*Arthur*

Percy didn't even look at me as he walked by my office. I didn't know what to do about him. He had to feel embarrassed about Christmas, but now he was even more embarrassed he was still not taking to us. It was an awkward cycle that I couldn't end. My door was always open but I had decided he had to make the first move. He at least owed his sister and Harry an apology. Percy was well past being a child and it wouldn't do to chase after him.

But it was hard. There had not been any Death Eater activity since the birthday party incident. But that had to be temporary. I had a hard time not thinking that any time I saw someone, it might he my last.

My thoughts weren't putting me in a pleasant humour for lunch, so I decided to check on the twins' shop before waiting for the Hogwarts Express. I would have taken the entire day off; Merlin knew I had enough holiday time saved up. But there was always so much to do.

The shop's exterior was so gaudy that passers-by stopped and stared at it for the first few days. Every bright colour one could think of. Clowns and explosions randomly popping out every few minutes. It was definitely my boys' creation.

I didn't want to make a big fuss, so I quietly opened the door. Of course, a loud bell rang out. Not that anyone much noticed. The place was surprisingly rather full, considering it was nearly all adults in Diagon Alley today. Once the kids were home from school, I knew it would be even more packed.

The first aisle had prank items like itching powder, Super Exploding Snap, and joke potions. I turned to the next row and there was a whole line dedicated to skipping class. The last one I checked had some serious items, such as hats that provided a shield against stray curses. Next to them was some muggle trick items. I was tempted to get a deck of cards but then I saw the queue to pay and decided against it. They were going to need to hire more help. Not a bad problem to have.

I ducked out before they could see their old dad was checking up on them and apparated to the platform. Sirius popped in a moment later. He was in a dark robe that spoke to old, confident money. Expensive, but not flashy.

"Arthur… we have a problem." He scanned for onlookers and eavesdroppers and said, "I just got a message from… a friend. She says she wants out. Right now. She promised minimal opposition."

"What about the children…"

"We will be back before they arrive. Our friend thinks she's about to be exposed and wants to activate her primary exit scenario."

I didn't want to get into a fight with even a few Death Eaters today but didn't seem like I had a choice. "I've never been there."

"I have," he said, offering his arm so I could sidealong to Malfoy Manor.

I took it and in a moment we were outside the gated of a majesty and imposing manor. Almost a castle. Much of it made of centuries-old oak, magically preserved from aging.

Sirius started throwing a number of diffindo's and other explosive and incindiery curses. I joined along and soon a blaze was roaring at the main gate.

"That's good enough," he said. "Time to head for the entrance off the master suite."

We hurried along until we ran into spellfire. One cutting curse would have had my left hand off if I hadn't dodged.

Narcissa and Peter Pettigrew were standing, waiting at the black door. She was dressed in a robe that was probably worth more than I made in a month. But her eyes… they were haunted.

Sirius' old schoolmate did not look like he belonged in such a stately location, being in worse shape than he had after being a rat for years on end. He must have been assigned as Dobby's substitute to the Malfoys.

Narcissa fired two bludgeoning curses at me. The first missed and the second broke my shields and I knew I'd have bruises at least. But her focus on me gave Sirius an opening and he stunned her.

Peter turned to face his former friend, but an incarcerous charm was already on its way and soon he was bound. I stunned him for good measure.

Sirius hurried up and revived his cousin. He held out his hand to let her up. "Let's go, not a lot of time."

Narcissa objected. "One moment, if you please!"

Sirius muttered under his breath as she hurried into the burning building. We kept a watchful eye, waiting for at least a few opponents to come. But none did.

Finally, she emerged carrying a large carpetbag. "A few million galleons' worth of jewels, emergency funds. I don't intend to live like a muggle peasant."

Sirius shook his head in frustration. He gave me a bracelet. "Purple jewel for the safehouse. I'm going to stay behind for a minute and deal with a friend."

"What are you going to do?"

He said grimly, "I don't think you want to know."

As soon as we landed, I started reciting the incantations for a number of protective wards.

She nodded and we stood outside the small cottage waiting for Sirius. Narcissa said, "This isn't what I'm used to but you have my thanks. Doubly so if you get my Draco here safely. Mr. Weasley, I hope I didn't hurt you too badly, but I needed it to appear real. In case Pettigrew escaped."

