I know...I know...it's been ages, but I've discovered giving birth and having an infant in the house leads itself to exhaustion. I'm finally back at work and hopefully will find time again to start writing again. Thanks to all those who've hung in there!! Enjoy!

Madame Pomfrey came to check on Harry at around 8:00 Monday morning. She was not at all surprised to find Remus asleep in a chair at Harry's bedside. She was; however, mildly surprised to find Tonks curled in Remus' lap. Shaking her head with a slight grin, Madame Pomfrey waved her wand and watched for a moment as the chair expanded to an oversized couch. As soon as the chair began to morph, Remus opened one bleary eye and looked up at Madame Pomfrey.

"Thanks, Poppy. I hadn't realized that Nymphadora had joined me in here or I would have done that sooner." Remus reached a hand up to rub the back of his neck. "How's Harry this morning?"

Madame Pomfrey waved her wand and a piece of parchment appeared with a summary of his vital statistics from the night. "It looks like the connection was broken some hours before, at around three this morning. He's been able to begin rebuilding his magical stores since he stopped fighting that intrusion. I'll just begin reversing some of the magical sedation. He will need to remain somewhat sedated until at the earliest lunch."

Remus nodded as he moved Tonks' legs more fully onto the couch. "So what will we need to do then?"

"After the magical sedation has been completely removed, we will reverse the potions I gave him. He'll be a bit groggy for a while after that but that should clear up by dinner at the latest." Madame Pomfrey returned to the complicated wand motions that would begin to remove the magical sedation she'd placed on him the night before. "He'll be just fine, Remus. You two should go on to bed. If something changes, an alarm will sound."

Remus grinned, "Thanks Poppy, but since you took the trouble with the couch, I think we'll just stay here."

Slowly Harry became somewhat aware. The first thing that made an impression on his consciousness was that Ginny was sleeping. He could sense she was dreaming and that for the most part the dreams were good. Harry began to drift along occasionally hearing an outside sound.

At one point Harry thought he heard Hedwig and Fawkes talking to each other. He was able to understand their dialog but quickly dismissed this as some sort of hallucination reasoning that they were birds and he wouldn't be able to understand what their calls meant.

When Harry finally opened his eyes he found the room to be in shadows and a low fire burning in the grate. He tried to reach for his glasses but found that his limbs felt leaden. He must have made some noise because the next thing he saw was Remus leaning over him.

"Alright there Harry?" Remus asked with a badly concealed worried look.

Harry tried to speak but only managed a croak before nodding.

"Some water, then," Remus stated as he picked up a nearby glass. He slid an arm under Harry's shoulders to help him sit up. "Take it easy, Harry. You've been under some pretty powerful stuff.

Harry tried to reach for the glass but still couldn't make his arms move. Remus only chuckled as he held the glass to Harry's lips. "Drink slowly. You don't want to upset your stomach."

After a few sips, Harry finally found his voice. "What…?" The question died on his lips as the memories came flooding back of exactly why he had been sedated. Harry closed his eyes and sagged back against Remus' arm.

Remus summoned some pillows and carefully arranged them behind Harry's back. "You know none of this was or is your fault, don't you Harry?" Remus asked gently.

Harry leaned back and closed his eyes. He knew, intellectually, that Voldemort's actions were not his fault but he still felt responsible. After all he was The Chosen One. Harry nodded once at Remus without opening his eyes.

"You don't seem too convinced of that. You can't control how he chooses to be destructive, Harry. You can only do what you're doing. We will find the Horcruxes and then we'll target him." Remus knew it was difficult to try and reason with Harry about this but he felt it was his duty, not only to Harry but to Sirius, James and Lily to try and help Harry understand that he couldn't be responsible for the actions of a mad man.

Harry opened his eyes and looked at where Remus had sat down in a chair beside him. "Did Tonks say how the witch is doing?"

