A/N Thanks to my frequent reviewer 'blooop' for politely reminding me to hurry up, I apologise profusely by posting two chapters! In a lucky/unfortunate coincidence, I arrived at my university today to find out that two of my classes had been cancelled, after paying for a full day of parking. However this meant that I spent the entire day in the coffee shop editing and writing until my heart was content!

So here is chapter 52 and 53, with thanks to blooop and all my reviewers.

As soon as it began, Harry knew he was dreaming again. There was never anything he could do about it, no subconscious way to rouse himself, and so he knew he would have to bear it until he awoke. He was sitting at Kings Cross Station again, but this dream was dramatically different. The injuries that were normally absent in these dreams were present, and he could feel the long cut on his leg beneath his jeans. It had already turned cold, and as Harry sat there wringing his hands, he waited expectantly for the screams of his friends and family that should begin any minute.

His heart was pounding, and just like the wait when Malfoy prepared to push him under water, the wait for the screaming to begin was worse than the actual act. He strummed his fingers against his knees, not looking at the worsened scars around his wrists, instead focusing his attention on what he could see on the other side of the train tracks. Where before there had been vast nothingness, now stood a fully formed platform, only a short space between the two of them where the Hogwarts Express would normally sit. It was a perfect mirror image of the platform where he sat, right down to the bench seating and rubbish bin.

Slightly unnerved, Harry got to his feet and walked towards the very edge, half expecting to see his reflection on the opposite platform. Reaching the very edge, he sighed in frustration as he looked straight down, still seeing a deep empty void where train tracks should have stood. How many times had he fallen down there in his dreams, awakening with a start and heaving lungs? Restless, Harry raised his wrist and made to check his watch, which of course was still gone. Looking back to the opposite platform, he tapped his foot restlessly, feeling very uncomfortable. The only good thing about these dreams, was that by now he knew what to expect. They were the same every night, exactly the same scenario of screams followed by Snape offering him his hand. Then he would fall.

At this thought, Harry spun around, suddenly knowing exactly what he would find standing behind him. As he expected, Snape stood but a few feet away from him, watching him expectantly. However, he was alone. Looking around, Harry knew that Voldemort was nowhere to be seen. Looking back to Snape, Harry's heart began to pound, the opposite to the normally calming effect had would feel during this part of the dream. He remembered the memories he had seen in the penseive, Dumbledore's instructions to Snape clearer than ever now that he was looking right at him.

The anxiety he had been battling all week reared its head again, making Harry's palms sweat as he thought about how much he really did not want to die. He stood there looking at Snape, waiting for him to do something, to say something, but he was so motionless Harry wondered if he was really part of his dream at all. Taking a hesitant step closer, Harry took a slow deep breath.

"I don't know what to do," he confessed quietly.

Finally Snape showed signs of life, his expression softening in a way Harry had never witnessed before. Looking at him, Snape too seemed torn, as though thinking about the way he had loved Harry's mother, and of how he had set Voldemort on her family. He too stepped closer, and neither of them hesitated as Snape raised his hands and squeezed the top of Harry's arms.

"You still have work to do," he said lowly, looking Harry in the eye.

"Yes," he agreed readily. It wasn't over just yet…it didn't have to be.

"Don't think," Snape instructed him, his eyes boring deep inside Harry. "Just act."

Harry nodded, grateful for any advice. Snape wasted no time, stepping aside and putting his hand on Harry's back. He led him away from the edge of the platform and sent him away, and he followed his instructions without thought. With his head bowed, he walked slowly, and with each step he found himself awakening a little more, until he could hear the definitive sound of the alarm on Ginny's watch.

Awake now, Harry fumbled for Ginny's wrist as she too began to awaken. Grabbing it, he clumsily managed to turn off the shrill alarm which was yelling at Ginny to get out of bed. Silence ensued, and Harry dropped his head onto Ginny's shoulder in relief, chuckling as she groaned in frustration. His dream still lingered, but he felt calmer now when he thought of it, when he thought of what he must do. Death seemed to be just something in the back of his mind, another insignificant chore on a list, and for the first time Harry felt alright thinking about it. Feeling Ginny rolling over beside him, Harry slipped the thought into the back of his mind and stopped thinking about it, attentively brushing Ginny's messy hair out of her face.

