The characters and places in this story belong to J.K. Rowling. I only own a 2 year old and a 2 month old.

P.S. There seems to have been some confusion, this is not the last chapter only the last one I have ready to upload, Ch. 27 has been written and now needs to be typed and formated. If I can get these monsters to nap maybe today? ;)

Chapter 26 -A Crack In The Armor

The game was all the school was talking about for the next few days. Harry was pleased about his team's success and smiled to himself as he waited in the McGonagall's office.

Filling the silence a voice rang out. "Thank you Mr. Potter for remaining after class."

"Yes Ma'am." Harry replied.

"I asked you to remain and give me your opinion on a matter of great importance." McGonagall said with her usual frown.

Harry blanched wondering how he could help her. "I'll do my best Professor."

She nodded and sat down at her desk eyeing Harry thoughtfully before continuing. "Since you graduate this year I will need your suggestion as to who the next Captain should be. Please bear in mind I'll merely consider your thoughts but the final decision is mine to make."

Harry immediately considered Ginny but thought over all the members before making a decision. "Professor, it should be Ginny. She's been on the team longest and has a better grasp of leadership then the rest."

McGonagall nodded and gave the briefest of smiles. "Thank you Mr. Potter. I'll keep that in mind. On to more important matters." McGonagall pulled an invitation response from a large pile on her desk. "As you are aware, Remus Lupin has already sent his response to your graduation and has accepted. I was surprised to find a response from your Aunt. Your muggle family has rarely shown an interest or responded to school matters in the past. So needless to say, it was a surprise to find an acceptance for one Petunia Dursley."

Harry fell back in his chair stunned. He never expected his Aunt to agree, even if she had mentioned keeping in touch after Hogwarts. "She's really coming? But how will she get here?"

McGonagall shook her head. "Mr. Potter, yours won't be the first muggle family to arrive at Hogwarts. We transfigure the Hogwarts Express and run it on Muggle tracks. That's how the families arrive and we then just bring them across the lake on the boats. It's the only way for them to see the castle with all the muggle repelling wards really."

Harry nodded. "Can I bring her up to Gryffindor tower?"

McGonagall frowned. "Normally we don't allow Muggles any sort of run around the castle. Why would you like to bring her up to your dorm?"

Harry wore a bittersweet smile. "I thought she might like the chance to see where my mum and I went when we were away."

McGonagall looked surprised but nodded. "Very well. I will allow any muggle relative of a Gryffindor to be allowed in the tower if their child wishes. I will even inform the other Head of Houses and allow them the option should they wish to extend it."

Harry stood up to go tell Hermione when McGonagall handed him an envelope addressed in typical muggle fashion. "It came with the announcement. Please take it when you go." McGonagall stared at it as though it would explode at any moment.

Harry also looked stunned. He never expected a response much less one so timely. Harry said goodbye before leaving the office and walked to the tower entrance in a bit of a daze. A moment later Harry found himself before The Fat Lady. Before he could give her the password several second years climbed out of the portrait hole.

"Hiya Harry." Their leader shouted as they took off down the hall. Harry nodded absentmindedly and climbed into the main room. He looked up to see Ginny and Hermione working through some Charms guides. They both looked up when Harry flopped into the chair next to Ginny.

"How was your meeting with McGonagall?" Ginny asked curiously.

"Umm it was fine. A bit of a shock really. She wanted to let me know I'll have two guests for graduation." Harry replied.

Hermione looked confused. "Is Remus bringing a date? I didn't know he was seeing anyone?" She brightened up. "Maybe he and Tonks…"

Ginny interrupted. "Sorry Hermione but Tonks is seeing Charlie. Maybe he met someone at the Ministry and hit it off. Now that he's not a werewolf he probably feels better about dating."

"No it's not like that, and he never told me about dating." Harry said in a jumble.

Ginny pressed him. "Then who else is coming?"

Harry looked up at the two young women. "Aunt Petunia."

Hermione opened he mouth in surprise and slammed it shut quickly before finally blurting, "You're serious?"

Ginny pressed a hand to his arm. "Are you sure you're ok with this? She hasn't exactly been a positive influence on your life."

Harry nodded. "I know, but I think she wants to try. She even sent me a letter."

Both girls looked at him as though to say 'Well.'

Harry looked briefly confused before it dawned on him. "Oh! Sorry about that. I hadn't opened it yet." Harry ripped open the side and pulled the paper out.

Dear Harry,

I hope this letter finds you well. I received your post and I
am grateful as to its state of arrival. I hung the picture you
sent of you and your friends on the door to your room. You
understand a snapshot is not appropriate for the mantle. Your
ladyfriend does seem to bear quite a resemblance to your mother.
I expect I'll meet her on better conditions than the brothers of
her family.

I have decided to accept the invitation I received from your school.
Your Uncle and I have agreed though that it would be best for me
to attend alone.

Enclosed with this letter is £40. Please take it to that village nearby
and buy something respectable to wear for the ceremony. I don't
want you to stand out and make me look foolish.

Regards

Aunt Petunia

"Wow" Was all Ginny said when Harry finished reading.

Harry smiled. "I wonder if she has any idea that even the nicest of outfits won't change me from being noticed."

Is £40 even all that much in galleons?" Ginny wondered.

Hermione chimed in. "In muggle fashion it will buy a dress shirt and a pair of slacks if you shop for a modest label."

Harry thought for a moment. "I don't have time to convert muggle money into wizard so I'll just use one of the nicer muggle outfits I got with Remus over the summer and tell her it was on sale. I mean I have some clothes still in the store wrappers. It will make her feel good and keep my next Hogsmeade visit free."

Ginny nodded while Hermione asked, "Any plans?"