Remus knew Harry was trying to redirect the conversation. "Yes. She said the young witch is on the spell damage ward but that's just for her security. St. Mungo's feels they can keep her safer in a smaller ward. They are treating her injuries and counseling her about what she saw. There are Aurors guarding her round the clock and everyone has taken a Secrecy Oath so that the information she reveals can not be leaked."

There was a loud CRACK and Dobby appeared at the foot of the bead. "Mr. Harry Potter, sir, Missuss Wheezey is wanting me to be telling you that she is to be holding dinner until you get there."

Harry opened his mouth to protest that he didn't feel like going down to dinner but Remus spoke up first, "Dobby, tell Mrs. Weasley that Harry will be having dinner here tonight with me."

With another loud CRACK Dobby was off to deliver the message.

"Thanks Remus. I don't think I could stand up to eating with everyone," Harry said.

"I didn't figure you would so I'd already talked to Winky and she will bring dinner shortly. But you know, Harry you can't avoid them forever. I'd be surprised if Ginny, Ron and Hermione didn't camp outside the portrait again tonight," Remus said with a small grin. He knew just how tenacious Harry's friends could be.

Harry gave a short nod. "I know. Do you think I could still take my apparition exam tomorrow?"

Remus knew Harry was trying to avoid the subject of his visions and avoiding his friends. For now, he thought he'd let it go. "If you're up to it, sure. I can take you and I think Bill is still available to go with us."

Opening his eyes, Harry looked at Remus. He felt a little bit bad because he knew Remus was trying to help but Harry didn't want to talk. He had to figure out what his next step was and he knew he couldn't move forward until he had is license. "Yes…I'm sure I'll be fine in the morning."

Harry knew when Ginny woke that evening. He felt her gently reach out to him but he blocked any entrance she might have found into his thoughts. He felt her frustration but also felt her pull back and not try to 'talk' to him. He silently said a 'thank you' to Ginny knowing that she realized he wasn't ready to talk. He wasn't sure he'd ever be ready to talk about this latest invasion.

Harry woke early on Tuesday ready to get to the Ministry and get his exam over with. Through Remus, Harry had let Ron know they were still going so when Harry arrived in the entrance hall at 8:00, Ron was there waiting.

"Ready mate?" Ron asked.

Harry grinned "Of course."

Ron knew Harry was putting on an act. He saw that Harry's grin didn't quite reach his eyes and that Harry seemed guarded.

"Harry, do you have your dad's cloak?" Remus asked as he and Bill emerged from the dinning room.

Harry nodded, "Of course. I don't go anywhere without it these days."

Bill grinned, directing the boys into his quarters, "We're going to use my fire to floo to the Ministry. It's still early so there shouldn't be too many stand-abouts. Anyone at the fires will be in too much of a hurry to get to their desk since they are already late."

All four flooed through to the Ministry atrium without incident and presented their wands for weighing. The board security guard barely glanced as Ron, Bill and Remus went through but as he began to read the slip of information about Harry's wand out loud, he perked up.

Bill stepped up behind the guard and in a low voice said, "It would be best if you just read that to yourself, now don't you think?"

Looking over his shoulder at Bill's scared face, the security guard gulped and nodded. He didn't know what had happened to Bill and didn't care. The security guard thought he didn't want to tangle with someone who had come out of a fight with those scars.

Ron and Harry both swallowed down a laugh. Bill merely grinned as the four of them made their way to the lifts. As they began to descend under the Ministry, Ron began to turn a delicate shade of green.

Noticing this, Bill put a comforting hand on his youngest brother's shoulder. "Don't worry, Ron. I know about the practicing you lot have been up to on the seventh floor. Just pretend it's the same thing. And if Fred or George gives you any trouble, you let me know and I'll deal with them."

Ron opened his mouth to try and speak but couldn't squeak out any sound so he just gulped and nodded.

When they arrived at the apparition exam office, Harry volunteered to go first for which Ron seemed immediately grateful. Harry spent 20 minutes apparating into different hoops scattered around the room. At long last the test administrator handed him a slip of paper and asked him to apparate to just outside the Three Broomsticks. "There will be an Auror waiting there to sing your slip. His name is Kingsley Shacklebolt. Have him sign your slip and return here as soon as possible. You will be timed."

