I apologise for the way the end of this chapter sounds, it's what comes from the only thing in the house you haven't read being god awful summer holiday fluff… honestly I wish I had money to buy some proper reading materials.
I know last chapter was tinchy. But this one makes up for it I think, and it's gaoing to start kicking off soon I promise.
Love as ever paula-lou
The hall was not up to it's usual Halloween cheer , the teachers had tried there best but the decorations lacked in there creativeness , Dumbledore had held sway over so much and it was minor details that made the bigger things worth it.
Ginny sat in the ever-decreasing mass of students at the teacher's end of the Gryffindor table. Around her she could see the worried looks on some of her closest friends faces as they looked at the vacant seats that had once been filled by there friends.
The atmosphere was heavy the air congealed. Only yesterday two first year Ravenclaws returned to there family's the news soon spread about the attacks by the death eaters.
Over on the Ravenclaws table Luna was conducting a congregation of DA members, Ginny swelled with pride at the way the others hung on Luna's every word, an unlikely commander in an unlikely battleground but a battleground none the less.
By now, almost all the remaining members of the Gryffindor, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff houses had joined the movement. The eager eyes of the Slytherin consortium would hover around any mass groups of opposing houses trying to discover the secrets of the others, maybe to report to the others maybe their parents or maybe others higher up the Death eater chain of command.
Some Slytherin's had tried to join the others, as the sorting hat said not all Slytherin's were bad, they were easy to pick out, they sat in a small huddled group at the far end of the table as far away from Crabb and Goyle as they could manage.
Lightning flashed across the enchanted ceiling. Most people jumped, Neville sat staring at her from across the table, almost as if every inch of his being was listening to the noises beyond the loud crashing and the role of thunder. She knew this because she herself was trying to hear the noises that were only noticeable by there absence.
When she was sure one hundred percent that the thunder was just that, she lifted her fork to her mouth. As the background noise of the feast grew to its natural level the thunder, now distant, accompanied it growing quieter with each godly role.
Neville carefully filled his goblet with pumpkin juice; Ginny knew he was weighing his words before he spoke.
"I know I feel it to." she said quietly leaning forward.
As if on queue the large oak doors flew open, a few people screamed almost all the members of the DA grabbed for there wands but froze when there eyes adjusted to the sight in the doorway.
Ginny looked up to the teachers table Professor McGonagall sat with a half amused half angered look that she so often saved for the young man that she was about to address.
Whispering follow.
"Please Mr Potter, Do join us."
"So let me get this straight…"
"We just walk up to the gates and they will let us in?"
Ron and Harry looked at Hermione with matching looks of disbelief.
Somewhere in the distance the beginnings of a storm brewed, Hermione pulled her coat closer to her as she glared at the two of them.
"How many times have the two of you read Hogwarts a History? Exactly ( she said not letting them answer her as she knew that neither had any intentions of ever picking up the tomb) well you always said that I know to much, trust me on this, the gates have to open for any witch or wizard of age that wants to learn."
"And you're sure that were not going to get turned in to giant slugs or anything?"
Hermione rolled her eyes and traced a finger down Ron's nose.
"I'd love you even if you were a giant slug but alas no, I can assure you we will not turn to anything nasty." to prove her point she pushed the giant iron gate.
Nothing happened apart from the gate opening slightly.
"You may worship my brilliance at any time you like." she smiled back over her shoulder at the two men who shook there head. Harry followed her through the gates turning back to Ron he opened his mouth to speak.
"Don't you dare say I'm teaching her my bad manners or, chosen one or not I will pop your nose." warned Ron pointing a gloved finger at Harry.
"I wasn't going to say a thing." said Harry exchanging a glance with Hermione that forced her to pull her scarf tighter around her head to hide the laughter.
She watched as Harry hoisted his bag on to his shoulder. She knew what lay in it wrapped in newspaper; she could feel its draw even now.
She shrugged it off as Ron wrapped a protective arm around her after closing the Iron Gate behind himself.
A head of them they saw Harry eying the north tower.
Instantly Ron's hand fell from around Hermione's shoulder and to her hand, he entwined his fingers with hers and squeezed gently before dropping her hand to catch up with Harry.
She knew she would never compare to the camaraderie that the two of them shared, even now with Ron as so much more than her friend she knew that no mater what happened Ron would drop everything to be by Harry's side. In addition, she was fine with that, overall in the larger picture of things two people in love would always find a way to let the other know. As if on cue, Ron turned and smiled at her. She felt warmth spread through her protecting her from the harsh October wind. Even now, she felt as if he were holding her in his arms. She sighed contently blocking out the pull of the cup that Harry carried in his bag.
