A loud yell of "HARRY!" was the only warning he got before being knocked several feet back by a flying Gryffindor. Harry looked up past Hermione's head at Ron, who just gave him a sheepish grin and shrugged as Dumbledore smiled and walked down toward the kitchen.

Hermione stepped away and smiled up at Harry. "It's really good to see you, Harry. It's been almost as dull as last year without you here. But don't worry. They said they wouldn't let Ron or me attend the Order meetings until you got here.

Harry did a double-take. "You mean they're letting us join the Order?"

"Yes, well, about that," started Ron. "They figured we did a really dumb thing last year, but the fact that we all survived seemed to, er. . .make them come to their senses, you know?"

"Not to mention that if we had been informed of everything last year, there would not have been a problem," added the youngest Weasley who was just walking down the stairs. She seemed on the verge of hugging Harry then thought better of it. However, Harry was so happy about getting to see his friends again and actually being able to be involved in the Order, that he reached out and hugged her. Rather awkwardly, it will be admitted, but at the moment he wanted to hug everyone! Ginny stepped back blushing slightly with a preoccupied look on her face.

Harry then heard a rather unwelcome voice behind him.

"I see you've finally arrived, Potter. Mrs. Weasley would like to see the four of you – yes, you too Virginia – in the kitchen."

Looking into the dark eyes of Professor Snape, Harry suddenly decided that maybe he didn't feel like hugging everyone.

Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny trouped down to the kitchen to meet a rather flustered Mrs. Weasley.

"Wonderful to see you Harry. I should have lunch ready soon." And with that she continued to bustle around the kitchen, checking to make sure the caldron on the burner was still stirring itself and checking the small oven to see how soon biscuits would be ready.

The four just stood there, wondering why Snape had said she wanted to see them.

She suddenly seemed to come to herself. "Oh yes, Dumbledore has informed me that you four will be allowed to attend the meeting tonight after dinner, since Harry is finally here, and –"

But she never got to finish what she was saying because four very excited teenagers suddenly started jumping up and down and yelling, right there in the kitchen.

"Settle down, settle down," she said, but she said it with a smile. Obviously her fear from last year about them being involved was not nearly as strong now. Maybe Sirius' death had had something to do with that.

That lunch was one of the best meals Harry had tasted in a long time. The only thing that could have made Harry happier is if he hadn't heard Mr. and Mrs. Weasley discussing when Snape would be back for the meeting. Though, Harry was very glad he didn't have to share a lunch with the Potions Master.

As they finished their lunch people started arriving. Dumbledore was already there, because he had eaten with them, but Tonks, Shacklebolt, and Dung all arrived a little before the Weasley twins (who seemed to be doing very well in their new business, if their clothes were any indication) and Lupin showed up. Lupin gave Harry a very warm smile and sat down across from him. The last to arrive were Bill Weasley and Snape, looking just as foreboding as ever.

The meeting was very enlightening. The four were fascinated by the goings on, and though it wasn't quite as informative as they had hoped, they still got insights into things they hadn't known before. All of that, however, was forgotten when they received the most shockingly horrible news ever. It started out not sounding so bad and then went down hill from there.

"Shacklebolt is taking over the position of Potions Master? But why?" asked Ginny tentatively, none of them wanting to show how incredibly glad they were that Snape was, for some reason, not going to be teaching them anymore.

"And since when have you been a Master of Potions, O Shackled one?" asked Fred, slapping Shacklebolt on the back.

Dumbledore began to answer "Shacklebolt was very good at Potions when he was in school, and so agreed to take over for Professor Snape, since we want more eyes at Hogwarts this year. As to the why –" Dumbledore paused, "I've finally decided to let Professor Snape take over as the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."

~*~*~*~

t.a.g.0: Ack! You're right. I assumed the term ended in May. . .that's when it ends here. I hope it's not so wrong that you can't stand it, though, because changing that would just mess up when Dudley's birthday is too. They never actually said what day that is, did they? I must be in July as well…