Harry took the slip and thinking of the door to the Three Broomsticks, closed his eyes and quickly apparated away. Harry had done such a good job of picturing the Three Broomsticks and Kingsley that he nearly landed on top of him. As it were, they wound up nose to nose with both having drawn their wands. Kingsley wasn't expecting Harry to arrive that close and Harry wasn't expecting Kingsley to draw his wand on him.

Seeing that it was only Harry, Kingsley let out a deep laugh. "Good shot, Potter. I think you won't have any problems with long distances."

Harry lowered his wand with a sheepish grin. "Sorry King. I really didn't mean to land that close."

Kingsley just shook his head and reached for Harry's slip. "Not to worry, Harry. Now hurry back. You don't want them to think you took too long."

Harry nodded; closing his eyes he turned on the spot and with a small pop was gone. Kingsley had seen Harry smile but he had also noticed that the smile didn't reach his eyes. Even though he knew Harry wouldn't want pity, Kingsley pitied Harry a great deal. He wasn't sure that he could stand up to the pressures thrust upon Harry and he admired Harry for the way he handled himself.

Arriving back at the testing centre, Harry handed the examiner the slip that Kingsley had signed. "Very good, Mr. Potter. You've passed each test thus earning your local and long distance apparition license." Handing Harry several sheets of paper, the examiner continued, "If you'll take these through to the secretary she'll prepare your license for you."

Harry took the papers and muttered a polite 'Thank You' on his way out the door. As he waited patiently for the secretary to prepare his license, Harry surreptitiously shifted from foot to foot. He caught Remus' eye and mouthed "loo?"

Remus chuckled and pointed down the hall to a door that was marked as the men's bathroom.

Harry nodded, took his license from the secretary and hurried towards the bathroom. Once inside he took a deep breath. He stepped into a stall and pulled out his invisibility cloak. He stepped out of the stall and only had to wait a few minutes before someone else entered the bathroom and he could slip out.

Harry turned away from the testing office and hurried toward the lifts. He got on the next one and made his way toward the atrium. Once in the atrium, Harry found a corner behind a potted plant where he could take off his cloak unnoticed. He went back through security to the apparition point and got into the queue to wait his turn to apparate out of the ministry.

Concentrating hard, Harry closed his eyes and turned on the spot. When he felt the tight squeezing of apparition begin to lessen, he opened his eyes and found himself in a run-down area of London. Many of the nearby buildings were boarded up and luckily it appeared as if no one had seen him. But just in case, Harry pulled on his cloak before setting off down the street.

The idea to come and search here for one of the horcruxes had hit him a few days before. And since the events of his birthday, Harry was determined now more than ever to try and keep his friends out of harms way. He knew it would make them very angry that he had take off on his own, but Harry was determined. He didn't want any one getting hurt because of him. It was bad enough that all those girls had been hurt and he didn't even know them. Harry would protect his friends and family at all costs.

Quietly, Harry made his way down the street stepping around trash and dust bins that littered the street. After a short walk, Harry found himself staring up at a building he'd only seen in memory, and despite its rundown, decrepit appearance, Harry knew he was in the right place. He knew he was standing in front of the orphanage that Tom Riddle had lived in while a child.

The building was surrounded by high fences but Harry couldn't detect any magic outside the building. He quickly made his way around the fence looking for a way in. He didn't really fancy trying to climb the fence since there was razor wire at the top and he wanted to avoid using magic if at all possible. Finally near the rear of the building, Harry found a gate that had been forced open and was hanging by its hinges.

Harry squeezed his way through the gap in the fence and made his way back toward the front of the building. As he got closer to the building, he began to feel waves of dark magic rolling out of the building. As he approached the front door, Harry felt Ginny searching him out. Redoubling his efforts, Harry pushed Ginny out and felt her outrage and frustration. "They must of realized I gave Remus the slip," Harry thought.