As they reached the heavy oak front doors, the others waited for her to catch up. Ron once again wrapping his hand in with Hermione's.
"You two ready for this?" Harry asked quietly as he slid the door open.
"What? The beings stared at or the fact that were still no closer to figuring everything out and we now have to face down at least seven members of the order who haven't seen or hard from us in over three months?" asked Hermione sardonically.
Harry simply shook his head and knocked quietly on the doors.
"Look at Weasley's face."
"What they doing back here?"
"You don't think it's started do you?"
Ginny watched them as they walked silently up the middle of the tables straight to Professor McGonagall. She watched as Harry sought out her gaze as he scanned the table. He nodded solemnly at Neville who returned the gesture, before her eyes finally met his. One look told her everything that she needed to know, business not pleasure brought Harry to the castle, he would have time for the two of them later but for now duty called.
A muttering had erupted along the tables, and quite rightly, so, the return of the Chosen one to the halls of his learning was causing a lot of commotion. Ginny could understand why, looking at the three of them as they passed there former classmates was like nothing she had ever expected. The three of them looked so much older than they had the last time she had seen them. Harry's hair still fell unceremoniously in to his eyes, the back sticking up everywhere but he looked more focused and determined than she had ever seen him, like a strong magnetic pull she wanted to rush over to him and hold him in ways she had never considered an option before. She had missed him so much, she had not realised until now how much a smile a brush of hands and an embrace was what she called for when she laid in the dark her thoughts controlling her mind.
Ron nodded to her as he passed, his hand entwined with Hermione's, Ginny managed to hide her gasp as he passed the table, and she was one of few that did. Lavender audibly muttered to her friend as she took in the scar, it wasn't ugly it was just so noticeable. Hermione seamed to tighten her grip on Ron slightly as she passed Lavender, Ron ignored her completely.
Ginny watched the hushed conversation between the headmistress and her three former students before ushering Harry and the others to the Gryffindor table to join the feast.
Around her, she was aware that all eyes had turned to the three strangers in the tables midst.
Harry instinctively slid in beside Ginny, his hand automatically finding hers under the table. Ron and Hermione took a seat either side of Neville. Hermione pulled him in to what Ginny was sure was bone breaking hug.
"Anyone would think you missed us." Ginny said quietly as Harry squashed her hand.
"Just a little." he whispered in to her ear.
Neville was busy looking at Ron's face.
"I hate to ask but I have to …," he pointed at the scar.
"You're arch nemesis work." said Ron slowly.
A dark shadow passed across Neville's face. Ron just nodded in silent agreement.
"What's been happening?" Neville asked dropping his voice.
"Stuff…a lot of stuff." said Ron helping himself to some pumpkin pie. Ginny rolled her eyes you can take the boy out of the burrow, but you could not take the burrow out of the boy, she watched as he devoured the entire piece of pie in two mouthfuls.
"We'll fill you in when there's not so many ways for words to escape." he gave a prominent look Lavender who was eavesdropping. "What's been going on here?" he asked her.
"Preparations." said Ginny looking at him with curiosity, was this fully-grown man in front of her really her Harry? The windily little bespectacled orphan that had lived under the stairs at his aunt's was no more; Harry was and still was the most interesting person she had ever met.
"I knew I could count on you." he said quietly moving his and on to her leg. He squeezed it slightly before helping himself to some treacle tart.
Harry had to admit it was strange seeing the way that his peers had greeted there arrival. Ginny had said that they knew something was coming there was tension in the air. As they were dismissed from dinner, several people walked over to speak to Ginny. Harry was surprised to see Susan Bones whose aunt had been killed by the death eaters, he had thought she might never return to Hogwarts, after explaining that she had told her parents she would curse them if they wouldn't let her return, she wandered of to join Ernie by the main doors. Hanna Abbot asked Ginny about her station.
Harry watched as Ginny commanded the army that she had built around herself in his absence.
It wasn't until they got to the hallway that Harry noticed the other group of individuals that were gathered by the grand staircase.
Standing in the middle her butterbeer cork necklace bobbing as she talked stood Luna, she nodded as the five of them walked towards her.