"Morning," he yawned, just able to make out the time on her watch. It had just passed six o'clock.

"Morning," she mumbled grumpily, pulling the blanket up over her shoulders as she snuggled into his chest. "Did you get any sleep last night?"

"Not much," he told her. "Some witch kept me up."

She chuckled apologetically, kissing one of the scars on his chest before closing her eyes. "Sorry 'bout that."

Responding with only a yawn, Harry put his arms around her and kissed the top of her head, he too closing his eyes in prayer of more sleep. Their prayers were answered, for an hour passed as they fell back asleep, rousing only when heavy knocking came from their bedroom door.

"Harry, Ginny," Remus called from the hallway. "You need to get up."

"Alright," Harry called back. Remus kept knocking, calling out to them again and reminding Harry that the Silencing charm on the room was still in place. Sitting up abruptly, Harry searched for his wand and found it, removing the charm before collapsing back onto the mattress. "Alright, we're getting up."

"No we're not," Ginny grumbled, rolling onto her front and pressing her face into the pillow. "We're staying here, and sleeping."

Laughing softly, Harry placed his hand on her lower back, touching the three long scars before moving his hand over her buttocks to feel the scars on the back of her thighs. "Ginny, if we stay here naked all day, we won't be sleeping."

She swatted at his hand impatiently, though he could see the blush on her cheeks that gave away her agreement. "Go away…let me sleep. It's too early."

Moving onto his side, Harry pressed up against her and kissed the back of her shoulder, still running his hand up and down her legs. Kissing the corner of her mouth, he coaxed her to turn her head towards him, rewarding her with a proper kiss that they both melted right into. Pressing her chest against his, she moved her hand down past his hips and took hold of him as she smirked against his lips.

"Still want to get out of bed?"

"We have to," he managed to say, closing his eyes. One part of him told him to stop her, to get out of bed and dress quickly, while another, far stronger part clearly told him to shut up and let her do as she wished. Kissing her, he allowed her to push him onto his back and move over him, smiling against his lips as she did so. She wasted no time, moving down his body and using her arm to pin his hips to the bed. Swearing under his breath as she put her mouth around him, Harry threw back his head as one hand threaded itself into her hair, his chest heaving as he gasped for breath.

"Oi!" Ron called from the hallway, banging his fists against the bedroom door. "Get outta bed you lazy sod…Tonks is cooking breakfast!"

"Yeah, alright!" Harry called back as soon as he could catch his breath, his voice sounding slightly strained.

There was a long pause, Harry closing his eyes as Ginny's clumsy hand and mouth moved over him perfectly.

"You alright in there?" Ron called out, detecting the strange tone of Harry's voice. The door knob rattled, making Harry more grateful than ever that his Locking charms had improved.

"Bugger off," Ginny snapped loudly. "I'm getting changed!"

To Harry's great relief, Ron departed quickly, allowing Ginny to return to her former task. Ron's intrusion didn't seem to faze her, spurred on by Harry's hushed moans of approval and the way he clenched his fingers in her hair. It was so strange to think of the two of them in this way, as though they had started something completely forbidden, which Harry supposed to some people it was. In a way, Harry wanted nothing more than to shout out to the world how happy he was when with Ginny, but at the same time they kept the depth of their relationship private, and Harry knew it was best that way. No one else needed to know how in love they were, or that Harry would gladly give his life for her. It only struck him now, that that's what he intended to do.

Sitting up on his elbows, Harry tried to gently pull her away, his brain void of the words he was trying to say. "Ginny…" he managed, giving just enough warning for her to pull away. He shuddered in her hand, her mouth returning a moment later as Harry lay back down, his arms giving out.

"Get up, you lazy sod," Ginny smirked, stretching out beside him as her hand rubbed his chest.

