Disclaimer: I own the plot, Jeannette Lawrenceson, Nicole Pearson, Michelle, Mark & their two kids, Charlie Johnson, Jeramy Ludwigon and Hope Evans.

A/N: Here's the Sequel to 'Order of the Phoenix' Harry's sixth year. Hope you all like it, there's another story to come out here soon as well that's a Sequel to this one.

Harry Potter and the Year of Changes

Chapter Eight: Acceptance



The next morning Harry and Ginny got up before anyone else did, she went to the girls' dormitory to send Fleur to her mum and dad and change for the day. Harry got dressed and waited for her in the common room. While he was waiting Hope came down, he could tell she had been crying all night. Harry swallowed hard, "Are you alright?"

Hope managed to smile at him, "My so-called parents confessed last night. Apparently everything your mum wrote to me last night is true."

"Just be glad Mum and Dad didn't keep you only to leave you safe with someone who was considered safe by no one, leaving you to be dumped upon Muggle relatives that wanted nothing more than to lock you in a cupboard for nearly 10 years."

Hope chuckled, "Yeah I guess I did get the better end of the deal. So tell me about Mum."

"Well what do you want to know?"

"What's she like? What's she look like?"

"Well, one thing you should know right now is that she's remarried, to Sirius Black, my godfather actually. And they're having a baby. Do you want to see pictures? I've got pictures, three albums worth up in my dormitory, wait here."

Hope nodded and Harry went up to get the albums, the one from Hagrid, the one from Ginny, and the one from Professor Figg. When Harry came back down Ginny and Hope were sitting together talking about him. He smiled and listened before letting them know he was back. Hope was saying, "So then you're my brother's girlfriend?"

Ginny smiled and held out her hand, "No, we're engaged."

Hope examined Ginny's ring closely, "So then you must know all about Harry?"

"Well not everything no, but enough to know I'm in love with him."

Hope was about ask what she meant when Harry walked in. Ginny smiled at him as he walked over and sat in-between Hope and Ginny. He handed Hope the albums, "I don't think that there are any pictures of you in there," he blushed a bit as he continued, "The one on the bottom is from Ginny. So there are a lot of pictures in there just of me, and the two of us together."

Hope giggled, "Harry there's no need to be embarrassed, you aren't the only one around here that's in love."

Ginny was holding his hand, "Go on Hope, open it up. There are pictures of Sirius in there too."

They sat and looked through pictures, Harry pointed out James and Lily. Hope noticed that she was in some of the pictures and pointed herself out to Harry and Ginny. They looked through the one from Mrs. Figg first that showed Hope all about her family, and revealed that she too was an Heir of Gryffindor. Then they looked through the one from Hagrid, which had no pictures of her in it, Harry guessed that Hagrid hadn't felt it was his place to tell him. Then they got to the one from Ginny.

There was one picture that had James, Lily, Hope, Harry, Sirius, Remus, Molly, Arthur, Bill, Charlie, Percy, Fred, George, Ron and two women none of them recognized. Harry had always figured since at the time Hope had curly red hair, that she was Ginny, not someone else. Especially since the little girl seemed to be following him right out of the view of the camera the way Ginny had followed him around the first two years they knew each other through Hogwarts.

He hadn't realized until now that Molly was pregnant with Ginny when the picture was taken. Ginny started crying when she saw the picture, she hadn't been able to look at a picture of Ron since he died without crying. Harry wrapped his arms around her, held her while she cried and explained to Hope, "Ginny's brother Ron, and my best friend, he died last year."

To both Ginny and Harry's surprise, Hope's response was short, "Oh I knew about that. My boyfriend told me all about it when he got the owl from his ex girlfriend about it. He went on and on about how much he disliked Ron, and how upset he was that Cho had done what she did."

Harry interrupted, "Your boyfriend knows Ron and Cho?"

Hope nodded, "Yeah, Draco doesn't seem real impressed with either of you either now that I think of it. And the way he reacted when they put me in Gryffindor instead of Slytherin was weird."

Ginny and Harry sat there with a look of pure horror on their faces. Harry's sister was with Draco Malfoy? Harry couldn't believe his ears, he couldn't believe they had the same blood running through their veins. Ginny's hand seemed to hold onto Harry's tighter while she asked, "You do know that Draco despises Harry and I, right Hope?"

