Around March, almost every professor had given up on teaching new material and had gone into full revision mode. They were rated by the number of passing and Outstanding OWLs, so they had an interest in our scores, even if they didn't care personally for us. The one exception was Snape. It was obvious he could fail everyone outside his own house and still retain his position.
"Mr. Potter, you will be worthless in a fight against the Dark Lord unless you learn to control your voice!"
We were supposed to be learning how to wordlessly cast spells. Hermione was the only one who had succeeded but Harry received the brunt of the criticism.
Meanwhile, Neville and Ron had only managed to poke their feathers until they were falling apart.
"Hopeless," he said dismissively. "Miss Weasley, attempt to salvage this period."
I stared at my feather and thought the leviosa charm intensely. It rocked but that was all I could manage.
"You'll get it, Gin."
Snape whipped around. "Potter, concentrate on your own work. You don't deserve…" He trailed off before finishing his sentence.
Suddenly, Harry's feather was aloft, a whole hand above his desk. He grinned at Snape, which didn't help.
"Still shouldn't have taken so long if you would practice instead of leading that foolish fan club. Do I make myself clear?"
He gritted his teeth. "Yes."
"Yes, sir!"
"Just Mr. Potter if you please. Even in the club, I don't make anyone call me sir."
Hermione's eyes bugged out and she clasped her mouth. Ron tried poorly to hide a smirk and I probably had the same look.
Snape glared at him. "Detention, Potter. One week. I've put up with your cheek far too long."
Harry slumped in his seat and the rest of us went back to poking our feathers.
I had to study by myself that night. Harry was with Snape and Hermione and Ron were with each other a few tables down in the library.
She was studying and my brother was skirting the line of how distracting he could be with his attempts at flirting before she shut him down. "Ronald, I'm trying to read. I swear…"
Her outburst earned a glare from Pince. Ron responded in a loud whisper. "You've been doing nothing but read all night."
"We have OWLs coming. You want me to not work on that?"
"I just think we could take a break and… hey, this isn't Arithmancy! What is this!"
"It's Greek. A book on magical relationships. They didn't have a copy in English so I'm having to use a translation spell which requires focus," she explained.
"So you'd rather read a dusty old book that isn't even part of your classwork than have some alone time?"
"With that attitude? Yes."
My brother stormed off and I redirected my eyes so the eavesdropping wasn't immediately obvious. It didn't work of course. Hermione kept glancing my way and then finally left, hopefully to talk to Ron.
It was getting late enough I didn't want to be in the corridors by myself any later, so I went back to the tower. I found the chair that usuar had Harry and me in it and I tried to pass the tomo quickly.
Finally, he was back, not looking happy. I moved to the side to make room for him to sit next to me. He dropped down, more moody than usual. I asked, "What happened?"
"He had a list of detention slips from the seventies that I had to copy. A lot of them were my dad and Sirius outright picking fights and bullying the Slytherins."
"You knew they had been pranksters."
"It went beyond that to just plain mean. I'm not sure what Mum ever saw in him if he was really such a git."
"Harry, people change. Your dad had a lot easier go of it then you did. Took him longer to grow up. Everyone that knew him said he was a good man."
"Maybe. I hope they aren't just sparing my feelings. I just… always wish I knew him. Everyone compares us. We both even fell in love with redheads. Now, if we had been classmates, I don't think I'd even be his friend."
He obviously wasn't listening to me with a lot of attention, so I just cuddled with him for a few minutes. Finally, I suggested, "How about you talk to Sirius tomorrow. Couldn't hurt."
Harry nodded but he still was uneasy with everything. If I had the power, I'd have let him see his parents, just for five minutes. Harry deserved his dad telling him once how proud he was. But no amount of magic would do that and so I would continue to do it myself. We held each other for a few minutes and then we both retired for the night.
The next morning, he seemed a little better as we walked to our training. Thankfully, Sirius was there. Before we got started on our daily two mile warm-up, he told him about the previous night.
