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DISCLAIMER: I own nothing – it all belongs to JK Rowling.
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The Gryffindor common-room was abuzz with discussion of the new Quidditch team line-up the next day. News about Luna's prowess spread like wildfire, and Harry was pleased to see that she was being treated really well by all the Gryffindors. She took him aside shyly on Sunday.
"Thanks for putting me on the team, Harry," she said quietly, without a trace of her usual vagueness. "I'll try not to let you down."
"Come on, Luna – that crowd watching would have hexed me into next week if I hadn't!" said Harry, surprised. "You'll do brilliantly, I know it. You can see how happy everyone is about it!"
Luna looked at him, smiling. "You know, I've always heard that the Gryffindors are the nicest people at Hogwarts, and it's true," she said. "D'you know, not one thing of mine has gone missing yet? If I was still in Ravenclaw, half my stuff would have been hidden away by now."
Harry felt a lump in his throat, as he remembered Luna putting up a notice at the end of last year, appealing for a return of her belongings. "Glad you're happier here, Luna," he said smiling at her. She smiled dreamily back at him again, before heading for her favourite window seat to read the latest edition of The Quibbler.
Going down to lunch, Harry found himself cornered by Ernie McMillan. "Hey, Harry!" he called, trotting over from the Hufflepuff table.
"Hiya, Ernie – how are you doing on that Transfiguration essay?" Harry asked, knowing that it was Ernie's worst subject.
"Don't mention the war," said Ernie, disgruntled. "I have no idea why I took Transfiguration for NEWTs – ghastly topic."
He changed the subject rapidly. "Have you given any more thought to reforming the DA?"
Harry slapped his forehead. "Damn it – sorry, Ernie, I forgot to ask Dumbledore the other day." He thought hard. "Give me a bit more time, and I'll have a word with Tonks. I reckon I've taught you guys just about all I know, and maybe she'll give us a hand and teach us something new."
Harry had been so busy the previous week; he hadn't had a minute to spare to visit Hagrid. Feeling a bit guilty about this, he asked Ron and Hermione if they wanted to join him when he popped down to Hagrid's cottage for tea that afternoon.
"Great idea!" said Ron, enthusiastically. "I've had just about enough of researching Siren Vines for Care of Magical Creatures."
"What on earth are Siren Vines?" asked Harry, curious.
"Nasty things – look as beautiful as roses, but when you get close to them to smell them, they turn into these massive traps that grab you and eat you alive," said Ron, grimacing.
"Reminds me of some girls I know," said Hermione, who was watching Cho Chang and Michael Corner wrap themselves around each other at the Ravenclaw table. "I think you got out of that just in time, Harry – she never lets him out of her sight."
Glancing up at them, Harry spotted Ginny out of the corner of his eye. She, too, was watching Cho and Michael, and was looking a bit stricken. Harry scooted over on the bench until he was sitting next to her.
"You OK?" he whispered.
Ginny nodded, swallowing. "It's weird, you know? I don't want him back, but it's amazing how quickly he recovered from our breakup and took up with Cho," she said sadly. "Am I that forgettable, Harry?"
Feeling a flash of anger towards Michael, Harry squeezed her hand. "Anyone who forgets you that quickly didn't deserve you in the first place," he said fiercely. "Don't you doubt yourself, Ginny – not for one minute. You're way too good for him."
She smiled gratefully at him and squeezed his hand back. When she took her hand away, Harry felt a small pang of loss – it had felt so right to be holding her hand. He could feel himself going pink.
"Er … we're going to visit Hagrid this afternoon for tea – want to come?" he said quickly, to cover his confusion.
"That would be great," said Ginny. "Um – I just have to see Prof McGonagall at three, so is it OK if I come afterwards?"
"No problem. We'll meet you in the entrance hall at four," said Harry. "Why are you seeing McGonagall on a Sunday?"
Ginny looked a bit guilty. "Can't tell you right now, Harry, but I will soon, I promise."
Interesting, Harry thought. What's up with this? He decided not to push it – after all, he also had his fair share of secrets that he'd kept from his friends recently.
They all met up near the front door at four o'clock, then trotted across the lawns to Hagrid's little cottage. He'd obviously seen them coming, because he opened the door just as they got there.
"I was wonderin' when I'd be seeing yer!" he said, beaming. "Come in, come in – tea for everyone?"
"Yeah, sorry about that, Hagrid," said Harry apologetically. "It's been a bit crazy."
"Saw yer tryin' out for the Quidditch team yesterday," said Hagrid. "I s'pose yer now a Chaser, Ginny? Yer looked great out there."
"Yes, I am!" said Ginny proudly. "I didn't know you were watching!"
"Sat here on me front porch and watched through me spy glasses, an' all," said Hagrid.