Groaning in contentment, Harry kissed Ginny's neck as he fumbled to find his wand, cleaning himself up hastily. If they didn't hurry, Ron would be back. "You get up first."

"No."

Grinning at her, Harry was pleased to see the blush that graced her cheeks, and so he kissed her slowly as he ran one hand down her back. "I love you."

"I love you, too," she replied against his lips, shifting so that she could see him properly.

"Are you worried about today?" he asked, sensing that she was.

She nodded slowly, sighing as she put her head into his shoulder. "Yeah, I am. I just want everything to go well, that's all."

Kissing her again, he brushed his hand through her hair and made her look at him properly. "Everything's going to be fine," he told her. "They won't know what hit them."

She smiled slightly, giving him a short peck on the cheek before sitting up. "We should really get up now. Remus will worry."

Harry nodded in agreement, staying put a moment longer and watching as Ginny sat up and got out of bed, hunting around for fresh clothes before he did the same. He chose a simple shirt and pair of jeans, finally sourcing out his stray boots that had found their way under the bed. His hand brushed against the penseive, momentarily making Harry think about the night before, and the memories he had seen. He stopped thinking about it immediately, and reminded himself to make sure that the penseive was put back in Hermione's beaded bag. They would not return here for quite some time, not until well after the students were safely settled and the reunions had begun.

Dressed now, Harry and Ginny took their time before emerging from their room, enjoying the last few minutes that they would spend together alone. They were going to be brutally busy in the coming weeks, and the opportunities to be alone would be far and few between. To that end, Harry was determined to ensure that they were not separated. Ginny's magic could not be traced while inside Hogwarts castle among other students, but once they left there she would be defenceless once again. He would take no risks where she was concerned.

"We were expecting you up much earlier," Remus commented when Harry and Ginny came into the kitchen, immediately sourcing out a cup of coffee. Although he had never commented on their sleeping arrangements, Harry knew that their sleep in had put Remus on edge. Full moon had come and passed a few days ago, and Remus had struggled without Sirius, finally returning late the following afternoon. It had taken the last few days for him to really recover.

"Sorry, we slept through the alarm," Harry muttered, grabbing two mugs. He glanced at Ron and Hermione, who sat at the table fully dressed, eating breakfast.

"It's alright," Remus conceded, turning back to his food. "We don't have to leave for another hour, anyway."

Harry and Ginny didn't say anything further, though they were forced to avoid Ron's gaze, which was particularly unnerving that morning. He too had never commented on their sleeping arrangements, especially considering his own with Hermione, but he had often made a few uncomfortable glances.

Thanking Tonks for the breakfast, Harry ate slowly, his stomach feeling rather unsettled, and he wondered if perhaps it was the drinks from last night or the prospect of their task that day. When Teddy's cries broke through the uncomfortable silence, Harry abandoned his breakfast immediately, citing that Tonks needed to eat also. Retreating into the main bedroom where Teddy lay in his crib, Harry breathed a sigh of relief as he faced a problem he could handle. Picking Teddy up, Harry changed his soiled nappy with a flick of his wand and set his sights on the clothing Tonks had set out on the bed, wondering whether or not Teddy would be patient enough to allow his godfather to dress him.

He decided to risk it, and a few minutes later Teddy was dressed in matching blue shorts and tee-shirt, and Harry couldn't help but chuckle as he watched Teddy's skin and hair slowly tinge into a matching colour. Laying him back on the bed, Harry blew a gentle raspberry on Teddy's tummy, watching as he squirmed and kicked. A few moments later he grew tired of this, screwing his face up and making his discontent quite clear with a loud wail.

"Alright, alright!" Harry said hastily, feeling absolutely terrible. He picked Teddy up and cradled him in his arms, quickly readjusting him when he wiggled and fussed. "Sorry, little man."

Trying not to appear as concerned as he was, Harry went back out to the kitchen, praying that Teddy would settle down and stop crying. He patted his back as Teddy looked over the top of his shoulder, still crying.

"You poor thing," Ron cooed, looking at Teddy and offering his little finger. "What did mean Harry do to you?"

