the subject slightly. "That's one more than Ron and me. I wonder when our O.W.L. results will come?"

"Can't be long now, we're back to school in less than a month," Ron suggested.

"Hang on," said Harry, as another part of last night's conversation came back to him. "I think Dumbledore said our OWL results would be arriving today!"

"Today?" Hermione shrieked. "Today? But why didn't you… oh my God… you should have said…" She leapt to her feet. "I'm going to see whether any owls have come."

She sprinted out the room and down the steps. "Mental," Ron whispered to Harry, who nodded and continued to eat his breakfast.

..::..

"So Dawn," Ginny began as the two sat down at the kitchen table, "other than flying, was your journey last night uneventful?"

"No!" Dawn blurted quickly, causing her best friend to cast her a raised eyebrow. "I mean, nothing really happened."

Actually, Dawn had nearly forgotten about the excitement of the night before. By her estimates, she had cast three spells, which of course is three too many thanks to the Ministry. Though she could likely defend the two duelling spells as being cast in a life-threatening situation, transfiguring her clothes would get her in trouble. She wanted to unburden her guilt on Ginny, but if the Trace didn't give her away, then confessing to the crime in the home of a Ministry official would.

She sighed, and Ginny again gave her a look. "Your brothers didn't arrive until I took off and they decided that they wanted to try out their new brooms. Really, nothing happened."

"I wasn't doubting you," Ginny admitted. "It's Harry, isn't it?"

"What? No, I'm used to it," Dawn said before she shoved a mouthful of eggs in her mouth. She didn't want to discuss her brother any more than she wanted to discuss her transgression.

"You seemed pretty upset for someone who's used to it," Ginny shrugged.

"Well, I'm a little pissed off that he didn't tell me Dumbledore was coming. I mean, he can't defend it by saying that he was protecting me like he usually does. What would he be protecting me from, having to pack?"

Ginny chuckled. "Ron always does the same thing to me. Protection, you know. At least Ron and Harry mean well, unlike Percy. He sends me letters every couple of months telling me to stop associating with you and your brother for my own good." It was Dawn's turn to chuckle.

"Ah Dawn," a throaty voice said from behind her. "'Ow are you?"

Dawn turned around to see a beautiful woman with long blonde hair. As much as Dawn hated to admit it, Fleur was breathtaking. "Hello Fleur," she said warmly, to Ginny's chagrin. They kissed each other on the cheeks. "I'm fine, I had a long flight to get in."

"You flew?" Fleur asked. "Zat must 'ave been horrible. I 'ate brooms."

"I'm not a big fan either."

"Why did you not come with 'Arry?" she asked.

"He didn't tell me that he was leaving."

"Desole," she said, resting her hand on Dawn's. As much as Dawn wanted to hate her, she couldn't. She was too nice and trying so hard to make the Weasleys like her. "I'm sure 'e must 'ave a reason."

"I can't see one."

"I'm sure 'e 'as one. I would do anything for Gabrielle, even if eet meant lying to 'er." Dawn smiled at the mention of Gabrielle. Despite their age difference, they had become good friends during the Triwizard Tournament, especially after they were used for Champion-bait.

"I'm sorry Fleur, but you have no idea what you're talking about," Ginny interrupted, her disdain not very well hidden. "Harry does this to Dawn all the time."

"And I would do it too if I were 'Arry and 'alf ze zings zey say in ze paper about 'im were true."

"Who cares about whether he's the chosen one? It doesn't excuse him."

Fleur paused to consider this. "Oui, but 'e loves you Dawn, give 'im a chance to defend 'imself."

Dawn nodded slowly. "I always give him a chance. He just never says anything worthwhile."

There was a slight awkward pause, but it was mercifully interrupted by shrieking from upstairs.

"How is Gabrielle?" She asked, attempting to change the subject again.

"She iz good. You should send 'er a letter. She would be 'appy to 'ear from you. A bigger owl than your bruzer's could make ze trip."

Hermione practically sprinted into kitchen. "Oh, hello everyone. Have any owls arrived yet?"