I nodded in understanding if not agreement. Trying to have sympathy for either of them was difficult, especially after the Diary… but given what I knew about her family, I could try to understand how her life had taken her where she was at present.

Sirius suddenly appearing, smelling badly of smoke. "Where was everyone else? Why was Peter the only one there?" he demanded.

Narcissa took a breath and softly said, "There is going to be an attack on the train. In ten minutes. It was my only chance. Get Draco out and I'll tell you everything I know. Locations of all the meeting places, every Death Eater and apprentice that I know of. And what I know of his plans. But I need Draco. He's the only reason I have anymore."

I said, "All our plans for getting Draco out assumed he'd be with you. Unless he's turned over a new leaf, you're asking us to take him by force."

"Yes, I am. For his own good."

I said, "We can't leave you here by yourself, unprotected." And also because I still wasn't sure this wasn't a ruse.

"Of course not."

Sirius glared at her. "You are the most difficult woman I have ever met."

"I never cared for you either, mongrel. Now can you do something useful or not?"

Sirius looked at me, "Arthur, I'm going to have to get out my mirror."

"Absolutely not! You can't involve the children!"

"They're already involved. You get to the ministry and sound the alarm. I'll get Harry ready and tell Moony. We can't get on the train, it's too well protected. Not sure how Voldemort is but we'll worry about that later."

He looked at Narcissa. "I'm going to have to suspend the wards, not sure who is going to end up here, so be ready. But make sure you know what side to curse if we have company."

Sirius found his mirror. He told it, "Harry Potter!"

I needed to hurry. I disapparated to the ministry and ran to Kingsley's office. "The train's about to be attacked!"

He hit a button that sounded an alarm for a general emergency. "I just received a report from the engineer that they were stopped. Bridge out. Must have been a giant."

Kingsley pointed to a map. "Here's where they are. I need to make sure help is organized or they will pick us off one by one. I told Hogwarts and McGonagall responded. But not much she could do from there. Dumbledore hasn't answered yet."

I looked at the map. "Five minutes and we have to go with whomever we have. I'm going to try to reach friends and family that can help."

*Ginny*

I was half-asleep on the train. The rocking back and forth often did that, especially after being up past curfew going on a knickers search with Luna.

She had had one more place she had thought of, but insisted I get back to the tower because of the hour. Dobby promised to keep an eye on her. The only thing keeping me awake was Harry twirling a few strands of my hair that tickled my right ear, but I didn't mind. Suddenly though, he sat up. "Hold up."

I was jolted from my happy place and wondering if Harry was getting embarrassed by anything. Suddenly though, he pulled out his two-way mirror. "Sirius?" he said.

"Hey, pup. Put up some silencing wards?"

He flicked his wand and turned back his attention. We all gathered around the mirror. "Done. What's going on?"

"The train is about to be attacked. We'll try to get help, but you may not have it for a few minutes. Try to get everyone out. Hopefully you can find some sixth and seventh years who can sidealong apparate. But use the bracelets to get to your house if you have to."

Hermione said, "I think I can duplicate portkeys. I've been practicing and it's easier than making from scratch."

"Good. Do you still have the jewel for the Burrow?"

"Yes."

"I don't want anyone getting hurt unnecessarily, but if you have the opportunity, plant one on Draco and activate it."

"You want us to kidnap him?"

Ron said, "Brilliant."

Sirius ignored him. "It's not really kidnapping if his mother is asking us."

Hermione said, "I'll set it up."

"I don't have any more advice. Watch out for each other." With that, the mirror went dark.

Harry said, "I can't just sneak off. They're going to be after me and I don't want anyone hurt on my account."

"You have your cloak, luv?" I asked.

He dug it out of his pocket and handed it to me. I pushed his hand away but he insisted. "Gin, Tom will either want me alive if he knows about my scar and otherwise he'll want to do it himself. They won't have any such reservations about you."

"Then I'm going after Malfoy." My eyes dared anyone to argue. "Sirius wouldn't have asked if it wasn't important."

I handed Hermione a hair ribbon that had been living in my pocket for a few months. "Will this work?"

"It should." She turned towards the window to concentrate.

Ron said, "Since we're prefects, Mione and I can go check on the younger years and get them rounded up. Any fourth years and above, should be allowed to fight if they want."

Harry was reluctant but finally agreed. Hermione turned around and put the ribbon in my pocket. "I copied the jewel. It'll activate five seconds after you touch it."