"Bugger off," Harry retorted, pleased when Teddy cried even harder. "You're scaring him!"

"You scared him first."

"Tonks…" Harry said, a plea for help. "I think he needs….well, you."

She reluctantly set down her knife and fork and took Teddy from him, who settled as soon as he was in his mother's arms. "Happy one month birthday."

Ron swore. "Merlin…is it the first of May, already?"

"Ah huh," Hermione confirmed. "It's gone quick, hasn't it?"

"Quick?" Ron said in awe. "It's May…and we're going back to school."

Harry sat back down and returned to his breakfast, mentally calculating that it had been nine months since his abduction last August. If someone had told him nine months ago that he would survive, only to face death again and again, he wouldn't have bothered with all the effort. A sharp pain in his shin distracted him from his thoughts, and he looked up at Ginny with a glare. Sitting across the table, she had somehow detected the darker nature of his thoughts, and was determined that he would think of something else.

He smiled at her and looked back down at his plate, distracted for only a moment. Slowly working on his food, Harry wondered what Voldemort was doing at that very moment, and whether he had any idea of what was going to happen at Hogwarts. Snape had been certain that Voldemort no longer experimented with the connection between the two of them, meaning that his thoughts and knowledge of the war were safe, but Harry couldn't help but wish for some insight into Voldemort. From what it seemed, every single member of the Order was involved in the school's evacuation, and he couldn't help but think along the lines of Mad-Eye, not entirely sure that everyone was trustworthy. Any number of things could go wrong that day. Even if there were no traitors in the Order or the school, what if Dumbledore's Army didn't seal the fireplaces properly? What if one of the Death Eaters inside got word out?

"Ow! Would you stop that!" Harry snapped, flinching as Ginny kicked him again in the same spot.

He rubbed his leg as he glared at her, petulantly crossing his legs onto the chair and out of her short reach. Whatever shoes she was wearing had a hard toe. Ignoring the curious glances they got around the table, Harry finished his food and began clearing away empty plates, filling up the sink to begin washing up.

"I'll do that," Hermione offered, stopping Harry by putting her hand on his arm. She held up her beaded bag. "Go and pack your things, we won't be back for a while."

Harry nodded, drying his hands on a tea towel as Hermione waved Ron over to help her. Gratefully taking the bag, Harry slipped away back to his room, closing the door and going for the penseive first. Purposefully not thinking too much about it, he found the empty vial that Snape had given him, uncertainly removing his memories and putting them back into the vial. Hoping that the only memories left were Dumbledore's, Harry sealed the vial closed to ensure that Ron and Hermione could not view them. He packed the vial and penseive carefully into the bag before stuffing some clothing inside, at the last minute throwing in the last remaining bottle of scotch. Rounding the other side of the bed, Harry assessed the array of clothing that Ginny had sourced from Tonks and Hermione, trying to figure out what she would most prefer. In the end, Harry picked up everything and stuffed it all inside the bag, knowing that Hermione would be pissed at him for being so messy.

Opening the door, Harry stopped in surprise, finding Ginny on the other side about to enter. She smiled at him, holding up their toothbrushes.

"Packed?" she enquired.

"Yeah," he nodded, taking the toothbrushes and dropping them in the bag. "I grabbed your stuff, too."

"Thanks," she said, putting her hands on his waist and giving him a short kiss. "What did you pack?"

"Everything," he admitted. "I wasn't sure what you wanted."

"Okay. Tonks is about to leave."

"Already?" Harry said in surprise, setting off down the hallway.

"Yeah. Apparently Mum sent a Patronus, they need extra help getting places ready for the students."

Entering the main living area, Harry could see Remus helping Tonks to fit what appeared to be some kind of sling over her shoulder, Ron holding Teddy and watching on. Looking up, Ron saw Harry's approach and came straight over.

"Oh, Merlin," Ron sighed, looking at Harry with relief. He held Teddy out to him, who was wriggling and fussing. "Take him, please! He doesn't like me."