Sirius chuckled at what had landed Harry in trouble in the first place. "He shouldn't have given you a week of detention. One night I could see but Snivellus was baiting you. But he's your teacher so not much to be done. Just try to control the temper."
"And about the rest?"
"Well, yes, we were idiots for a lot of our time here. When things started getting more deadly in the war, it got more intense since these were all soon-to-be Death Eaters. But James realized it was time to be a man and that's what your mum needed him to be. People can change if they really want."
He paused. "I wish I had learned patience sooner. Not going after Peter without thinking it through…" There was some guilt in his face, but he pushed it aside. "At any rate, time to start your jog."
The day after Harry's last detention was set aside for career discussions for all fifth-years with their heads of house. I shuddered to think about having Snape.
They assigned slots alphabetically, so I was the second to last one for Gryffindor. Professor McGonagall welcomed me into her office and I sat down in a large chair with cracked leather. "Miss Weasley, this is an informal meeting for us to discuss your plans for the next two years and then afterwards. We try to have this ahead of OWLs so that you can have an idea of what tests you should be focusing on. Have you thought about the future at all?"
I sputtered out a laugh, which she frowned at. "I'm sorry, professor. Yes, I think about the future all the time, but more immediate concerns than academics or a career."
"Yes, I understand. Though I would suggest you do need to keep in mind your personal future, even though you have been neglecting your studies."
I paused and thought about it for awhile. What would I do if I got to pick?
"Well, I'd like to play Quidditch. It's a long shot, I know, especially with being suspended indefinitely here. But that would be fun, at least for a few years. After that, I don't know. Maybe writing?"
"No jobs at the Ministry interest you?"
I thought for maybe half a second. "Not really. I have enough drama in my life. And I've seen enough of the ministry that I'm a bit jaded."
That managed a suppressed smile from her. "Well, all right. I suppose I don't have a lot of course suggestions then. Do you plan on dropping anything? Your grades have taken a bad turn lately, but I think you'll manage to get by on your OWLs based on your past work."
"Divination, because I think the course isn't worth learning. You're either born a seer or you're not. And Defense."
"Defense?" I managed to surprise her.
"Yes, ma'am. The only thing I've learned from Snape is how much he hates the man I love. Harry's taught me so much more and in less time." He also was infinitely easier on the eyes.
"I see."
"Professor… I don't mean to be rude but why is he still a teacher?"
There was an awkward silence. "It's out of my hands, Miss Weasley. Since he's a head of house, he reports directly to the Headmaster. He has reasons that are his own. I do sympathize."
"Thank you."
"Well, unless you have any other questions, you can be excused."
"Yes Professor." I got up and quietly walked out. It was just about supper time so I went straight to the main hall.
Hermione and Harry arrived a few minutes later. Harry sat down with a gentle kiss on my check. "How did you meeting go?"
"A bit awkward." I summed up what happened quickly. "How about all of yours?"
Hermione said, "I have a few ideas about the Ministry, maybe in DMLE, but my blood status might be an issue, depending on who the department head is." I hated that, but doing so didn't make it less true.
"Have you thought of being a private magical solicitor?" I asked.
"Perhaps. That could be personally rewarding, but the clients I would want to help wouldn't be the ones with the big money."
Harry said, "Well, maybe I can help set up a foundation or something. Sirius would probably be agreeable. Merlin knows he hasn't had the best of luck with the law.."
Ron appeared and quickly took a seat. Hermione said, "That seemed fast."
He shrugged. "I was hungry."
She looked scandalized. "This is your future you were supposed to be planning."
He shrugged. "How many people end up at twenty-five where they thought they were going at sixteen?"
Harry headed off the potential for a louder dispute by asking, "What did you say?"
"Well, I know we've talked about being aurors. Not sure if I'm going to qualify though. I thought working in the gaming department at the Ministry might be fun. Get to think up all sorts of challenges for the next Tri-Wizard Cup maybe?"
