This chapter is named for the song "The Boys are back in town" by Thin Lizzy and will primarily serve as a precursor to the next chapter which I am still writing.

Also, if anyone has a song suggestion for a chapter, I'm open to ideas. Let me clarify that I'm not taking requests, but if you would like to help the production of this story in a meaningful way, suggesting songs to inspire me would be great.

The Boys are Back in Town

Although the afternoon passed without incident (and with a long nap in the common room, Ginny curled under his arm), the evening of May 3rd was more raucous than the evening before it, if that was possible. The whole country now knew that Voldemort was indeed dead and that Harry Potter had saved them all. In fact, the only place that did not seem to be actively celebrating the victory at Hogwarts was Hogwarts itself. Even the village of Hogsmeade was alive and active, so much so that the bustle was audible from the castle.

Harry felt jealous. He sat in one of the armchairs in the Gryffindor common room, alternatively listening to Ron and Hermione discuss their future – Hermione, clearly, would not forego her final year of education and certainly would take her N.E.W.T.s, thank you very much – and staring out the window, imagining what it would be like to have a normal life, where he could celebrate such occasions. Outside, Hogsmeade seemed to be a living entity unto itself, shifting and moving.

Suddenly, the portrait hole burst open and Neville and Hannah came in together, visibly intoxicated. "Harry!" Neville cried out, much louder than was necessary, "Been looking for you! Haven't we Hannah?" Hannah nodded much more intensely than was necessary, although Harry did notice a rather large bruise on her neck. "Been looking for you, Harry! And you two too! Two too. Tutu," and with the word having been spoken, Neville pirouetted much less gracefully than he had certainly intended. "Ab's sent us to fetch you lot… 'n Ginny 'n Luna as well. He's been askin' if you were around. How you were and where you could be found. He's set aside his upstairs room just for us! Dumbledore's Army only!" Neville's voice became much louder than necessary once again as he shook Hannah in his arm much harder than he had clearly intended, as she began to wobble in his grasp.

"Would be great though if the others could come though," Hannah added, looking wistful, "but Ernie is home now and Justin's probably just getting back from wherever he was hiding."

"An' Dean and Seamus too," Neville said. "They went back to the Finnegans while Dean sorts out his family. I think the Patils are still around, though."

"Anyone know how Lavender's doing," Ron asked, concern written on his face. Harry looked at Ron, arching an eyebrow and flicking his eyes toward Hermione. Hermione, to Harry's surprise, seemed equally concerned. "Oh come off it, Harry. I'm just wondering if she needed to go to St. Mungo's or not. Greyback, remember?"

Harry did remember. Hermione had blasted the werewolf off of Lavender's back, but who knew how much damage she had taken up to that point. "You know, Neville, I also seem to recall a particular device that was used against my wishes extremely recently that may or may not have the ability to gather the requisite DA members."

"Yeah well…" Neville began before stopping very suddenly. After a moment, the haze cleared from his eyes and he smiled brightly. "The coin, Harry! I can't believe I didn't think of the coin!" Harr grinned brightly as Neville took the coin from his pocket and swished his wand over it. Harry immediately felt his own coin heat up and he drew it from his pocket, reading its message:

Victory Party at the Hog's Head. Get here now, you sods.

Ron snorted behind Harry, clearly having read the message as well, and Harry was sure that Hermione was smiling behind him. Harry took out his wand and summoned his patronus, staring at it for a moment before it disappeared.

"Is everything alright, Harry," Hermione asked uncertainly.

Harry turned to her and smiled sadly. "Yeah, I just sent my patronus to Lavender. If she can respond, I'm sure she will."

Ron cleared his throat to break up the awkwardness that was threatening to settle on the group. "Well lads, I do believe we should go get ourselves sorted out," Ron said, throwing his side-long smirk down at Hermione. "After all, we can't be seen in public looking shabby. We're heroes now." And with that, he popped the collar of the school shirt he had been wearing and walked to the staircase.

Hermione rolled her eyes at Harry, but startled when he and Neville began to walk to the stairs as well. "You can't be serious, Harry. Getting dressed up? You don't have any clothes like that. In fact, you're probably still wearing the same pants as yesterday."