Putting Teddy against his chest, Harry patted his back and swayed, feeling Teddy's fingers curling and opening against his neck. Watching as Remus fussed around in the bag that Tonks was taking with her, Harry felt a sudden sense of loss, not entirely sure of when he would get to see Teddy again. Despite his initial anger and denial over his impending birth, Harry was unable to stop himself falling completely in love with the tiny baby he held, and now that their separation had come, he was idly entertaining thoughts of not going after all. All too soon, Tonks held her arms out for him, ready to leave. Kissing the top of Teddy's head, Harry helped Tonks settle him in the sling, where he curled up and began sucking his hand.

"I'll walk you out the front," Remus said tightly, allowing Tonks to say goodbye and good luck.

Alone now, Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny stood awkwardly in the kitchen, feeling somewhat out of place. They looked at each other expectantly, waiting for someone to say something, but none of them really knew what to say. Glancing at Ginny, Harry thought about what she had said the night before, about feeling as though the end had come. Did Ron and Hermione feel the same way? Was that what they were thinking right now? Ron sighed loudly, tapping his foot as he leant against the kitchen counter. It was easy to tell that he was both bored and worried, knowing that they had plenty of time before they would enter Hogwarts early that afternoon. It was barely eight o'clock in the morning, and it was clear that Remus was getting ready to leave soon. Their plans for the next five hours were pretty uncertain, though Harry thought that they would probably be put to good use wherever Remus took them.

A few minutes later Remus came back inside, wearing a perfect façade of calm. "Ready?" he asked, looking at them each nod before turning to Harry. "The Marauders Map?"

"Right here," Harry said, holding up the beaded bag.

"And your cloak?"

"All packed."

Remus nodded, looking at them each with confidence. "Meet me out the front."

Following their instructions, they silently moved out to the front yard while Remus secured the property, waiting nervously for him to return. They were each itching to get started, to begin their task and start getting things done. The excitement they felt before anything major like this was hidden just underneath their uncertainty. They had no control over what would happen that day, little input into how the evacuation would be conducted, and though Harry knew they had been given every chance to speak up, the idea that they were once again following someone else's instructions left each of them feeling uncertain. Harry shook his head to himself, knowing that if he kept thinking like that he would earn another kick in the shins from Ginny. Mad-Eye and Kingsley had planned well, and Harry knew it was a good plan, whether it was his, Ron and Hermione's plan or not.

"We're meeting at Sharon's home, in London," Remus announced, coming from around the side of the house. His eyes scanned over his home, checking one last time that it would be secure. "Harry, will you apparate with Ginny?"

Harry nodded, holding out his hand for her. "Is Sharon coming with us?" he asked, watching as Ron and Hermione squeezed Remus' arm.

"Something like that," he shrugged, disappearing with Ron and Hermione a moment later.

Alone now, Harry released Ginny's hand and opened Hermione's beaded bag, which he was thankfully still holding. Plunging his arm deep inside, he hunted around for what he was looking for. Withdrawing the Invisibility Cloak, he handed it to her.

"We had a deal," he said sternly, seeing her hesitation. He had been expecting her to hesitate, especially given how he had promised Mad-Eye that he would carry his cloak himself, but Harry felt better knowing that Ginny had finally caved into his bargaining and agreed to carry it.

"Yeah, alright," she sighed, taking the cloak and folding it up carefully. She stuffed it into her pocket before taking his hand again.

"Thank you," he said, squeezing her hand before turning on the spot, appearing a few moments later on a quiet Muggle street.

Remus, Ron and Hermione were waiting for them, and they breathed a sigh of relief when they appeared.

"We were wondering where you were," Hermione scolded them as they set off, ensuring that no Muggles had seen them.

"We were only a second behind you," Harry assured her, still holding Ginny's hand as they walked.

They weren't far from Sharon's terraced townhouse, and in less than a minute they were knocking on her front door. The door opened slightly, Chief poking his head out and growling as they announced themselves, and he backed away as Sharon opened the door and let them inside.

"You're the last to arrive," she said quietly, closing the door behind them. "Everyone's outside."