"Draco hated talking about him, and generally referred to you as Harry's biggest fan. So I assumed he didn't."

Harry looked dumbfounded, "You're dating Draco Malfoy?"

Hope was starting to get agitated at this point, "Yes, Harry. I sent him an owl this morning telling him about it. I assume he'll write back, but I doubt I'll hear from him until later today. The classes at Durmstrang start much earlier, though we finish earlier as well. Harry I know you and Draco don't get along, but you're both going to have to learn to because I love Draco, and he's a part of my life. But I deserve the chance to get to know my brother and my mum, and he will understand that."

Harry just stared at her blankly, remembering that Sirius and Professor Snape had to put aside their differences to face Voldemort, and this wasn't much different, she was his sister. "I'll try Hope, but this isn't going to be easy. He's never been nice to my friends or Ginny, he refers to Hermione with that awful word. I will try, but he has got to try to get along with me, and stop using that word when referring to my friends."

Hope smiled, "I'll talk to him about that. And I'll make sure he's a little nicer to you and Ginny. He needs to understand that you're my brother, which makes Ginny a very important person in my life as well."

Ginny squeezed Harry's hand, "Well we should get down to breakfast quickly before we go to class."

So they all got up and walked down to eat breakfast together. They talked on the way down about Harry and Ginny. Hope liked hearing about the way Harry proposed, and how they got together. Harry just put his arm around Ginny while she did the talking. They got to the Great Hall just in time to see someone they never expected to see.

Hope giggled and ran up to him, "Draco! I missed you so much! What are you doing here?"

Draco pulled her into his arms and kissed her. "I missed you too. I got your owl this morning and mum and I agreed that I needed to be here at Hogwarts this year. People close to Potter seem to get hurt, and I don't want anything to happen to you."

Hope smiled, "That's so sweet! Are you going to sit with us or over at the Slytherin table?"

Draco looked hurt, "I thought you'd come sit with me."

"Sweetums I would, but I'm just getting to know my brother. Did you know he and Ginny are engaged? My mum got married this summer, there's just so much I'm missing out on. It'd mean a lot to me if you came and sat with us."

"Alright, but I'm only doing this for you."

Harry and Ginny had sat down beside Hermione and Jeramy at this point and were busily talking away with them about their morning. Neville, Parvati and Dean were sitting across from them, and they were all talking about yesterday. Harry explained that Hope was his sister, and that beyond that was a long story. Hermione and Jeramy were flirting like crazy while they were eating. Hope came over and sat down next to Harry, Draco sitting next to her. It was mail time, and Fleur came with a letter from Ginny's mum. Ginny opened it up, and she and Harry read it together.

"Ginny and Harry, We're glad you're both doing okay. How's Hope doing? I haven't seen her since she was a baby. Your father's busy with the ministry. Percy's been promoted, he's now the head of his department. Harry do be careful, and take care of Ginny. Both of you need to stay close to the school. Are you two coming home for Christmas? Bill and Charlie will be here. Send Fleur or Hedwig back when you decide. Say hello to Hope for me. I love you both. Love, Mum"

Ginny smiled at Harry, "So? Are we?"

"Sure, let's just wait and we'll talk to Mum and Sirius today before we send one of them back."

Ginny giggled and kissed Harry, "Okay. We should get going though we'll be late for our first class."

Ginny's first class of the day was Transfiguration, Harry's was Defense Against the Dark Arts. Hope was off to her first Potions class, and Draco walked her there before joining the rest of the Slytherin 6th years in their Defense Against the Dark Arts class with the Gryffindors. Harry kissed Ginny before she walked into her class, and then he, Hermione and Jeramy made their way to class. Professor Figg smiled and welcomed the students as they came in. Harry, Hermione and Jeramy sat next to Neville and Parvati. Hermione was the first to ask, "So how are you holding up Harry?"

Harry smiled, "I'm alright. It's weird, in the past three days I've gone from being an only child to having an older sister and a little brother or sister. Thanks for helping Ginny last night, I know I wasn't much help for her."

Hermione chuckled, "Harry don't worry about it. Ginny loves you, and so do I. I was as worried about the two of you as she was last night. It was the least I could do, and it gave me and Jer some time alone."

Jeramy smiled and put an arm around Hermione, "I've been meaning to thank you for that Harry."