"Ok."

"Let's go, Ronald." They stood up and she gave him a quick peck.

After they left, Harry grabbed hold of me. "It'll be ok. You've taught all of us well," I said. We fell into the seat as the train came to a screeching halt. It had begun. "I love you."

"I love you too." I pressed my lips tightly on his and then pulled his cloak close around me to find the Slytherins.

The aisle was full of students, rushing towards the back exit. I started hearing cries and screams and explosions. It's rough going, moving against a crowd when you're small and invisible. I finally made it to where I thought Draco would be. That berth and all the ones next were all empty.

They were already outside, sitting idly while everyone else was running or fighting. Probably the first ones out of the train, of course. Cursing silently, I made my way to the exit.

We were surrounded by trees but the rocky ground near the cliff had made a natural clearing. The river was about fifteen feet below the tracks. With the bright sun and a slight breeze, it would have been a pleasant spot for an outing in other circumstances.

I saw Lavender, Parvati, and her sister lying still on the ground. Thankfully, they seemed merely stunned. The fighting seemed to have stopped, confusingly.

I heard the voice of Bella calling out in sickingly babyish tone. "Hawwwwy… come out and play…. or I cheat with someone else."

I heard his voice stand out, trying to be strong. "I'm right here."

She and two other Death Eaters answered with different curses. Harry put up a shield and rolled to his left to as the first two were block but took the shield down. The others missed. He got up and started firing back.

I stowed the cloak and joined in with some of my infamous bat bogeys. A few stunners flew by my left shoulder. Ron, Hermione, Luna, and a few others from the Defense Club were helping too.

We were barely keeping up, having to stay on defense. It would be only a matter of time. But Harry wouldn't leave with hurt classmates on the ground.

I heard the crack of an apparition and saw a blur of pink hair as Dora Lupin attacked her aunt in earnest. With her distracted, we were able to take down some of the less skilled of Tom's cronies.

Dora called out, "More help is coming. Remus and some of the Weasleys are holding back a group led by Greyback behind that ridge"

If a group of untransformed werewolves got to the student body…. I let myself be distracted for a second and took a bludgeoning curse to the shoulder. My shield stopped most of it but enough leaked through that my right shoulder was now aching.

"Mudblood!" Bellatrix had decided she was done with the easy stuff and the green light of the killing curse sailed towards Hermione. Dora summoned a black dirt wall that protected my friend, but it cost the auror precious seconds. She was disarmed and then tied up in a moment.

"She's mine!" Bellatrix yelled. "There are consequences to mingling the noble blood of Black with a beast. Severe punishments."

She slowly walked towards her while the rest of the battle almost down to a draw. I saw Harry and he knew what was coming. Dora would probably lose the baby if held under the cruciatus for any length of time. I had memories of Tom using that knowledge on young couples who resisted serving him.

I tried hexing her but it was blocked by a wizard I didn't know. She raised her wand and yelled out "Crucio!"

At the same time, I heard the crack of someone apparating. Harry was standing before Dora and took the curse. He fell to the ground, writhing.

This pleased the psychotic murderess to no end. "Oh… this is much better. I'll get to the blood traitor later. You've known pain before Harry. Let's see how much you can take… the Dark Lord needs you alive. He didn't say unspoilt."

I was fighting off an adult Death Eater myself, keeping her from taking Dora. It was all I could do but Harry was on the ground screaming.

It became softer and then stopped. I knew I was losing him. Where was Dumbledore?

And then a green bow wave burst out from him. It was so bright my eyes were dazzled and I barely registered that I had been knocked down, along with everyone else.

Harry stood and stumbled after all that pain. But he was up. Bellatrix fired a cutting curse at him that he wordlessly flicked away. Two more flew at him so quickly they almost appeared as one.

But Harry was quicker and he was untouched.

My opponent finally went down with some help from Ron. The rest of the opposition was down as Dad and the aurors finally arrived.

I turned to help out my boyfriend, but he didn't need it as he started attacking. He was so silent and quick it was awesome yet scary. Like a cobra.

Bellatrix was barely keeping up. Her time to deflect between attacks was shrinking so she cast a shield.

Harry sent a blasting curse that got through and blew apart the shield. Half a second later, she was disarmed and knocked to the ground, stunned.

I was so shocked that I almost forgot my personal mission. I put on the cloak to make it through the crowd and made my way towards Draco. Unfortunately, he had quickly decided to scarper off after seeing his aunt have her arse handed to her. I ran after him.