Thanking her, they traipsed through her house to the back door, looking out the window and seeing what appeared to be the entire Order of the Phoenix. Many faces he did not recognise, making him wonder exactly who they were, but the majority were familiar to him. There must be about fifty or so people there, each secluded into small groups where they talked quietly, looking around and watching as Kingsley and Mad-Eye went from group to group, passing out various items and brandishing their sketchy map of Hogwarts.

"Can I have the Marauders Map, please Harry?" Remus asked, indicating to the beaded bag he still carried. "Alastor is itching to get his hands back on it."

"Sure," Harry said absently, passing him the map before returning the bag to Hermione. Steeling himself, he and Ginny followed the others outside, knowing that as soon as he was seen he would be under great scrutiny from the Order, especially those he did not know. Looking around, Harry scanned the crowd for Sirius, finally seeing him standing alone at the end of the yard, watching as the dog trotted back to him.

"I'm going to see Sirius," Harry said to Ginny quietly, giving her the opportunity to come with him if she wished.

"Okay," she said quickly, hastily looking around. "I'll go with Ron and Hermione."

Nodding, he kissed her on the cheek and let her go, remembering what Ron had said about who Ginny blamed for Fred's death. He didn't take it to heart, and made sure that she caught up to Ron and Hermione before heading towards Sirius, who had seen his arrival.

"How are you feeling?" Harry said in apprehension, giving Sirius a gentle hug. Guiltily, Harry prayed this his godfather felt terrible, that he was exhausted and in pain, and far too ill to go to Hogwarts that day.

"Good, really good," Sirius replied with a nod, giving Harry a once over himself. "What about you?"

"Me?" Harry frowned. He had recovered well…a little nervous of course, but nothing to be concerned about. "What about me?"

"How are you?" Sirius said a little impatiently. "Remus said you've not been yourself."

Harry shook his head, crouching down and rubbing behind Chief's ears. "I'm fine," he said firmly, looking up at Sirius. "What did Remus say?"

"Nothing specific," he replied evasively, putting his hands into his pockets. "What about Ginny? How's she doing?"

Hesitating, Harry gave Chief a hearty rub, looking across the short lawn to where Ginny stood. Her arms were folded as appeared attentive to the conversation around her, but Harry could tell that she wasn't listening. At the right moment she looked up and caught Harry's gaze, and he smiled at her.

"She's alright," Harry muttered as he stood up, mimicking Sirius with his hands in his pockets. "Bit teary sometimes, but she's holding it together."

"Oh, right. Arthur said she wasn't doing well at all."

"Has anyone ever told you that you're a gossip?" Harry asked, looking at Sirius sternly.

"Yes," he nodded his head. "Your mother…frequently."

"Maybe you should have listened to her," Harry retorted, behaving himself as he saw Kingsley and Mad-Eye approaching.

"Morning, Potter," Mad-Eye greeted him, holding up the Marauders Map for him to see. "Thanks for this map, makes everything much easier."

"You're welcome," Harry and Sirius replied in unison, making Mad-Eye frown.

"Right, well then," he began, unfolding the map and finding the third floor. "Potter, I want to take you through this from the very beginning. This is where you and your group will emerge into the Third Floor corridor, from behind the mirror. What time do you make your first move?"

"Four thirty," Harry said.

"No, four o'clock," Mad-Eye corrected him, his magical blue eye spinning around to focus on him. "At four o'clock, you make you make your first move by entering the secret passage via Hogsmeade."

"Right," Harry confirmed patiently. "We wait at the end of the passage, until four thirty."

"Precisely four thirty," Mad-Eye said sternly. "None one minute before, not one minute after. In that half hour…what else is going on in the castle?"

"Two Order members are securing the Owlery, and Dumbledore's Army and the teachers are blocking all the fireplaces."

"And at four thirty?"

"We take down the security patrols, and drag them to this empty classroom and lock them in," Harry continued dutifully, pointing everything out on the map. "There may be two separate patrols at that time of the day, and the second needs to be hidden in the same classroom."

"And then?"

"Split up…one group secures the classroom on the third floor and stays with them and the teacher, the other half go to the second floor, which has been secured by Neville. Take down Carrow, and secure the classroom until five o'clock."