Concentrating on the task at hand, Harry was able to push his way through the ply board blocking the front door and made sure to return the board to cover the opening so that anyone passing by wouldn't notice someone was in the building.

Digging through his rucksack, Harry pulled out a muggle flashlight he had sent Hedwig after when he began to devise this plan. Still wanting to avoid using magic until he absolutely had to, Harry turned on the flashlight and began making his way up stairs.

Back at Hogwarts, Ginny let out a scream of frustration that brought not only her mother running back into the dinning room, but Tonks and Fleur as well.

"What is it Ginny?" Her mum asked.

"Harry Bloody Potter, that's what. He's run off from Remus and Bill. He left the ministry without them." Ginny said through clenched teeth.

Mrs. Weasley paled at this news and Tonks shook her head, "Any idea where he's gone to?" Tonks asked.

Ginny shook her head, "No, the idiot blocked me out before I could feel what he was up to." Getting an idea, Ginny sat up straight and bellowed, "FAWKES!!!"

In a brilliant flash of flames, Fawkes appeared on the table in front of them. "Fawkes," Ginny said stroking the phoenix's head, "I need you to take me to Harry. He's doing something stupid."

Fawkes crooned and blinked at Ginny but didn't take flight.

"Is that a no, then?" Ginny asked.

Fawkes crooned again and Ginny began to stalk back and forth in front of the Phoenix while the three witches watched her. Ginny began muttering to herself, working up into quite a rage. Ginny was right pissed that Harry had not only blocked her out of his thoughts, but he had also taken off on his own and was obviously doing something that he knew no one would like.

As Ginny continued muttering and stalking, she kept focusing on Harry and how she was going to get to him if he needed help. She was concentrating so hard she didn't hear the gasps from the other three in the room. What finally broke through her haze of anger was a voice in her head, Ginny look at yourself!

Ginny finally looked up from the floor to realize she had to crane her neck to see up to the table. When she looked back down, she did not see the blue t-shirt she'd put on that morning. She saw vibrant red plumage where her t-shirt and shorts had been. Ginny opened her mouth thinking she'd been hit with some sort of spell when she'd caught sight of Fawkes floating down to land beside her. Then she heard the same voice in her head again, I knew you could do it, Ginny. You just had to be pushed in the right direction.

Ginny looked back down at herself the back at Fawkes in wonderment. She'd finally done it. She'd managed to change into an Animagi form. Ginny blinked slowly and looked at Fawkes. She heard the voice again that she was beginning to associate with Fawkes, Go ahead you can fly. But be careful. You'll have to work up to long flights and such. Now that you've made your first change it'll become easier for you and I'll coach you along.

Ginny tentatively raised her wings and began to beat them so that she rose into the air and landed lightly on the table. She couldn't believe that she was the one with the Phoenix form. She was sure it would be Harry; he was after all, much more powerful than she was. Ginny looked up at her mum and the other two standing there with their mouths hung open. Concentrating hard on what she had on this morning, Ginny felt a pop and found herself sitting on the table. Ginny grinned up at her mum and said, "Close your mouths or you'll catch flies."

Ginny hopped down off the table and watched as Fawkes flew around overhead before landing again on the table. She looked him hard in the eye and asked again, "You're still not going to take me to Harry are you?" She could have sworn she saw the phoenix shake his head 'no'. "Fine, but take someone to him. He could get hurt, you know."

Fawkes seemed to consider this for a long moment before he took flight again and presented his tail to Tonks indicating that he would take her to where Harry was. Tonks withdrew her wand before grabbing onto Fawkes tail feathers and in a flash both were gone.

It took a moment for Molly to shake herself out of the stupor she'd fallen into when she had seen her daughter transform before her very eyes. But once she'd roused herself she asked Ginny, "Well, you could take us, too couldn't you?"

Ginny shook her head no, "Sorry, mum but Fawkes told me he'd have to teach me these things. I don't know how to flame like that."

Mrs. Weasley left the room shaking her head and muttering about wayward children.