Dawn involuntarily flinched. "Owls? What? No owls. Why would you be expecting owls?" Did the twins tell Hermione about their air-battle the night before?

Hermione and Ginny both cast her a sideways glance. "My O.W.L.s should be coming today."

"Oh," Dawn responded distantly. "School owls. Nope."

Hermione continued to look at Dawn suspiciously, but didn't say anything. "So how was your date last night?"

"You had a date last night?" Ginny asked excitedly.

"It wasn't a date," Dawn admitted. "Colin's parents wanted to meet me before we went back to school. Dennis and his younger sister Amanda even went along."

"But you did have a good time right?" Hermione asked.

"Yeah, it was a lot of fun. I might have enjoyed saying goodbye," Dawn couldn't hide her smile at that statement.

"You didn't!" Ginny squealed. "In front of his parents? If that was mum she would've killed you!"

Dawn chuckled. "How did you know about my date Hermione?"

"Your brother mentioned it," Hermione had taken to standing next to the window, waiting for owls to appear in the horizon.

"He did? Did he say anything bad about Colin?"

"No," Hermione said, trying to choose her words carefully. "He said that he was sorry that he ruined your night."

"That's rich," Dawn snorted.

"It's true. He didn't want to ruin your date night."

"Sure Hermione."

"Just talk to your brother!" Ginny and Hermione yelled at the same time.

"I agree Dawn…" Fleur's words were drowned in a scream. Hermione was pointing through the kitchen window. Four black specks were clearly visible in the sky, growing larger with every second.

Dawn couldn't fight back her panic: three of the owls were delivering exam results. That left one to deliver a court summons for her legal violation.

Harry and Ron both ran down the stairs as fast as they could, wands at the ready. "Where are they?"

"No Death Eaters," Hermione said sheepishly. "Sorry, our results are seconds from arriving."

Ron deposited his wand into his pocket. "Blimey Hermione, I thought we were under attack or something."

"At least we didn't miss any excitement," Harry conceded.

"Oh god, I can't breathe," Hermione babbled. "I know I've failed everything! I totally messed up Ancient Runes and the Defence Against the Dark Arts practical was no good at all. Transfiguration…"

"Hermione, will you shut up, you're not the only one who's nervous!" Ron barked. "And when you've got your ten 'Outstanding' O.W.L.s…"

"Don't, don't, don't!" said Hermione, flapping her hands hysterically.

"You all need to calm down!" Dawn shouted, causing the three hysterical to stop and gape at her. Her tone made Hermione seem calm by comparison.

Molly took the opportunity of stunned silence to squeeze into the crowded kitchen and open the window. Three of the owls soared through it and landed on the table in a neat line. All three of them lifted their right legs.

Harry moved forward. The letter addressed to him was tied to the leg of the owl in the middle. He untied it with fumbling fingers. To his left, Ron was trying to detach his own results; to his right, Hermione's hands were shaking so much she was making her whole owl tremble.

The final owl flew through the window and swooped down towards Dawn, but flew right past her and dropped a letter on Ginny's lap. It then flew out the window with its three companions.

"Oh thank god that owl was for you!" Ginny cocked her eyebrow at her friend as she nervously opened the Hogwarts envelope.

Nobody showed any signs of reaction for some time, until Ron broke out in a stupid grin and did a little happy dance in the corner. "Only failed Divination and History of Magic, and who cares about them?" he said happily to no one in particular. Harry looked up at his best friend with his own expression of blissful stupidity. "Here… swap…" They exchanged results briefly, though Molly ripped Ron's out of Harry's hands.

"Well done!" Molly said proudly, ruffling Ron's hair. "Seven OWLs, that's more than Fred and George got together!"

"Knew you'd be top at Defence Against the Dark Arts," Ron said, punching Harry on the shoulder. "We've done all right, haven't we?"

Dawn snagged Harry's results from Ron. She took note of his five E's and one O and came to one conclusion: "Nerd!"

"Speaking of which," Ron nudged Hermione, who was still reading over her exam scores with an indecipherable look, "how'd you do?"