We were both well clear of the group but Draco disappeared after cresting a hill. I finally saw him again but he was getting away. I took the cloak back off and fired a tripping jinx at him. I couldn't aim well with the cloak on and there no way was I catching up otherwise with my short legs. We were in the open, but with the amount of magic going on around me, I didn't think I would get caught by the Trace.

He went down on his face and I would just worry about Ministry letters later. I sent a stunner before he could react and then grabbed the hair ribbon from my childhood home. Then I forced myself to grab Draco's left hand and put the portkey on his palm before squeezing his hands around it. I barely let go before he disappeared.

There was suddenly a new sound of chaos back towards the main group. I started running back until I fell to the ground after being hit with a curse. My right leg burst in pain. I looked at it and I had a nasty cut down the side, right in the meat of my calf.

I had ran right into Crabbe and Goyle and made myself an easy enough target for even them to hit.

Crabbe said, "Hey, I got Potter's bitch! Where's Draco?"

Goyle was unable to respond as my stunner met its mark. Crabbe got an extended session of bat bogeys instead.

Not seeing anyone else, I took a deep breath and produced a patronus. I told my doe, "Tell Harry mission accomplished. I'm heading home." He didn't need to worry about my leg.

I grinned as Crabbe was still trying to work the countercurse while I portkeyed to Potter Manor.

*Arthur*

Ginny's patronus had just vanished and I felt better that she was accounted for. Ron and Hermione had gotten all the younger students out moments before. Then You-Know-Who arrived.

He looked around at his mostly fallen followers. His ghostly white head cocked to one side and they all disappeared. "Harry Potter… you have interfered for the last time!"

He fired a barrage of spells at him. Kingsley and I fired back to help, but our spells and Harry's were blocked. Harry had to dodge multiple curses, but now he was off balance. He yelled out "Expelliamus!" at the same time one more red curse came at him.

The spells collided and the wands somehow linked. The golden beam was so bright it hurt to stare but I couldn't help myself. I thought I heard phoenix song and then an image of a young witch appeared. Followed by more folk, in both wizard and muggle garments.

Harry seemed to be talking to them while he desperately tried to keep control of his wand. Finally, a young woman and a man that matched Harry's features appeared.

We used the distraction to get the last students and injured adults out but I wasn't going without Harry. Suddenly, he broke the connection and vanished. I quickly followed, apparating back home.

The disorientation lasted only a second and I quickly confirmed I was at the front gate of Potter Manor. Harry was next to me. He took a step, stumbled and almost fell. I grabbed onto his arm while saying, "I have you, son," and he leaned against me.

Molly opened the front door when she saw us and I helped Harry slowly walk inside. Ginny was on the couch with a leg propped up. Tonks was casting some basic charms to check for injuries.

"Just a cut on the leg, Dad," she said before looking over to her boyfriend. "Here, I'll make room." She moved to one side, wincing a bit when her leg shifted. Harry collapsed next to her and she held him tightly. No words were needed.

Tonks finished with Ginny's leg and then handed him a vial. "Cruciatus cure," she said.

Harry nodded and downed it, doing his best to not let it hit his tongue.

Remus hesitant approached. "Harry… thank you. For protecting my wife and child. I don't know what I would have done to myself…"

"That's not happening," he said with conviction.

I had to ask. "When did you learn to apparate?"

"I didn't. The first time, I just knew that I needed to help Dora. After that, I remembered the feeling and knew I needed to leave. Somehow it worked."

Hermione and Ron flooed in soon afters. She said, "Most everyone is at King's Cross. We didn't know where else to go. Kingsley and some aurors were there and they said they would take over until all the parents arrived." After this disaster, I imagined some of those children would not be returning.

Molly was fixing everyone some biscuits and tea to take the edge off the morning's events. I was just about to go after Sirius, when he finally appeared.

Sirius collapsed into a chair, world-weary. "Draco is not a very happy Slytherin at the moment. I think after seeing what Harry did to his aunt, he's going to wise up and not holler too much about sitting out the war in Egypt. If not, he's Narcissa's problem and she's welcome to it."

Hermione stood at the doorway to the kitchen, trying to not be caught staring at Harry and alternating with shifting from one side to another. Molly noticed and said, "You poor dear, your parents are probably wondering where you are."

