"Mr. Weasley! What are you doing here?  You didn't say anything in your note about coming by," Harry exclaimed.

            "Hello there Harry.  Well, I didn't know I was going to be here until this morning.  Remus was going to be here but got called away at the last minute.  Why don't you head upstairs while I finish talking with your aunt and uncle, and I'll be up there in a few minutes."

            "Ok Mr. Weasley."  Harry was sure that Mr. Weasley could tell he was bursting with questions, but figured most of them would probably make the situation worse.  Harry turned around and went back upstairs.  When he reached his room, he took a quick look around and realized that even though he had not even been here at Privet Drive for a full day, his room was already a mess.  Granted the majority of the mess was from remnants of Dudley's broken toys.  Regardless, Harry didn't want to give this kind of an impression to the only true father figure he had left.  Nothing against Remus Lupin, but he always seemed more of an uncle who visits on holiday than a father Harry could run to for advice.

            Knowing that he only had a few minutes and that he realistically could not get the whole room cleaned up that fast without magic, Harry resorted to the old standby of kids everywhere.  He started shoving as much as he could into the closet.  When he heard footsteps coming up the stairs he frantically tried to shut the closet door, but it wouldn't close all the way.  Not wanting to draw attention to the closet door holding back a potential avalanche of broken toys, Harry jumped into bed and opened his copy of Quidditch Through the Ages.

            Mr. Weasley walked slowly into the room and noticed Harry lying on his bed.  "So, Harry.  How would you like to take some extra classes this summer?"

            "What kind of classes do you mean, Mr. Weasley?"  Harry thought about this prospect for a while.  'There are not many classes they can teach me since I'm not allowed to use magic out of school.  They know that.'

            "Defense Against the Dark Arts for one," Mr. Weasley began.  "Also, some advanced Charms work, and of course continuing your Occlumency lessons.  It's possible we'll add some bits and pieces of other classes as well if we have time."

            "I'd like to keep learning, but won't we have a problem with me using magic outside Hogwarts?  I mean even though I don't get along with Snape at all, I can understand the importance of finishing the Occlumency lessons.  I wouldn't want someone else to … well, you know… because of me."

            "Harry, you've got to believe me.  I know I'm not the first person to tell you this, and I have a feeling I won't be the last.  Sirius died to protect you.  He wanted to protect you.  You are in no way responsible for his death.  Only one person cast the spell to throw Sirius through the veil and it was not you.  It was Bellatrix."  Mr. Weasley took a few seconds to look at Harry's reaction to his words.  For just a moment he saw a slight thaw flicker across Harry's dull expression.  "None of your friends are blaming you for their injuries either.  In fact from what I'm hearing from Molly, Ron might actually be … well, … thanking you.  Don't ask, I won't tell you, he wants to tell you himself."

            "What do you mean, thanking me?  I almost got him killed that day in the Ministry.  Not only Ron, your son, but your only daughter as well.  I'm having a hard time believing that you even want to talk to me!"  At the end of this last outburst, Harry spun around and leaned up against the window looking out at the world outside.  Gazing out across the rows and rows of houses, he could barely comprehend how so many people could seem so peaceful yet so clueless as to the danger they were in every day.

            Arthur walked up close behind Harry and placed his hand on his shoulder.  "Harry, I don't blame you for the danger my children were in last month.  They cared enough about you to stand up with you and support you in what you all believed in.  Ron and Ginny were not the only children I was worried about in that basement you know.  Molly and I care as much about Hermione and yourself as we do our own flesh and blood.  I'm proud of all six of you.  All of you acted with honor and bravery against what many would consider frighteningly overwhelming odds."

            Arthur stood quietly next to Harry for a few minutes allowing Harry to contemplate what the words really meant to him.  Arthur pretended not to see the lone tear roll down young Harry's cheek.

            "Oh yes, Harry, that reminds me.  You asked before about how you would be able to get away with using magic outside of Hogwarts?  Well, it turns out Dumbledore was able to convince the Ministry to include something special in your rewards for helping capture those Death Eaters."

            "Rewards, Mr. Weasley?  No one told me about any rewards," Harry muttered.  He falls silent for just a few seconds, then continued.  "I'm glad the others were able to gain some recognition for standing with me and fighting the Death Eaters, but I don't deserve a reward for falling for one of Voldemort's tricks."

            "Harry, I can't make you keep the money, or stop you from making another 'investment', but if you outright refuse the reward, so will the others I bet, and that would be a mistake that could cost all of you your lives.  The money is not the important part of the reward, but the loophole that comes with it."

            "Loophole?  What do you mean, Mr. Weasley?"

            "Well, Albus and I did some digging in the bylaws of the Ministry, and we found something that should be of interest to you.  I don't know why I was surprised to find it, especially with as many bylaws as Albus has written over the years.  To make a long story short, -"

            "Too late," Harry muttered to himself, though obviously not quietly enough.

            "I heard that.  Anyway, to make a long story short any underage witch or wizard who is honored and rewarded by the ministry for bravery in battle against evil will from then on be considered an adult and not bound by the Restrictions for Underage Wizardry any longer.  There are good and bad things about this though and you must consider it before you make a decision.  Of course a good thing is being able to use magic any time you want to.  A downside is you'll never be able to use the 'I'm just a kid' excuse to get out of trouble.  So, any laws you break you'll be charged as an adult there too."

            Harry was not overly concerned about being treated like an adult.  Just last year, Harry was forced to face the entire Wizgamot over a charge of improper use of magic.  The charge was eventually thrown out since he was only using magic to defend himself and his cousin Dudley from a pair of dementors.  Now maybe everyone will stop treating him like a child the rest of the time.