"I — not bad," Hermione said in a small voice.

"Oh, come off it," said Ron, striding over to her and whipping her results out of her hand. "Yep…nine 'Outstandings' and one 'Exceeds Expectations' at Defence Against the Dark Arts." He looked down at her, half-amused, half-exasperated. "You're actually disappointed, aren't you?"

Hermione shrugged. "Ginny, why did you get a letter?"

For the first time since the letters arrived, Dawn looked at her best friend. She was clearly stunned by whatever news she received. "Is everything okay?"

"I don't know…" Ginny mumbled. "Ron, I have to ask you something."

"What?" he asked, genuinely concerned.

"Is it going to be embarrassing when I do a better job than you?" she asked with a grin.

"Huh?"

Ginny's grin grew as she threw her hands up and flashed a Prefect badge. "Is it going to be embarrassing when little sis is a better Prefect?"

Dawn jumped up and hugged her best friend tightly, though she was quickly knocked away by Molly. "Five prefects! Am I the luckiest mother in the world?"

After a few moments, Molly let Ginny breathe again. "Does the usual offer still apply?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Bill got an owl, Charlie got a broom, Percy got an owl, Ron got a broom."

Molly sighed. "I suppose it's still good. So, owl or broom?"

Turning toward her best friend, Ginny thoughtful echoed her mother's question. "Owl or broom?"

"Broom." Dawn said knowingly.

Ginny turned back to her mother. "Broom."

"Broom it is!" she exclaimed, hugging her daughter again.

"So, looks like we're N.E.W.T. students and Ginny's a prefect!" Harry exclaimed. He threw his arms around Ron and Ginny excitedly, causing the latter to run out of the room to hide a blush.

"Where are you going?" Ron hollered after her.

"To your room! I've got to tell Dean!"

Ron paused for a second and considered telling her not to, but instead came up with an alternative: "Fine, but I'm eating the rest of your sausage!"

..::..

That night found two guests in the Burrow in a familiar yet strange situation. Dawn and Harry were still sharing a room, with all of the other rooms in the house being occupied. Though Dawn and Harry had tried to move into Ginny and Ron's rooms respectively, everyone insisted that they should spend the night in the twins' room.

"So, this isn't awkward," Dawn said when they were both climbed into bed.

"Not at all," Harry agreed. "It's not like I left you behind or anything."

"No, or like you didn't even tell me we were leaving."

"Listen Dawn," Harry said in a serious tone, tired of the subdued bickering, "I didn't tell you because I didn't want you to think that I planned it that way to ruin your date with Colin."

"Really? Then why didn't you even leave me a note or something?" Dawn asked, rolling to her side so her back was facing her brother.

Harry got up and lightly tossed something so it landed gently on the bed next to her. "I did."

Dawn picked up her hairbrush, which, according to the note, used to be a portkey. "You still didn't tell me that we were leaving."

"What did you want me to say? 'Hey Dawn, forget about your date with Colin tonight because we're leaving and you won't be allowed to see him for the rest of the summer.' What would you have done?"

Dawn rolled back over to face her brother. "I probably would have screamed at you for doing that to me."

"I had nothing to do with the date. Dumbledore picked it. I'm sorry."

They both laid there in silence for a few long, drawn-out seconds. "I forgive you, but there is a solution to this problem."

"What?"

"You just need to accept the fact that Colin and I are going out. Then I won't be mad at you in the future."

There was another long pause. "There are worse first boyfriends, I suppose."

"Very reassuring. 'I suppose there are worse first boyfriends,'" she said mockingly.

"I don't like that you're going out with Colin, but I won't stop you," Harry said as sincerely as he could.

"Will you be nice to Colin then?"

"I won't be mean to him."

"That's not what I asked."

"I accept that you are going out with Colin and I will attempt be kind to him."

"Thank you. Goodnight Harry."

"Wait, I'm not done."

Dawn sat up in bed so she could face her brother. "What now?"

Harry paused and bit his lip. He wanted to be honest with her, but that wasn't a conversation for now. "What you did last night was reckless and dangerous. You could've been ambushed."