Harry smiled at that. "Sure thing, mate. I don't think being an auror is what I want. But it's what everyone probably expects of me."
"I think you've already had to do enough of that," I said between bites of roast pork. "What do you want?" He gave me a smile that told me exactly what that was at that moment, which Ron ignored.
Ron nodded. "Though you need to have something to keep busy."
I couldn't help myself but to wink and say, "I'm sure I can think of something."
Ron glared at me. "Don't want to know. And you're too young to be thinking like that."
"You're only a year older than me and you're all going to be of age next year."
Before we could carry that any further, my twin brothers interrupted us. "Hello, fifth-years," Fred started off.
George added, "We thought we'd let you bask in our presence a bit longer. Before you go off studying."
"You're really going to do it, aren't you?" I asked.
"Everything's set up and we agreed at lunch."
"It's not worth our while anymore. And time is Galleons. We thought about getting a bit more entertainment and hilarity this term, but we decided against it. You four don't need any more distractions from your tests. Important things, tests, you know." Fred grinned.
I rolled my eyes. "I'm not sure I want to be around or not when Mum finds out."
Harry murmured. "I don't."
George patted him quite forcefully on the back, causing Harry to almost choke on a roll. "Don't worry, chap. We're going to be heading off any Howlers sent your way.'
Fred added, "Between being the illustrious Harry Potter, our only sister's true love, and everything else, we really can't do anything. Three times pays for all, as they say in Yorkshire."
Harry shook their hands, smiling. "Well, I do my best."
"He certainly does," I added.
Ron wasn't so hungry anymore.
*Arthur*
I almost dropped my tan leather briefcase as soon as I stepped out of the floo. I had endured a very long day at work after a short night of sleep after a long meeting at Grimmauld Place. Molly rushed over and gave me a quick peck. "There you are dear. I just put the beef pie in."
"Brilliant. Bill and Fleur back yet?" I asked while taking my seat before my feet took their leave of me.
"No, they wanted to have some time to themselves, poor dears."
After their engagement, we had an unspoken arrangement and Feur stopped looking for a flat of her own. Little point when she and my oldest would be married in a few months. Harry's estate had more wards placed around it, making it safer than anywhere else. It was still a little awkward staying here, but he insisted.
Fleur was taking it in stride, but I had to imagine it was too much time with us old people. Bill and her went out as much as they could safely, not that I could fault them. "I hope they're being careful," I said.
"I believe they are doubling with the Lupins."
"That's good. Two more sets of eyes." I paused. "I got a note at work. Fred and George are going to be here shortly."
Molly sighed in exasperation. "What! Leaving school in the middle of the week?"
"I'm sure they have their reasons."
"We'll see." She went off quietly, ferociously finishing supper. I sat at the table. She didn't seem to be in the mood to talk. I almost felt pity on the parsnips she was pulverizing.
Thankfully, it wasn't a long wait. The twins popped through in a few minutes. They both smiled. "Dad, Mum, nice to see you."
"Definitely."
"Just the four of us?"
"Yes," I said.
Molly quickly set the table and then we all filled our plates. Before a bite was taken, she said, "So, what are you doing outside of school and what does Dumbledore have to say about this?"
Fred looked at George and then he said, "The rest of term is studying for our NEWTs. We don't need them to start our business."
"We've learned all we're going to at Hogwarts and we don't want the pomp of graduation. Plus, we want to be ready when school lets out, should be a lot of sales."
"We found a small spot on Diagon Alley that includes a two bedroom flat and signed the lease this morning. We will be packing first thing tomorrow."
They both looked at us with the hint of a pleading look. The twins, after everything, really did want our approval. All children really did. Molly looked at them and then me. "Arthur?"
I took a breath. "Well, obviously we would have preferred you have finished out your schooling, but if you think your business reasons are more important… it's your choice and your career. We hope that you will be successful."
Molly didn't look like she was happy with my response. I said, "Dear, they're of age and going to do it anyway. We don't need any more fighting in this family."