Neville shook his head while he passed Harry on the staircase, patting him on the shoulder. Harry's face flushed with embarrassment, but he wouldn't be dissuaded. "Tell you what, Hermione," Harry said, puffing his chest out, "you just find Ginny and tell her to start getting ready." With that, Harry darted up the stairs, taking two at a time, leaving Hermione and Hannah to shrug at each other.

Harry entered the dormitory to find Neville going through his trunk for better clothes and Ron sitting on his bed looking dejected. "Mate, I don't have anything. WE don't have anything." Ron's shoulders slumped and his long arms sank past his knees. "It's a good idea and all, Harry, but how can we dress the part without the clothes."

Harry smiled at Ron, who, for all his enthusiasm, forgot such a major detail. Harry turned to Neville saying, "Don't worry about that, Neville. We're doing this right. Kreacher," Harry called out.

The old, wrinkled elf appeared instantaneously; "my master has summoned Kreacher," he said before muttering, "the brave avenger of Master Regulus. My mistress will forgive poor old Kreacher for serving his new master and his blood traitor friends." Harry blanched, but Ron and Neville both choked back laughter. Kreacher had changed so much over the past three years since Harry had first met him. The elf bowed deeply, "How may old Kreacher serve you, Master?"

Harry cleared his throat, raising an eyebrow at Ron and Neville before meeting Kreacher's hazy eyes. "Kreacher, are you able to leave Hogwarts when you need to?"

"Yes Master," the house-elf nodded, "and I have returned to the home of my master earlier today."

Harry nodded, "Very good. Now, can you access my Gringott's vault and buy some things for us?" Ron started to speak but Harry waved him off. "We'll each need a new set of clothes for tonight, everything from top to bottom. Three-piece suits, I think." Harry paused briefly before his smile turned devious. "And if you would, get outfits for the girls as well. Do you know my vault number?" Kreacher nodded and with a final nod from Harry, Kreacher quickly glanced at Ron and Neville before disapparating.

Harry turned to look at his friends, expecting to see Ron upset, but it was Neville who protested, sobered by the realization. "Harry, honestly, you can't expect us to let you buy us clothes!" and before Harry could reply, Ron patted Neville on the shoulder and shook his head.

"You get used to it, Neville. It took me years, but you just grow to accept that Harry's going to throw money away on your behalf. Don't take advantage, mind you, but just accept it and move along."

Harry looked at Ron with more appreciation than he ever had before; Ron truly was his best mate. Neville only shook his head and walked to the loo, grabbing a towel as he went. "I'll go ahead then and shower up."

Harry waited for the door to close behind Neville before looking up at Ron, "Thanks for understanding me, mate." Ron only nodded, a half-formed smile creeping on his face. He turned away from Harry and pulled his wand out of his pocket, quickly murmuring. Harry felt the coin in his pocket burn again and he drew it into his hand.

Dress smart. If you need clothes, call for Kreacher. Tonight's on Harry.

Harry only laughed at his friend. Tonight and any other night the stubborn bastard would let him, Harry would be happy to foot the bill.

A half-hour later, when Harry finished in the loo, he had the days-old stubble that had graced his face tamed, but not gone and a towel wrapped around him. Ron and Neville had already begun dressing themselves in the robes Kreacher had purchased for them, but stopped when they saw Harry's many wounds, revealing to Ron and Neville the extent of the damages he had sustained. With almost two days having passed, he was glad they hadn't seen him yesterday – his bruises, scars and poorly healed wounds were stark reminders that the evening ahead of them had been hard-earned. Ron opened his mouth to speak, but Harry cut across him. "Tomorrow," he said with a voice that was both appreciative and final.

He walked over to his bed to find that Kreacher had laid out the newly-purchased robes in a coordinated outfit, a feat Harry was certain that he could not have accomplished himself. Ron and Neville quickly finished dressing; Ron's shimmering obsidian robes and suit were set off by the shade of his now-flowing hair and Neville's broad shoulders – when had he gone from a pudgy little boy to a stout wall of muscle, by the by – were accentuated by the slim cut of his tan robes and deep brown suit.

Harry quickly put on the royal blue suit and crimson robes, fixed up his Gryffindor gold tie and walked to the door, shaking the collar as he went. Grabbing the handle, he turned to his friends, feeling rakish and smirking confidently. "Let's go down and meet the girls. It's time for Hogsmeade to see that the boys are back in town."