"I know. I chose to do it. I'm not the same scared little girl that I used to be. I can't sit on the sidelines while you put your neck on the line. Not anymore. I'm prepared to fight, go into battle and break rules if I have to."

Harry sighed. "Good."

"I knew you were going to say…what?" Dawn stared at her brother, and even through his black eye that she caused, she could read the sincerity on his face.

"I said 'good'. I may not always be there to protect you, as hard as I try. This is war. There are no rules. You did the right thing."

"Thanks, I guess. You don't need to protect me though."

"Goodnight Dawn," he replied, seemingly ignoring the last remark.

"Goodnight Harry."

..::..

The next few weeks went by peacefully enough. While waiting for an opportunity to be escorted to Diagon Alley, Harry spent most of his days playing two-a-side Quidditch in the Weasleys' orchard. It was generally Harry and Hermione against Ron and Ginny, which was a fairly even matchup, though there were several times when Ginny had tried to work on Dawn's confidence in the air by playing "little sisters vs. big brothers." Everyone was surprised at Dawn's quick progress, including Dawn herself, though she freely admitted that looking down caused her heart to jump into her throat.

It might have been a peaceful holiday if not for the stones of disappearances, Dementor attacks, and deaths now appearing daily in the Prophet. Occasionally, Bill and Mr. Weasley brought home news before it even reached the paper, though that didn't lessen the impact of seeing the names in print.

Eventually, the Hogwarts letters and booklists arrived, along with a shiny new Quidditch Captain badge for Harry.

"This gives you equal status with prefects!" Hermione pointed out. "You can use our special bathroom now and everything."
Ron however was more caught up with the badge. "Captain, it has been an honour practicing with you all summer," he said in an inflated accent that would make Fred and George proud. "I do hope you'll return the favour by allowing me to return to my post as Keeper."

"Jesus Ron, give it a rest!" Harry said with a laugh.

"Sorry, just had to uphold the Weasley tradition. You deserve exactly the same treatment as Oliver." Now both boys were laughing.

"Seriously Ron, shut it. You'll be trying out with me and Dawn and everyone else this autumn," Ginny said, taking the badge out of Ron's hand to inspect it herself.

"Who said anything about me trying out?" Dawn asked.

"Well, I just assumed you'd want to try out for the Beater spot, since we've been working on your flying and the twins claimed that you've got a wicked shot. And don't think I didn't notice you swinging a bat when they came for dinner a few nights ago," Ginny admitted.

"No. Playing with you three has been fun and all, but I'll stay on the ground, thank you very much."

Harry kept his mouth shut, knowing that anything he said would only incriminate him in the eyes of his sister. Ginny, however, didn't want to let the subject die. "Fine Dawn, but if you ever get the urge to pick up a bat, I'll bring my old broom to Hogwarts with me."

"Speaking of which," said Harry, desperately attempting to transition out of the current sticky subject, "do you have any idea of when we'll be going to Diagon Alley?"

Ron shrugged. "My dad said maybe Saturday. It all depends on how much work he has, since we need to be protected in the Wizarding World's most public destination." He said the last part in a mocking tone, not believing that it would be dangerous to be in public.

"He has a point Ron," Hermione pointed out. "Fortescue and Ollivander didn't exactly go on holiday."

Sure enough though, Ron was correct and that Saturday they did indeed go to Diagon Alley. It was an overcast, murky day. One of the special Ministry of Magic cars, in which they had all ridden once before, was awaiting them in the front yard when they emerged from the house.

"It's good Dad can get us these again," said Ron appreciatively, stretching luxuriously as the car moved smoothly away from the Burrow, Bill and Fleur waving from the kitchen window. The five teenagers were all sitting in roomy comfort in the wide backseat.

"Don't get used to it, it's only because of Harry," said Arthur over his shoulder. He and Molly were in front with the Ministry driver; the front passenger seat had obligingly stretched into what resembled a two-seater sofa. "He's been given top-grade security status. And we'll be joining up with additional security at the Leaky Cauldron too."