The three of them burst into a fit of laughter, which was quickly silenced when Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle came in the room. Harry and Hermione looked at each other, not knowing whether they should do anything. Jeramy said what the two of them needed to hear, "I know I'm not Ron, but it's still three against three."

Hermione smiled and kissed Jeramy's cheek and whispered in his ear, "I need to talk to you alone tonight."

Jeramy smiled back as Malfoy walked up to the three. Malfoy said nothing to Hermione, which was unusual since he had always made fun of her as a daily ritual. He looked directly at Harry, "I want to be perfectly clear with you Harry. I'm only trying to get along with you because that's what Hope wants, and she means more to me than anything ever will."

Harry nodded, "Just keep in mind Draco, she's my sister. You better not hurt her."

"I'll never hurt her Harry, I'm in love with her. From what Hope's told me you understand what that means."

Before Harry had a chance to respond Professor Figg started class, "Now I trust none of you wasted your money on books, correct? Though I made sure that they didn't put them on your list this year. We'll be reviewing today, you'll be taking a test to help you prepare for the O.W.L. exams which will happen just before your Christmas holiday. If everyone would please take their seats, we will begin your test. Don't worry about ones you don't know, I'm giving this exam today so that I know what to cover before Christmas."

Hermione of course to no one's surprise was the only person that knew everything on the exam. They had potions next, so Harry said goodbye to everyone and left to met Ginny and Hope in front of the Great Hall before they met up with Dumbledore and their parents. Draco ran after Harry, "Harry, wait for me!"

Harry turned around, "What do you want Draco? I agreed to get along with you, not become friends with you."

Draco smiled, "I know, but Hope wants me to come with her."

"Fine, just don't say anything to upset Ginny."

With that they turned and headed for the Great Hall. Harry and Draco talked along the way. Draco finally mustered up the courage, "Harry I've been planing on something for a while now. I'm planning on asking Hope to marry me at the end of this year."

"So why are you telling me? I'm just her brother."

"That's why I'm telling you. I figured you should know how serious Hope and I are. Because this means you and I aren't getting rid of one another any time soon."

Harry could see Ginny and Hope waiting for them, "They're right there waiting for us, we better hurry over there. And Draco, why wait until the end of the year? She could use a little something to cheer her up."

Draco smiled and ran over to Hope, they hugged and kissed for a bit. Ginny came over to Harry and hugged him close, "Are you alright? What's going on?"

"I'm alright Ginny, don't worry. Apparently Draco and Hope are as close as you and I are," Harry kissed her forehead, "We need to get going though. Mum and Sirius are probably waiting for us."

Ginny looked into Harry's eyes for a minute before saying, "You're right, let's get going," she turned towards Hope and Draco, "Let's get going, they're waiting for us."

Harry put an arm around Ginny's waist while they walked to Dumbledore's office. Lily and Sirius were waiting outside of Dumbledore's office for them. Harry and Ginny hugged Sirius and Lily hello, and then Harry introduced Lily and Hope to one another. They both cried and Lily hugged Hope. They all went into see Dumbledore together.

Hope asked about James, and explained that Harry had filled her in on pretty much everything. So between Lily, Sirius and Dumbledore they managed to give Hope, and Harry, a fairly good understanding of who James had been. Lily and Sirius had to leave soon though because they had a doctor appointment to get to for the baby. Hope started to cry when Lily and Sirius started to walk away, and she ran after them, "Mum wait!"

Lily turned back, she was crying too, "What is it Hope?"

"My parents, well, the people that adopted me, they said that I could stay with you if you wanted me to. Would that be alright with you?"

Lily looked at Sirius, and Sirius answered for them, "You'll always be welcome at our home Hope. And I think you'd be welcome with your godparents, Molly and Arthur Weasley, as well. Just send us an owl if you want or need anything. There's nothing we wouldn't do for you."

Lily held Hope close to her and they both just cried until Sirius reminded Lily they had to get going. Lily kissed Hope's forehead and Sirius hugged Harry, and they went on their way. Harry and Ginny left to go eat, while Hope and Draco went to the Library. Harry assumed Draco was going to take him up on his advice. Harry told Ginny about what Draco and him had talked about, Ginny was amazed Harry hadn't killed Draco yet today, but she knew he was being nice for his sister's sake.