"And then?"

"Take the students down to the Great Hall, checking these classrooms and study rooms as we go," Harry continued, pointing out where he meant as he unfolded the map to show the great hall. "Send them to their house tables, and then see McGonagall for our next instructions."

Mad-Eye looked at him critically, while Kingsley stood behind him and smiled apologetically. "And if word gets out, and the castle is surrounded?"

Harry frowned at him. "Didn't you say we'd be screwed?"

"Yes, that's given. I'm asking, if in the case that you were the only one left in charge, how would you deal with the situation?"

Shrugging at first, Harry considered the questions. "Set the castle into lockdown, and move the students further inside away from the windows….slowly evacuate to Hogsmeade."

"And if Hogsmeade is no longer a viable option for escape?"

"Err….summon some Thestrals to the towers, and fly the students out on them."

"Giants are throwing boulders at the castle towers," Mad-Eye countered. "What then?"

"Merlin, Mad-Eye," Harry exclaimed. "How bad is this going to get?"

"How bad?" he questioned gruffly. "If the castle is surrounded by Death Eaters, and You-Know-Who himself was there, we would have very few options and chances for survival. You-Know-Who and his followers outnumber us greatly. What I'm asking, is how far you are willing to go to ensure the survival of as many students as possible?"

Harry raised an eyebrow, knowing exactly what Mad-Eye was asking him. Harry knew the answer already, though he had decided that morning that he wasn't going to think too hard about it. Mad-Eye looked at him expectantly, waiting for an answer that Harry couldn't give with Sirius standing right by his side.

"I'm sure he and I could work something out," Harry said lowly, hoping he made his answer clear enough.

He and Mad-Eye looked at each other long and hard, Kingsley finally breaking the silence as he placed his hand on Mad-Eye shoulder.

"Alright, Alastor, Harry knows what he's doing. Let's go interrogate someone else," he suggested, steering him away and giving Harry another apologetic glance.

Sirius and Harry watched as they moved away to another group, talking to them in the very same manner to ascertain that everyone knew what they were doing. Turning to Sirius, Harry smiled awkwardly, trying to diffuse the tension.

"That man needs a drink," Harry joked.

"He needs a tranquilizer," Sirius muttered in reply, quietly angry that he would assume Harry would be in charge in his absence.

Harry ignored this, knowing how Sirius felt, that he still desired to lock him away and protect him until it was over. "So what are you doing today?"

"Going in through the Whomping Willow," he answered, glancing at Harry. "Block off the dungeons, and escort the ground floor to the Great Hall."

"Don't go charging off to look after me," Harry said sternly, anticipating what Sirius might do.

"I won't," he said, perhaps a little too quickly.

"I'll stun you," Harry warned him. "Don't think I won't do it."

"I know you'd do it," Sirius replied grumpily. "You're a brat when you don't get your own way."

"I wonder where I learnt that from?"

Sirius scoffed. "Certainly not from me."

"Certainly not from me," Harry mimicked under his breath.

"Are you sassing me?"

"Sassing you?" Harry said innocently, giving the dog another quick pat before seeking out Ginny again. "You need your hearing checked, old man."

"Hey," Sirius said, catching his arm as Harry began heading towards Ginny. "Don't go doing anything stupid. Especially if things go wrong."

"You either," Harry countered, looking back at Sirius.

"I'm being serious, Harry. Don't make me stun you out there."

"I'd like to see you try," he said lightly, moving away before their conversation could get any more serious. He didn't need to give Sirius even more reason to be protective.

Seeing him coming, Ginny broke away from the group and came over to him, and Harry couldn't help but think she looked exhausted already. Taking his hand, Ginny led him back into the house, where they both collapsed onto the couch in the living room. They were alone in there, and so he put his arm around her shoulder and let her lay up against him, his hand rubbing the top of her arm.

"Are you still sure you want to do this?" Harry asked her in concern, knowing that she definitely wasn't feeling herself at the moment.