We ate the meal in silence. The twins got up to get the bread pudding. Molly thanked them and smiled. "I'm sorry, boys, but it's just… I'm not quite ready for everyone to be grown up. Ron is going to be of age within a year and Ginny…"
Fred said, "Ginny and Harry are both more adults than most adults we know, Mum."
"Yes, don't be sad," George added, "it means you've done your job well. We're all growing up faster than normal."
Molly forced a grin, albeit with a few tears. "Being a mum is one of the few jobs where you get punished for doing it well."
I put my arm around her shoulder and the twins joined in the hug.
I hesitated but found myself asking, "Not that I think this, but you didn't get your startup funding from anything… sketchy, did you? Gringott's wouldn't have given you a loan without collateral."
The twins drew back in mock horror. "Course not, Dad. We have a silent partner. Harry tried just giving us what we needed, but we talked him up to calling it an investment, buying a thirty percent stake," Fred explained.
I looked at them. "I shouldn't be surprised, but I am."
George quickly added, "He didn't want his name attached or to get in any difficulty with you or Mum. We keep telling him to stop apologizing for doing something good."
Fred concluded, "Ginny's still working on him. Good thing she's the stubborn one. Thanks for supper, Mum."
"We'll be spending the night if that's ok."
Molly stood up, "Of course, boys. You will always have a place here and come for dinner anytime. I'll make sure you have a good English breakfast tomorrow. Can't have you moving and then starting your first day on an empty stomach."
I was missing my shed that Saturday. Molly had insisted that she had wedding planning to do with Fleur. To his credit, Bill insisted on being more involved than I expected. I had already been through enough of that with my own, so I was amusing myself with my muggle manuals that Harry had bought me.
Sirius burst through the door and changed our plans. "I just got word, there was an attack in Ipswich!"
"The waterfront?" I asked.
"No, a house further inland. Best that we side-apparate."
The younger couple ran into the room. "We're coming too. It's a full moon tonight…" Fleur had helped a few others in attacks like Bill's. Greyback and his pack were getting more bold and restless.
As we hurried outside, I asked, "Remus meeting us?"
"No, between the date and a few other things, he's not in a good place right now."
"K."
We passed the house boundaries so all held on tightly.
I drew out my wand as soon as we arrived, but it was immediately obvious to not be necessary. We were in the garden of a small house, obviously muggle. I saw some… balloons and the half-eaten remains of a cake. On the fence there was a banner - Happy birthday, Trenton.
Not a soul around.
Then I turned back to the house and saw it, down at the ground. Six children in party attire, with smiles still on their faces. All dead.
Two adults, probably the boy's parents, also dead.
Next to a platform, wearing a flashy cape, the corpse of a man in a suit with a top hat.
Bill read a name off a box. "Wendell the Magnificent."
I noticed a black and white stick Wendell was holding. I knelt down and curiously pressed a button on the side and almost jumped as three red flowers burst from the tip.
Sirius was standing over me. He gave me a hand to help me up. "What is it?" he asked.
"Tricks. The muggles call them magic tricks. It's all sleight of hand and gadgets of course," I said with a whisper.
Fleur shouldn't have had to see these things. She was only nineteen, for pity's sake. Not that any of us were really ready.
Bill and Fleur came back from the indoors. He said, "The Death Eaters took them to be mocking our world, I suppose. Snape tipped you off, Sirius?"
"Yes, well, through Dumbledore. We don't really talk directly… it was a spur of the moment attack. Easy target."
"No one inside. We should… we should get going in case anyone double backs.
Fleur asked, "The aurors will be here?"
Sirius shook his head. "They can't be everywhere and it's getting harder to cover everything up. We can't hide this from the muggle authorities. They will have to believe whatever they will."
She nodded. We checked one more time for any signs of life but the only comfort we could take was that it did not seem as if anyone suffered.