She nodded. "But I feel like I should be here too."

I suggested, "We will be alright for now. Ron, how about you go along, make sure everything is fine." If he was dating her, it was about time he met her parents anyway. "You're welcome back for supper, or anytime."

Molly took Ron aside, probably to warn Ron about his manners like a mum normally would. He put on a nervous smile. Sirius volunteered to sidealong them both.

After they stepped out, Harry took a bite of a biscuit and then said, "I'm so tired. I'm going to lie down."

Ginny looked half at him and half at Harry. "I'm ok but I should keep off the leg for a bit so I'll go keep you company."

Molly took a few seconds and said, "Let me know if there's any problems."

"Yes, Mum."

Sirius was back in a few minutes. "I made sure they arrived safely and strengthened the wards around the house. I said someone would get them after teatime."

A few hours later, I found Harry and Ginny curled up together and asleep in his room. I heard a commotion from the front room and I rushed in, along with Remus and Dora. I saw a patronus tabby cat that began to speak. "Mrs. Lupin, I need you at Hogwarts immediately."

The cat turned into vapour and Dora looked around. "Well, then. I best be off."

Remus asked, "We could use backup."

Sirius said, "I think I should stay here. We don't know what happened with Harry yet and I don't want to take any chances. Arthur, can you go with them?"

"Sure, that makes sense."

The three of us soon were back at the gates of Hogwarts. I remembered how foreboding it was all was the first time I saw many years ago. Before the war had started. There were rumours and disappearances, but most of that was hidden from little children.

I sighed. I knew my daughter's memories of here had been immediately tainted. Even if we won and survived, her innocence had already been sacrificed and there was no getting it back.

Minerva met us at the main door, looking defeated. Remus broke the silence. "Do we have any numbers from the train?" he asked grimly while we were walking on the corridors.

"Four children. I should be grateful that it wasn't more, and I imagine your family had much to do with that. But four children who never came home from school."

We were almost at Dumbledore's office. "I've received twice that number of howlers in the last hour. Addressed to the Headmaster."

The office door opened without her reciting a password. I thought I knew what was coming but I never would have imagined.

Dumbledore was in his chair dead, his left hand almost burned to a crisp. Snape was on the floor face down and facing away.

To her credit, Dora's training kicked in and she started casting preservation and diagnostic spells.

Minerva said, "Dumbledore was ecstatic yesterday evening, he said he found someone important but wouldn't go into details. He was missed at breakfast but I assumed whatever he was doing ran long. With the attack, I was too distracted to check on him. I don't know who I can trust at the ministry so I called on you."

Dora finished looking at Snape and hesitantly approached Dumbledore. Finally, she turned around. "I don't see any damage to Snape, only a significant magical signature. Only a few possible causes, the most common is the killing curse."

"But who would have cast that?" I asked.

"There's a few portions that'd do the same as well."

Minerva disagreed. "And Severus would have been the only one to brew them. Slughorn also, but that doesn't mean seem likely."

Remus said, "I believe breaking an unbreakable vow would have the same result. A serious break results in an instant magical death."

Was that how he had convinced Dumbledore to trust him? "What about the Headmaster?" I asked.

Dora said, "Curse damage. Started at the hand and… I think I found it." She wrapped her hand in cloth and reached inside a pocket. She pulled out a fancy yet gaudy ring with a jeweled 'S' and her hair turned gray like the sea in a storm. "He was able to pull it off, but it was too late. There is something very…wrong with this. I can't tell what though."

I looked at her and then Remus. "Is that…"

"I think so," he said. "We will need to have this looked at." His wife nodded and put it away after placing it under a containment charm.

She said, "What about the bodies?"

Minerva said, "Severus had no family. We may never know what happened here and given the work he was supposedly doing, perhaps it is best that he is thought to have disappeared. I can transfigure the body into something small that can be buried easily. Albus will have to have a grand funeral, but we can hide the spell damage. I assume you do not wish others to know about that he found."

Definitely. We still had one left, plus the one in Harry. I said, "That would be best given the circumstances."

Dora said, "I'll head to the Auror's office. I'll give you half an hour to get rid of Snape."

"That should be sufficient."

As the Lupins started to leave, I said, "I'll go find Hagrid and let him know. He'll be crushed."

"Yes, he always had a special relationship… this school won't be the same without him."

"I know you will manage. It is a big hole to fill though."