            "Mr. Weasley, I know you have my best interests at heart, but I think the advantage of having the summer to practice and train without worrying about Mafalda Hopkirk finding out is worth giving up my rights of childhood.  It's not like Voldemort was letting the fact I was a child stop me from being hunted.  Besides, I never had much of a childhood anyway thanks to the Dursleys."  Harry flashes Mr. Weasley one of his characteristically wry grins. 

            'It's so surprising how someone so leaned upon for so long at such a young age could turn out to such a nice young man.'  Mr. Weasley was lost in his thoughts for a few minutes enjoying the silence with the child he might as well call his own.  "Alright then, Harry.  I'll let Dumbledore know you'll go along with the reward then?

            "Yes, sir.  I will.  I'm not going to let Voldemort come out ahead, next time."

            "Now, Harry.  We're not planning on training you up more just so you can run off and attack him whenever you like.  We're doing this so you'll be able to defend yourself and others more effectively if you're ever attacked again.  You'll have your chance to fight him again, but let's make sure it's the right time shall we?"

            "Ok, Mr. Weasley.  When will we start the lessons?"

            "We'll need a few more days to get everything ready to begin.  Don't worry, it won't be too long."  Mr. Weasley stood and moved towards the door.  "We'll arrange for any materials you need by then as well.  Also, the exemption from underage magic does not start until you get the notice.  Dumbledore and I will try to hurry the paperwork.  Be safe, I'll see you soon."

            Mr. Weasley glanced back as he opened the door.  He could se the most subtle of twinkles forming in Harry's eyes.  'I hope he's strong enough to bounce back from this.  Sinking deep into depression can't be good for him, and potentially even worse for the rest of us.'

            "I'll try Mr. Weasley.  Tell Ron and Ginny and everyone else hi for me.  I'll respond back to their owls soon."

            "Of course, Harry."  Mr. Weasley took out his wand and tapped his cufflink 3 times and activated his portkey back home.  Harry knew he couldn't have apparated, since there were Anti Apparation wards on 4 Privet Drive and the surrounding neighborhood.

            Harry was so excited to know that not only was he going to be able to defend himself from none other than the members of the Order of the Phoenix, but that he was going to be able to use magic whenever he wanted as well.  He had a feeling that Privet Drive was about to become a much more hospitable place in the near future.

            Harry decided he should spend the time he had free now to start his assignments he was given for summer holiday.  He knelt down next to his bed and quickly retrieved he supplies from the hiding spot under the loose floorboard.  To his slight surprise, there sitting on the top of his stack of materials for class was the letter from Ginny.  'I'd better read this right away, since she took the trouble to write me.'

            When he unrolled the parchment, the sight of the gentle curves of Ginny's writing greeted him.

            Dear Harry,

            Hi, Harry.  I know it's a bit weird and all writing to you already since we just left school yesterday.  There are just some things that I need to say to you, but I never had a chance to since that day.  Now wipe that guilty look off your face and don't you dare put this letter down.  You know quite well with all the people telling you this already that what happened there was NOT YOUR FAULT!

            I know it might seem hard to believe but some good actually came from that day.  Everyone knows that Voldemort is back now, and even Ron and Hermione stopped fighting as much.  With the Ministry gearing up for the coming war, it doesn't look like we're going to be outnumbered much longer.

            If you ever feel down or just want someone to talk to, feel free to talk with me.  I know we're not as close of friends as you are with Ron and Hermione, but I've been through more of the same experiences with Voldemort than they have.  If your nightmares are anything like mine or even worse I know you need to talk to someone about it.  It's not healthy to keep all of that locked down tight all the time.

            I want to be your friend, Harry.  Please let me in.

            With love,

            Ginny

Harry lay back on his bed and considered what Ginny had written.  'Could she really have a clue about how I'm feeling?  I know she fought Riddle for almost an entire year, and then the Ministry a couple weeks ago.  It would be nice to have someone to talk to though.  Sure, there's Ron and Hermione, but Ron always jumps to conclusions and gets emotional while Hermione always starts having to analyze and research everything.  It would be nice to have someone just listen for a change instead of making a big deal out of everything.  Does she really want to be burdened by all of this though?  Well, only one way to find out.'

Harry took out a fresh sheet of parchment and started writing his reply to Ginny.

            Dear Ginny,

            Thank you for your letter.  I'm not totally sure what to say about your offer.  I suppose you are right about my needing to talk about things.  It's always been difficult for me to open up to people.

            Would it be all right with you if we reached a compromise?  How about if we got to know each other better first, then as I get more comfortable with it we can start talking about the darker side of things.  I don't want to think of you as just Ron's sister or you think of me as your brother's friend. I think last year, especially with the D.A. that we were able to start becoming friends in our own right.

            After the Ministry a couple weeks ago, I realized that I haven't been fair to you.  You were willing to risk your life to help me, and I haven't treated you like the true friend you'd have to be to do that.  I won't ask for forgiveness since I don't deserve it, but I will promise to treat you more like the friend you are.

            Harry

            Harry rolled up the parchment and opened Hedwig's cage.  The snowy owl lifted up her leg to let him tie the message to her leg.  Hedwig gave Harry's finger a bit of a nip and flew out the window into the morning air.  "Well, might as well get working on this essay while waiting for a response," Harry muttered to himself. Harry then get situation at his desk and started working on his essay for Snape.  A part of him was idly wondering what tomorrow might bring.