Ginny shrugged. "I promised a few girls from my year that we'd go shopping together." She faced Harry sadly. "I'm sorry Harry but we hadn't been doing much together lately and we wanted to take advantage of this last visit."

Harry figured the sixth year girl's dorm was similar to his own and could understand the importance of being close with the people you live with three-quarters of the year. "Don't worry about it. Me and Ron were planning on stopping by Neville's land to see where the greenhouse is going to be built."

Hermione smiled. "Since I've been delegated the Prefect that remains behind this time, I guess it's good to know Ron can't get into any trouble looking at houses."

Harry pulled his Transfiguration book out of his bag while thinking about houses. He knew that Neville already had plans to update the cottage on the Hogsmeade property. He could even recall Ron bringing up building a house near The Burrow once he was making money from The Cannons. Harry realized that he hadn't given much thought about where he'd go after he left Hogwarts. 'Must be all this Voldemort fighting.' Harry snorted to himself.

Harry turned a few pages in his book while his mind worked on this. Grimmauld Place was really out of the question. No matter how clean or taken care of the fact remains that Sirius hated living there. Besides all the families moving in and out would make it acquired to call it home.

Harry also dismissed Privet Drive. Although his Aunt seemed to be sincere in her offer for him to stay, he figured he'd better not press his luck unless he really had no choice.

Harry shook his head to clear it as he heard Hermione yelling his name. "Really Harry, at least try to study. Your N.E.W.T.'s are very important for your future as a Wizard."

Harry sighed and turned to his book before shutting it soundly. When he saw Hermione jump with surprise he pulled notes he had made from his last visit with Dumbledore. "I want you to read over this. It's notes from my last pensieve visit. My mum may have created something that could help destroy Voldemort, but Dumbledore and the Flitwick in the past think its too weak."

Hermione read and then reread the notes he handed her. When she finally set the parchment down, Harry thought he was going to burst. "Well?" He asked, louder than he intended,

Hermione bit her lip as she thought about it. "They may be right Harry, but the spell can be made stronger with some tweaking. We've been learning about what all goes into creating a spell. I guess I can see what I can do. It can't hurt at least."

Harry nodded before turning to Ginny. "Think Luna could be of any help?"

Ginny sounded very sure when she answered. "She's been in Arithmacy since the beginning, and its not like she's a Ravenclaw for nothing."

Harry was glad to hear this and felt even better when Hermione agreed to seek Luna out at her earliest opportunity. Harry took this moment to mention the lifted policy on Muggle families. Hermione was pleased that she would be able to at least show her parents her room.

Harry watch Hermione take his pensieve notes and head up to her dorm where she was sure she had a book that could help her. Ginny watched her go before asking, "What were you thinking about when Hermione caught you daydreaming?"

Harry sighed. "Where I'm going to live after Hogwarts."

Ginny seemed surprised. "Wouldn't you go to Grimmauld Place? You own it and it is your house now."

Harry frowned. "I'll probably go there for a bit till I can find something better. Grimmauld Place has too many people to be a real home."

"I'm sure the families would understand if you didn't let others move in." Ginny suggested.

Harry just shook his head. "That wouldn't feel right. I mean these people have lost everything by these attacks. They know they can at least depend on the Order until they can find a new home. # 12 is like a safe haven. Besides I can't live there without thinking about how unhappy Sirius was."

Ginny nodded. "Your right of course. You can always stay at The Burrow. Even Ron is staying home through his first year with The Cannons."

Harry glanced out the window and began to pack up his scattered books. "I'll figure it out. Maybe I'll call the solicitor Sirius used. I've got his card somewhere."

Ginny looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "Call on a Muggle device?"

Harry laughed. "Oh yeah. Perhaps an owl would be better."

Ginny pressed a quick peck to his cheek. "Yes that may work better."

With a promise to meet for dinner Harry went up to his dorm to put his bag away and talk to his own roommates.

Harry saw the nervous look on Neville's face. The twins had arrived and Professor McGonagall gave them the use of her classroom.

It had not taken long when the realtor arrived along with a local contractor. Papers were set out and Neville picked up a quill and began to sign. The twins also had to sign a few copies.

The contractor stepped forward with a enchanted blueprint. Harry was confused so the contractor explained how it worked. "Touch yer wand to the corner and think carefully as to what you want built. Once you got the details figured, wave yer wand and say 'Aedifico'. Then it will draw up what you pictured and give me correct specifications."

Neville closed his eyes and thought carefully. It took awhile before he mutter the charm. Lines began to form along with a supply list. Once it was completed Fred took a long look and whistled.

That's grand Neville."

George smiled and initialed the blueprint before giving a bag of galleons to the contractor for the downpayment.

Neville surprised Harry by signing a note to the Realtor for the cost of the property.

Harry asked. "I thought the twins were funding this?"

Neville shook his head. "Only the greenhouse. Gran owled me this morning with a note that I could access my inheritance for my 'dirt farm.'"

Ron clapped Neville on the back. "Great job mate. When do you move in?"

Neville looked at the contractor for confirmation, who replied, "Yer greenhouse will be up by the end of school. You may need to get some work on that cottage of yer's though. It's been empty for quite a few years."

Neville nodded and made arrangements to visit the site on the next Hogsmeade visit and make a list for the man. Everyone left after a few words of congratulation and handshakes. The twins offered to walk the men to the gate and also said their good-byes.

When everyone was finally gone Neville broke out into a huge grin. Harry clapped him hard on the back while Ron ruffled his hair.

"You're a homeowner Neville!" Harry shouted.

Neville picked up the papers along with a deed, and looked at his friends. "Let's get out of here and celebrate."