Arthur was true to his word, as Hagrid was there to greet them when they arrived. Perhaps he wasn't the most capable guard, but his size did encourage people to keep their distance. Their travelling party split in two so Ron, Hermione and Harry could get their robes from Madam Malkin's while Dawn and Ginny got their schoolbooks from Flourish and Blotts.

Dawn found most of her books fairly quickly, though she lingered in the Muggle Studies section. She had never had any interest in taking the class, seeing as her existence with her family would prove any pureblood bigot that the stereotypes are all true, though one volume grabbed her attention.

"What are you looking at?" Ginny asked as she approached the section.

"Oh, nothing," Dawn mumbled, pulling her hand off the shelf quickly.

"No, let me see!" Ginny said as wiggled her way past Dawn. "Muggle Legends, Myths, and Nursery Rhymes. Don't you know all these?" She pulled the book off the shelf and began to thumb through it.

"Well, some of them. I can't say I was regularly read to until Harry went to school."

"Then get it. See what you missed out on." Ginny stopped on a page. "What does this mean? 'Little Miss Muffet sat on a tuffet, eating her curds and whey; along came a spider, who sat down beside her and frightened Miss Muffet away.'"

Dawn frowned. "I don't remember that one, but why does it sound so familiar?"

"Maybe you should ask Professor Burbage when you get back to Hogwarts. If it's in this book she probably teaches it in her class." Ginny then put the book on top of Dawn's pile. "We should go pay so we can get my new broom."

Even as Dawn paid of her and Harry's books, she couldn't quite figure out why that nursery rhyme was so familiar. But she pushed it to the back of her mind when their shopping party passed Eeylops Owl Emporium on their way to meet up with the others at Madam Malkin's. "Wait! I need to stop in here!"

"Do you need to get treats for Hedwig?" Molly asked.

"No, mum, Dawn wants to get her own owl," Ginny explained.

Arthur peaked in the window warily. "It's odd that there are no owls outside. Usually there's a few on display."

"Maybe he's running low," Dawn suggested, not wanting to leave the Alley without an owl. Sharing Hedwig with Harry was getting old, especially since the owl didn't like her and they sent letters to different people.

"Not likely."

"Oh relax Arthur," Molly said. "Would you keep your merchandise on the street where any Death Eater could take it or would you keep it inside?"

Arthur sighed in reluctant agreement. "Fine, you two can go in. We'll check in with Hagrid and make sure he doesn't need help." The two girls nodded as they walked off towards Madam Malkin's.

However, before they could enter the store, the owner of the shop hurried out with a caged owl under one arm and his wand cautiously raised in the other. "Mr. Eeylops?"

The frazzled shopkeeper clearly wasn't anticipating a conversation, as Dawn found his wand shoved into her neck before he realized his mistake and put it down. "I'm so sorry. I was worried that you might be one of them."

"Why would you think that Mr. Eeylops?" Dawn asked.

"I'm next," he stated simply.

"What do you mean 'I'm next?'" asked Ginny. "Have you received any threats?"

"No, nothing of the sort. I just know that they'll come after me next. First Ollivander, who gave wands to Muggle-borns and Purebloods alike. Then Flortesque, who married a Muggle-born himself. More than half of my customers are Muggle-borns who wish to keep in touch with their families who don't own owls. I'm next on their list."

"I can tell my dad. He works for the ministry, and he'll be able to keep you safe, Mr. Eeylops," Ginny reassured.

"My mind's made up; I'm moving to France. And it's Mr. Andrews. Eeylops was my uncle."

"Are you related to John Andrews, the fifth year Gryffindor?" Ginny asked.

"Yes, he's my son. Again, quite sorry about bumping into you but you see I'm in a hurry."

"Well, we're sorry to disrupt you," Dawn admitted. "I was just hoping to buy an owl."

Mr. Andrews took a quick glance down at the owl by his side, which was squawking as loudly as it could to no avail against the silenced cage. "This owl is yours then. She's a very loud Screech Owl, so I'd rather she find a good home than be caged in hiding." He thrust the cage into Dawn's hand. "Free of charge, I insist." Before Dawn could protest, he turned on the spot and apparated away.