"The Ravenclaw look out have seen nothing unusual and Hufflepuff say that they checked the grounds outside and none of the traps have been sprung." she says brightly but in a very different voice to what Harry remembered.
"Any news back from Cho?" asked Ginny. Harry felt the sudden urge to curl up and die.
"Nothing yet but give her time, her report was late last week as well." Luna fidgeted with the large peacock feather earrings that hung in between the strands of her hair.
"Are you still up for the midnight shift?" Neville asked her brightly. Harry could not help but note the optimism in his voice. Luna smiled at him she nodded gently. Then she looked across at Ron.
"What happened to your face Ronald? Did you run in to something creepy and nasty I heard the eastern ridge snorkel was running rampant in the south…" Harry sighed, it was with relief an organised and self-assured Luna was more than acceptable but things would be very wrong in the world if her father's idealisms had totally disappeared.
"Well it was definitely something creepy and nasty." he said smiling at her. Somehow, Luna's eccentricities made everything seam all right.
Harry's attention was drawn past the gathering to Crabb and Goyle who were leading a rather bedraggled looking group of Slytherin's down to the dungeons.
"There kind of pathetic with out Malfoy telling them what to do, but we keep an eye on them anyway." said Ginny nodding at a girl in a Slytherin uniform who slid down the corridor after them.
Harry gave her a questioning look.
"Not all Slytherin's are bad." she said reading his look.
"I never said they were." he protested.
"No but your body language said it all over." said Ginny
"She has a point." said Luna.
Harry shrugged. He wasn't here to play nice he had a job to do.
Behind him, Hermione fidgeted uncontrollably.
"Hermione just go to the library already." said Harry not turning around.
Ron rolled his eyes and followed her, beside him Luna giggled.
"Loves young dream I see." said Lavender as she passed the group on the stairs. Harry could hear the bitterness in her voice.
"Lavender like you didn't know that it was going to happen eventually." said Neville trying to keep the laughter from his voice.
"I know but do they have to be so obvious?" She said turning her tail and heading up the stairs.
Harry watched her go; his mouth must have been hanging open.
"Is she for real?" he asked the world at large.
"The world needs pre-Madonna like her to make the rest of us look sane." said Luna in her wispy distant voice. Coming from any other person that would have been an accurate description. However coming from Luna it lost its edge slightly.
Before Harry could answer her, he felt Ginny grip his hand.
"I have the perimeter to parole, I'm sure that Seamus won't mind if I take you with me instead of him." she said gently leading him towards the doors.
Harry saw Neville and Luna exchange glances before heading in the direction of the communal study hall near the library.
"Anyone would think you just wanted to get me on my own." Harry said quietly as they slipped unnoticed out of the front doors.
"Am I that transparent?" Ginny asks him as she pulls him in to the bush near the doors as the tiny figure of professor Flitwick passed by.
"I don't need to read your mind to know It.," he said gently pulling her close to him.
Ginny rested her head on his chest, it was as if she was checking to make sure his heart was still beating , in fact it was about ten thousand times faster than it should be at that moment in time, what was it about her that made him forget that the world was out to get him.
"I missed you." she said in a barely audible whisper.
"I missed you to." Harry said gently stroking her hair. "But you do know I will have to go away again." he felt her move her head against the fabric on his chest. Leaving her again would almost certainly hurt a lot more than it did the first time.
She turned her head to look at him. He could feel his glasses sliding down his nose as he looked at her; she pushed them gently back in to place.
"Did I do an ok job looking after the place?" she asked gently.
"Amazingly well, I'm incredibly proud of you, I know there all in safe hands as long as you're at the helm." said Harry resting his arms over her shoulders.
"I have absolute faith in you, I knew you wouldn't let me down." he kissed her gently on the nose, before she pulled his head and his lips to meet her own.
She tasted wonderful, had it really been only been two months since he last saw her? It seamed a lot longer.
"You're going after him soon aren't you?" Ginny asked quietly.
Harry searched her eyes. Looking for an answer to a question, he needn't bother asking, as he already knew the answer.
"Yes, and you're coming with us when we go. You, Neville and Luna I owe you at least that. Like you said a million times this is not my fight alone."
"We would have come anyway." said Ginny gazing at him in the way that only she could.
"That's why I know it would be pointless arguing with you over it."
"You know it's all part of that stubborn Weasley pride thing." she said as if that was the be all and end all of everything. Harry just nodded he had been a Weasley for the last six years of his life and he wasn't about to start arguing family values with them now.