*Ginny*
The first Friday in May was too bright to be spent in inside. Unfortunately, it was too difficult to ward off a section of the courtyard for our practice. Plus, we needed secrecy.
"Gin, I think we need a break from the early morning sessions."
I squeezed his hand. "Probably. Wouldn't pay for Mum to kill us for failing our OWLs before we're ready to face Tom."
"Especially after the twins…"
"Yeah…"
I grinned. They were just about to open and hopefully business would be good enough to soften any future problems. Not that Harry ever really got in trouble at home.
He said, "I'll let Sirius or Remus know then. We'll break until the end of the term. I think I need some time for everything to settle anyway."
I opened the door and saw Remus and Dora. Harry started to tell them our decision, but the tension was… well, it was obvious something was going on between them. Like we had walked in two minutes after a fight.
Dora finally spoke. "I was going to come by myself but Remus insisted that I not take the walk from the apparition point by myself in my condition."
I grinned. Harry didn't seem to catch on. He was still a bloke after all. But I couldn't really blame him, he probably had never been around anyone... "Congratulations, both of you!" I said.
"You're having a baby?" he asked, finally realizing.
Tonks smiled, "Yes, we are. He or she is supposed to arrive in late October."
"That's great," Harry said.
Remus was looking a little conflicted. "I… thanks. I'm a bit worried, with the war and my condition…"
"Oh," I said quietly, "could the baby be a werewolf?"
Dora said, "No, that's never happened. At most, he may get slightly moody once a month. Happens to the best of us. Or she may eat things a little on the rare side like your brother does now. He's just… worrying. Does that a lot."
Harry had the room make some chairs right before Remus collapsed into one. "I'm sorry, Dora. My life's been hard and painful. I don't want our child to have to go through what I have. Especially if we lose. Anyone not pure is going to be hunted down..."
Perish the thought. "That is not going to happen," I insisted. "We are going to win."
Harry put his arm around him. "Is there anything we can do?"
Remus looked at his wife and she nodded. "If the worst comes about… we'd like you to be his godfather, Harry. Help keep an eye on him or her as they grow up."
I wasn't expecting that.
"But… Sirius, wouldn't he better?"
Dora said, "I think you would have more energy to keep an eye on a little one. And my cousin… could you really see him changing nappies?
Harry laughed, "I guess not."
Remus added, "Plus, Andromeda and Molly will be sure to help. If you need it. Hopefully, none of this will matter."
"Then I'll accept, humbly."
Tonks rubber her hands together noisily. "If that's all settled, you two still have work to do."
That turned out to not be an exaggeration.
"They did what?" Hermione almost yelled that night in the common room
Harry glared at her, "I don't think they heard you in the dungeon."
"Sorry, just surprised. They haven't been married that long."
"Well, Remus isn't getting any younger. And his furry little problem can age him faster - all the wear on the body every four weeks. Or with the war going on. It causes most people to put things on hold - look at the size of our year versus two years later. But some people decide to live life."
I knew which one I was. I added, "We didn't ask if it was planned or anything."
Hermione blushed. "No, I suppose not."
Ron had checked out of the conversation already and was letting Dean and Seamus team up on him in a chess match.
She had the look in her eyes that there were a dozen gears twirling. I snuggled into Harry for a moment but finally said, "What are you thinking?"
"Well, if the Ministry does fall… I could see them trying to take children away from what they would consider undesirables. They probably wouldn't honor any verbal agreement that had Harry involved."
Harry was now paying full attention and dropped the piece of my hair he was playing with. "I need a better guarantee then."
She said, "I think you do, Harry. I can only think of one method that is considered inviolable. An Unbreakable Vow."
"I'll do it," he said without hesitation.
Hermione surprised me by not rejecting the idea. "I wouldn't talk to Remus though. He seems conflicted enough."
I said, "I bet Professor McGonagall could act as the binder."
Hermione cut in. "I'm going to be seventeen in less than six months. And considering how powerful you are, I think we could do it."
Harry said, "Really? I'd hate to bother anyone."