..::..

"So, what are you going to name her?" Ginny asked when they were examining Dawn's new owl in the kitchen of the Burrow.

"Funny, I was about to ask you the same question," Dawn replied, pointing to the Cleansweep Ten that had not left Ginny's hands since it was purchased.

"Hilarious. So, what are you going to name her?" The owl squawked repeatedly from her new perch on Dawn's arm, flustering Errol and Hedwig. "She certainly is a loud thing."

"Big too. I just have no idea what to call her."

"I think I have some idea," Harry said as he entered the room with a large tome. "When I named Hedwig, I flipped through the pages of A History of Magic randomly until I came across a name that fit." He opened to a certain page and pointed to a few lines that mentioned a witch named Hedwig. Dawn was surprised by his willingness to help, as he had initially been opposed her getting her own owl, but she guessed that he came around to the idea when he realized that this would mean less work for Hedwig, who clearly didn't trust her.

"Sounds dumb, but I guess I'll give it a try," Dawn sighed, flipping through the pages at random before stopping. "'The strongest magical wards in existence however surround Hogwarts itself, as no one can apparate or disapparte within the castle. It is also said that magical creatures and demons with malicious intent may not enter the castle, though this caveat does not always stop vengeance demons, who believe that they are helping people. The last known vengeance demon to enter the castle was Anyanka, who wrecked havoc in the 13th century by trapping men in paintings at the behest of women they had scorned. She was eventually banished from the castle after she was identified by her characteristic cackle.'"

"I guess you were right," Harry admitted. "It is dumb."

"I don't think so," Ginny said. "It kind of fits. 'Characteristic cackle' could describe the way your owl doesn't stop screeching."

"Yeah, and I like the idea of someone able to get through the 'strongest magical wards in existence.'"

"You can't be serious?" Harry asked.

"What do you think of Anyanka?" Dawn asked her new owl, who began to screech and flap her wings in agreement. "I guess that settles it."

..::..

The last weeks of summer quickly drew to an end rather quickly, leaving the five teenagers to await their trek back to Hogwarts. However, some were more prepared than others, as Ron and Harry were scrambling around the house the morning of September 1st in a feeble attempt to collect all of their belongings.

"Mum, have you seen my dress robes?" Ron yelled from his room.

Molly groaned and shouted back, "Ronald Bilius Weasley, you can't be telling me that you don't know where your robes are when you only have half an hour before we need to leave!"

"No," Ron yelled back hesitantly.

"Have you checked the attic?" Molly responded with a sigh.

"Yes!"

Molly turned to Dawn and Ginny. "Could you two check the attic? I somehow doubt that he looked everywhere."

The two girls nodded and climbed up all the steps to the attic. "I bet they're under his bed," Ginny said with a scoff as they began rummaging through the storage area above Ron's bedroom.

Dawn laughed, but the brief moment of glee was interrupted when the Weasley Family Ghoul let out a horrifying shriek. "No, no, no," he stammered. "Get away from here!"

"What?" Dawn asked in shock.

"Get out! Get far away from here. Too…green…and swirly…" he continued to back away, and tried to look away, as though he was avoiding a Basilisk.

"I don't know what you mean," Dawn responded, trying to approach the startled creature.

"NO!" He screamed, causing Dawn to retreat this time. "I will not have you in my home curd! Get out!" He began flailing his arms, trying any means necessary to get her out of his presence.

"What's wrong with him?" Dawn asked Ginny.

"I've never seen him like this," the older girl admitted.

"Found them!" Ron yelled from downstairs. "They were under my bed!"

"Good," Dawn mumbled. "Let's get out of here." She tried to leave without giving the ghoul another look, but when she peered over her shoulder, she saw the still frazzled ghoul cowering in fear.

Yes, I did post a chapter late after bragging about how well the schedule was working. At least you got an extra long chapter out of it! I had several excuses, mostly midterms, and I wanted to get everyone on the Hogwarts Express in the next chapter.

Thanks for reading! Please review!