She nodded as Snape's body shrunk and transformed into a single bone. Dumbledore's arm was changed into something that appeared normal at first glance. "I'll make sure he is in a long robe. This should last for a few days. He was an old man, they shouldn't look too hard."

I conjured a bag to put the bone in. "I'll bury this on the way to Hagrid's hut." Then I noticed something that had fallen out of Dumbledore's robe. "And here's his wand, I'm sure he'd want to be buried with it."

*Ginny*

I was jostled awake by Harry. I opened my bleary eyes, sat up, and saw a mess of brown hair at the far side of the room. "Hermione?"

"Sirius retrieved Ron and I a bit early. They have something they want to discuss."

"All right."

"You're such a heavy sleeper," Harry said as we left the room.

"It's your fault, I'm too comfortable with you with me. I wish we could…"

Dad's face was sad. Mum was crying. With them were Bill, Fleur, Ron, and Sirius.

"What happened?" Harry asked.

Dad said, "Dumbledore is dead."

I found myself asking, "How?"

"He found this." Dad took something out of his pocket and let a ring slowly roll onto the table. He started talking about Snape dying as well but I couldn't focus. All I heard was the distant screams of a young man.

"It's an anchor," I said. "It's fighting back more than the others. Probably one of the first."

Sirius said, "That's what we thought… Harry you're not reacting."

Bill cast a spell and the horcrux quieted to a dull roar in the back of my head. "Thanks," I said. "Luv, are you ok?"

Harry looked. "I'm not getting anything. And now that you mention it… not really anything this afternoon either."

Ron said, "You would think he would be having a lot of emotions right now. The train attack was not what he hoped. And I bet he knows about Dumbledore, all the leaks in the ministry."

Bill looked at our youngest brother, surprised.

"What? I know things."

Sirius looked at him. "Harry, are you sure… Voldemort is going to be furious right now and probably taking it out on his followers. Are you not feeling anything from that?"

He shook his head. "No, nothing. In fact… I've always felt a pressure, especially once he came back. I sort of got used to it. But now that you mention it… it's gone."

Remus looked at Harry and then Sirius, and then back. "I think the horcrux is gone. That's what that blast was."

I couldn't help but tremble. "Gone… you mean…" Despite all my pretenses, I fell into Harry's arms and did her best to hide my crying.

Harry stroked her hair, "Gin… it's ok. You told me that we'd get it out. I'm not going anywhere."

Bill walked up to us. "I'm going to do a scan if that's ok. I've had enough experience with the others now…" Harry nodded. Bill concentrated and time stopped for minutes. He stowed his wand and squeezed Harry's shoulder. Bill quietly said, "I think you're clean."

I looked up and nodded, drying a few tears. Harry said, "I'd like to know how though."

Hermione sat up and hesitantly said, "I think I may… I think the prophecy Ginny heard required multiple fulfillments. Harry had experienced all three Unforgivables from You-Know-Who, which was what Dumbledore thought needed to happen. The killing curse when he was a baby and the other two at the tournament. That wasn't enough to free him.

"Even as Harry has experienced such intense three-fold hate… so had You-Know-Who. He had never experienced real love. And he's been consumed by fear ever since."

Hermione paused. Remus asked, "So what was it?"

She looked hesitant. "Mind you, I'm just guessing and this seems more something that Luna would come up with, but Vol... Voldemort has done such violence, that the cosmos, magic itself needs to be balanced.

"Harry was to be the counterweight… after being shown the same level of hatred, could someone return it with love instead? Or would there just be more hatred and anger?"

He had his moments with his temper. But he was nothing like Tom! After all that abuse and pain he was still… good.

Hermione finished. "To complete the prophecy, Harry needed to fully experience love. Both giving and receiving in word and deed from the same blood, in the three classical expressions of love."

Ron looked at her. "You're not just figuring this out now."

"I've been researching. A lot. One, the love of friendship. Ronald, you took a curse for him at the end of the tournament. Harry risked himself the same night to stop you from being tortured."

"Second, erotic love." She blushed for a second but said, "Harry and Ginny have declared and expressed their love in an intimate enough manner… that was never a worry."

I groaned mentally. I wished she would have said that differently.

"Finally, unconditional love. Like that of a parent for a child. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley fulfilled half of it after growing up with the Dursleys. Harry fulfilled the other half by honoring the unbreakable vow he made to protect Baby Lupin."