"I think so."
"Ok. Neville is planting in the greenhouse for another hour so no one's in my room."
Hermione packed up her things. I stood up and then gave my hand to Harry. "You're coming?" he asked.
"Of course. I'm not going to let you alone in your room with another woman." I smirked before either of them got too wound up.
After a few flights of stairs, Harry and I were seated on his bed and Hermione was on my brother's, which was conveniently the closest one. She held out her wand and Harry wrapped his hands around it.
Her eyes closed as she concentrated for a moment and then her wand dimly glowed. "Begin."
Harry looked at me and then her. "I swear that if Remus and Nymphadora Tonks are unable to care for their child, I will provide and love their child as my own."
Hermione uttered the closing incantation and then a bright red line swirled around the wand, enveloping Harry, and then disappeared into him. "I do believe that worked," she said.
I gave Harry as sound of a kiss as I could with the present company. "You are so sweet."
"I just wanted to make sure that he knows what it's like to be happy and loved. No one deserves to be an orphan."
Hermione stood up, looking rather pleased with herself. She made it to the door before looking back. "I'm going to interrupt Ron's game in five minutes if you're not down by then."
Prefects.
I made the most out of the five minutes.
Finally, OWLs were over. I had a good feeling about most of the classes I cared about passing. Hermione was another story. "What did you get for number fourteen in Charms?" she asked all of us. "I wasn't quite sure on the timing of the wand movements."
I looked over at Harry who was busy reading the latest print of the Quibbler, which Luna had just gave him. She found an empty seat at our table while he read it. This edition was entirely filled with Luna's notes from Harry's Defense lessons over the past semester.
Ron was doing his best to hold his tongue with his dating Hermione, but he lost the battle. "Hermione, we just finished the tests yesterday. If I can, I'm going to not think about school until August at least."
"Ron, we have to start studying for our NEWTs! Our classes are all going to have required reading and homework over the summer."
"Bloody hell, woman. Fine, at least give me June off."
Luna looked up. "I don't think the timing of the wand movements matter that much, Hermione, as far as the efficacy of the spell. It's most important to have a sharp form, and that's really part of the practical, not the written test." She pointed out something on the paper Harry was reading. "And Ronald, Hermione just thinks she needs to be the best to be good enough for our world. She forgets her friends like her for who she is."
Hermione stared at her, stunned at her naked honesty. "I… why did you say that?"
"It's true. I think we'd all waste a lot of time if we just spoke the truth. I'd rather know what someone really think, even if it hurts, then be friends with a lie."
Ron said, "I'm sorry. Maybe you can come over more this summer so you can keep practicing. I don't want you to get rusty."
She smiled. "Thank you. And we don't have to study all the time."
There was almost a bit of pink to his ears. I added, "Yes, keep him distracted."
Hermione got up. "I need to pack."
Ron said, "Yeah, me too."
I casually waved.
Harry muttered something that sounded suspiciously like, "5 minutes," before turning back to the paper.
"That's great, Luna."
"I'm glad you approve. You don't mind me copying your lessons?"
"Of course not. I wasn't planning on writing a textbook or anything anytime soon."
"Daddy thinks this will be another sell-out. Especially with you supplementing the cost with that advertisement."
On the third page, I saw a half-pager for Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, my brothers' new store. It emphasized a line of defense products as well as their more recreational items.
She folded it up. "If you don't have any corrections, we'll start print as soon as I get home. Now, I need to go find my knickers."
Harry almost spat out his pumpkin juice. "Excuse me?"
"Oh, most of the rest of the girls in my house make a game out of taking my things and hiding them around the castle. It's not very nice but they must need something to amuse themselves. I always make up a list at the beginning of the year with all my possessions. That way I can make sure I don't miss anything."
I gave Harry a quick kiss. "I'll go help Luna."
"Ok, Gin."
I looked back and said with a wink, "If you need help finding your knickers, just let me know."
That time, he did spit out his juice.