Ron and Neville's wild eyes gleamed, walking out the door. With no one around but friends, Harry was definitely going to enjoy tonight. He quickly walked downstairs and was struck dumb by the vision in front of him, so much so that he stopped walking on the staircase only to have Ron bump into him and knock him to the floor below.

Harry quickly picked himself back up in time to see Ginny in a long cerulean gown, shimmering like the sea above which her red hair burned like the setting sun. He stepped forward and took her hand, bringing her to him. "You," he said, his voice shaking slightly, "you're beautiful." Her brown eyes looked away from him and she blushed brightly, but he lifted her chin and brought his lips down softly over hers.

After kissing for a moment Harry realized once again that they were not the only people in the room, but as he turned to look around, he saw Hermione in Ron's arms wearing a Gryffindor crimson dress and Neville gazing at Hannah as she came down the stairs in a champagne sheath that clung tightly to her narrow frame. Kreacher, apparently, had really outdone himself.

Their reverie was broken up, however, by the opening of the portrait hole and the voices of the Weasley brothers all collected. Percy stepped through the hole first wearing a black suit and black robes; Harry thought he looked rather officious but had to ask, "Percy is everything alright?"

Bill, Fleur, Charlie, and George filed in behind Percy, all impeccably dressed, George flipping a Galleon in the air. "George got your messages and passed them along," Percy said, jerking an eyebrow up, "I trust you won't mind us joining you." Harry watched Percy's eyes narrowed and flit between him and Ginny and understood. Percy had not been around – he had no idea of the relationship they had. They were being big brothers, and if he was going to win them over as such, this was as good a time as any to start.

"Before we go," Harry said very solemnly, "I need you all to know that I am very sorry about Fred. I'm not going to say what I should have or could have done – that won't change anything… but I want you all to know that I miss him too. George, I'll never know how you feel right now, but the dead…" George put up his hand to cut him off.

"Not right now, mate," he said with pain in his eyes. "Not now."

Harry took a deep breath. "I died yesterday, George," he said bluntly. In the forest, Voldemort killed me. We'll get into the how's and what's later, but I died. I have seen my parents and I have seen the beyond and I can assure you," George raised his hand again but Harry pressed on, "Fred is okay. We are not. We are left behind, but Fred is with us." George looked at Harry furiously, but Harry shouted over him before he could respond, "and I won't say what Fred would or wouldn't have wanted! You knew him best, George, but I do know this! Tonight, if only for tonight, we are going to celebrate. The funerals will begin in a few days and then we can all suffer together, but just for tonight, we are going to go down to the Hog's Head, get right pissed, and surround ourselves with friends. Just for tonight, George, we're not happy, but we are victorious."

George's head sank against his brightly colored robes and his jaw jutted out. Tears streamed down his cheeks and his fists clenched. Bill and Charlie glared at Harry looking murderous, and even Percy seemed more imposing than Harry could have imagined possible. George began to hiccough and shudder and pushed Percy aside, walking in broken steps towards Harry and when George reached him, Harry stood perfectly still uncertain of what would happen next.

"Fred," George said very gravely, "would not want…" He sighed, raised his head and brushed his long hair back from his face. His eyes were bloodshot and wet, but they had regained their glimmer if not their smile. "Fred wouldn't want us to carry on like this. He would have shoved a dragon firecracker up my arse by now if he were here. I'm not okay, Harry. I'm not okay, but tonight, we're drinking to Fred. We bury him in two days, but tonight, we're sending him out in style." He smiled weakly and stuck his hand out to Harry, who grasped it and felt himself slung into a great bearhug. Looking over George's shoulder, he noticed the other Weasley brothers relax considerably.

George let Harry go and brushed off his shoulders. "Now who told you how to dress up, Potter," he asked jokingly, recapturing a bit of his normal personality. He straightened Harry's tie and ruffled his hair. "So tonight's on you is what I understand? Because, if that's the case, Harry, we're going to close old Aberforth down!"

Harry slung an arm around George and reached out for Ginny with his other hand. "That was the plan all along, George. That was the plan all along."