She nodded vehemently, squeezing Harry's knee firmly. "Yes, definitely. It's just strange seeing everyone out there…"

"Without Fred, you mean?"

"Yeah."

Readjusting their position, Harry pulled her legs over his lap so that he could see her properly. She looked sad, but hopeful at the same time, and he couldn't help but take advantage of their solitude and kiss her lightly.

"We shouldn't have got out of bed this morning," he commented.

"I told you," she said, smiling.

Chuckling, he kissed her properly, raising his hand to trace along her jaw. "Everything's going to be fine," he said, feeling that she needed reassurance.

"I know," she agreed. "I'll be with you.

"Merlin," he said with raised eyebrows. "Talk about pressure."

She laughed as they heard the back door opening, voices announcing a few from outside were coming their way. Quickly swinging her legs off her lap, Ginny took a deep breath and held Harry's hand instead, sitting innocently side by side as they watched a small group of people traipse down the hallway. Most he didn't recognise, probably the more recent members of the Order, but his heart skipped a beat as he recognised Alicia Spinnet and Katie Bell.

"I didn't know Alicia and Katie were here," Harry commented quietly, looking to Ginny.

"Yeah," she confirmed, looking at him in surprise. "Lee Jordan, Angelina Johnson and Oliver Wood are here too…heaps of old students have joined the Order. Didn't you know?"

"No," he said quietly, hearing the front door open and close again.

Getting to his feet, Harry walked across to the front window and looked out. The small group walked casually down the street, though they looked carefully around them for any signs of Muggles. A moment later they stopped, and then vanished all at once.

"We're moving off to Hogsmeade," Kingsley said from behind Harry, making him jump.

"Isn't that a little early?" Harry asked, checking his watch. It was barely eight thirty. He looked to Ginny, who seemed to agree with him.

"Yes, it is quite early," Kingsley agreed, sighing as he too looked out the front window. "But we'd rather be too early, rather than too late."

"Right," Harry said politely. As Kingsley nodded to him and went outside, Harry grimaced and looked at Ginny. "Great…"

"All day waiting…with Ron," Ginny smiled grimly.

"And Hermione…and Kingsley."

"Don't forget that Greek wizard…Nick."

"That Greek bloke?" Harry frowned. "I didn't know he was coming."

Ginny nodded. "Yeah. Mad-Eye only just told me when I saw him outside."

Restlessly, Harry clapped his hands together and slumped back down on the couch. With a great sigh, he put his head back and closed his eyes. "I'm bored already."

"Don't start."

"Don't you start."

"I'm warning you," she said slowly. "I'm am only hours away from being able to use magic again."

"So many threats today," he sighed, opening his eyes and looking at her.

"I haven't threatened you once…but the day's not over."

"No, I mean…" Harry sighed again, sitting forward and putting his head in his hands. "Mad-Eye, Sirius…we're all threatening each other at the moment."

"So what's different?" she asked, reaching out and putting her fingers in his hair.

He moaned lightly, turning his head into her hand. "Stop doing that…"

She laughed at him, trailing her fingers across his scalp. "Say it like you mean it."

"No, really," he laughed, sitting up and twisting out of her touch. "I'll go to sleep if you keep doing that."

"…be quieter."

He glared at her. "Wench."

"Prat."

The back door opened and closed again, and Harry immediately recognised Ron's heavy footsteps. Ron rounded the couch and flopped down beside Harry, putting his feet up on the coffee table as Hermione followed him and swatted them off.

"Hey," she greeted them, she too collapsing into an armchair.

"Hey," Harry and Ginny replied unenthusiastically.

"What are you guys doing?" Hermione asked, raising her eyebrows at Ron who had put his head back and closed his eyes.

"Not much," Ginny muttered. "He's a prat."

"She's a wench," he countered.

"So business as usual," Hermione concluded. There was a long silence. "Kingsley says we're going soon."

"Yep."

Hermione pursed her lips. "Well that will be good," she said lightly, trying to appear enthusiastic. "We can…get started."

Harry and Ginny exchanged a glance, both of them knowing exactly what they were thinking. They were in for a long wait.