Harry said, "But you said that it all had to be of one blood. The Lupins aren't related to Ron and Gin."

Hermione said, Remus and Bill share the essence of the same werewolf. It seemed like a bit of a loophole, but it was better than the other option. The completed love was enough to drive out that piece of evil."

Harry was in a bit of a shock. I asked, "Luv, are you ok?"

He looked into the distance and said, "I can live… Gin... I can live."

None of us held back any tears.

Remus and Dora arrived a few minutes before supper, bringing with them the sword of Gryffindor. She said, "The ministry is a mess. Everyone thinks Dumbledore was the only one who could face You-Know-Who."

Sirius said, "We dealt them a massive blow as well. I have the names and homes of some of the minor players. We go after them, make them question their devotion. A lot of their galleons came from the Lestranges and Malfoys. He won't be able to buy loyalty much longer.

Harry said, "I'm not ready to go after Tom though. And there's two of those… things left!"

Sirius said, "Well, first let's make it one!" He took the sword and brought it hate down on the cursed ring. I thought it would have shattered, but instead it came loose from its setting and changed color from a dark green to light pink.

Bill waved his wand over it. "That did it. There is something strange about the stone. I'd like to look into it…"

Sirius said, "As long as you are safe and no one knows about it." Then he turned to Harry. "And you may not be ready but you are close. You were beating Bellatrix! And that after you got through whatever happened."

Dora said, "Harry, you could probably best any of us here. You'll get there."

We were all quiet for a moment until Harry quietly said, "I saw my mum and dad. When I was fighting Tom. Our wands connected and I heard a song and then ghosts or shadows of people he killed… it sounds crazy."

Dad said, "I saw it too, son. It sounded like phoenix song."

"Our wands… they are both from the same phoenix…"

Remus nodded. "Wands use the magic of the animal that produced their core to focus your power. Two cores from the same creature, it would be again their nature to fight. You causes his wand to show the victims of the spells it had cast. I don't know much about the theory. Ollivander would know more."

"Well, whatever the reason, I'm glad it worked," Harry said.

Over the rest of the evening, I looked at him and I finally saw something just slightly different in his eyes. A weight that wasn't there. Not the thing anyone else would notice, but I had stared into those emerald eyes until I saw my future in them. And then I knew. But I wanted to be sure.

I found Harry brushing his teeth and pulled him into the nearer closet. He grinned and said, "I hardly think I should have to sneak into closets in my own house Miss Weasley."

I growled. "I finally have you all to myself. Shut up and kiss me."

He wrapped his arms around the small of my back and didn't need any further encouragement. I reached up and ran my fingers through his hair, pressing against him.

I could almost feel the power coming off him. I opened my mouth wider and he tasted like lightning. Harry must have realized it and was able to control it before I was burned up.

We stopped and after getting enough blood to his brain, he said, "Brilliant…"

I smiled and opened the door. All the glass in the bath had shattered from our excitement. "I'll take the seven years of bad luck."

I looked at him in confusion.

"It's a muggle thing." He waved a hand and wordlessly repaired it without thinking. "I feel… odd. Still getting used to it."

Hermione and Ron we're hurrying down the hall. "We heard breaking glass," he said.

"Sorry mate that was me," Harry said. "And maybe a bit of your sister."

"Don't want to hear it."

Hermione said, "Imagine you had to learn to walk with weights on your ankles. And then you had them taken off."

Ron exclaimed, "All this time you had to spend energy fighting it!" I knew how exhausting my possession had been. Harry's wasn't the same, but to have that almost his entire life...

Hermione agreed. "And now you don't. The sudden burst may not completely last but once it evens out, you are going to be stronger than you were."

She was being too fast figuring all this out, even for her. I stared at her icily and let myself boil over. "You… knew. You bloody knew about all of it and let me worry myself to death! You watched me cry and…"

"I'm sorry, Ginny. I had to," Hermione explained. "If you knew… if you had been trying to get the horcrux out, it wouldn't have been out of selfless love and may not have worked. That's why I warned you to not think on it too much. Manipulating prophecies is dangerous. I gave it a gentle nudge without breaking the rules."

I tried seeing the sense of that but Harry had already forgiven her. He walked up and hugged Hermione. "Thank you."

She smiled. "I couldn't let you and Ginny down."

"You saved me."

"Now you can save everyone else."