Settling down for tea after making a big fuss of Fang, who had nearly knocked Ron flying in delight when he saw him, they each took one of Hagrid's rock cakes. Trying to nibble around the edges without losing a tooth, Hermione asked: "How's Grawp?" Grawp was Hagrid's half-brother, a full-blooded giant, who he had brought back with him after his visit to giant territory the previous year.
"Grawpy's gone," said Hagrid bluntly.
"Oh, Hagrid, I'm sorry," said Hermione. "What happened? Where's he gone?"
"Well, actually, he's gone because I asked him to," said Hagrid, to their surprise. "In fact, me 'n Dumbledore asked him to go to the giants and see what they're up to. We're pretty sure that You-Know-Who has got them on 'is side, but we need to know for sure."
"Do you think he'll be OK?" asked Ron.
"Probably more OK than me," said Hagrid honestly. "Don't know if I could stand another beating like the one I took the last time. At least Grawpy's a bit more their size, even if 'e is a runt."
He offered the plate of cakes around again, but they all declined politely.
"Now, wha' about yer, then, Harry?" said Hagrid. "I 'ear yer taking special lessons from Lupin."
The others gaped at him, then rounded on Harry. "What special lessons, Harry? You didn't tell us!" Hermione said furiously.
"Yeah! What's going on?" spluttered Ron.
Harry sighed – he supposed he would have had to tell them eventually.
"I'm taking Occlumency lessons again, and it's going much better this time," he said quietly. "Lupin's much easier to deal with than Snape …"
As he said the name, a bolt of pain shot through his scar. He clapped his hand to his forehead, his eyes watering.
"Harry! Are you OK?" said Ginny, concerned.
"That's the first time it's hurt in ages," muttered Harry, rubbing his forehead. "He's pleased about something … really pleased…"
"I think we'd better get yer up ter the school straigh' away," said Hagrid, lumbering to his feet. "Come on – let's go."
Rounding them up like a large, worried sheepdog, he ushered them across the grounds to the castle. He marched them straight up to Dumbledore's office.
They were surprised to find Dumbledore in deep conference with Professor McGonagall, Snape, Tonks and Lupin. They were all looking very worried, but none looked particularly surprised to see Hagrid and the four Gryffindors.
"Ah, Harry," said Dumbledore, rising from his seat. "You have something to tell us?"
"Er … yeah," said Harry, feeling a little foolish. "My scar just burned again – Voldemort's really, really pleased about something, but I'm not sure what."
"I suspect I know," said Dumbledore. "The Death Eaters have broken out of Azkaban, and I am quite sure they have already rejoined him."
"Harry, we need to push on ahead really fast with your lessons, especially Legilimency," said Lupin quietly. "We really need to find out what's going on."
Hermione, Ron and Ginny looked startled. "You mean … Harry's going to try and get into Voldemort's mind?" Hermione ventured nervously. Dumbledore nodded sadly.
Snape remained silent, but glared at the wall. As Harry glanced at him, his scar seared again, and he remembered something …
"They're coming for you!" he gasped to Snape. "Voldemort swore he would kill you for abandoning him, when he regained his body after the Triwizard Competition. They're going to come after you!"
Snape looked unconvinced. "I have lived with this prospect for many years, Potter – don't think your ravings have got me quaking in my boots," he said silkily.
Dumbledore, however, did not take this as lightly. "I think Harry's right, Severus – we must be vigilant," he said quietly. "Fortunately, the chances of them getting into Hogwarts are very slight, but we cannot pretend that Voldemort's revenge is not an issue."
Getting up, he strode over to the window and looked out over the lake towards Hogsmeade. "It is beginning again … I feel it," he said. He looked back towards the group behind him. "Harry, you will have to be very strong now. You know what is at stake. But fortunately, you have a group of excellent friends and mentors who are here to help you. Miss Weasley in particular – I suspect your powers will be most useful from now on."
"What powers?" said Ron immediately. Ginny blushed to the roots of her hair.
"You haven't told them yet?" asked Dumbledore, a slight smile on his face. Ginny shook her head. "Well, I suspect this is as good a time as any."
"WHAT powers?" asked Ron impatiently.
"I'm an Animagus," said Ginny simply. Everyone, with the exception of Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall, gasped. "That's why I've been seeing Professor McGonagall on the quiet, Harry – we were performing the routine tests to see if it was genuine. Turns out that it is, so I was registered yesterday."
"Seems it runs in your family, Mr Weasley," said Professor McGonagall, smiling at Ron's obvious shock.
"No, it doesn't!" said Ron quickly. "I don't know of any others!"
"It only runs through the female line," said Ginny quietly. "There haven't been very many of us – in fact, I'm the first female Weasley to be born in over 130 years. Think about it, Ron – the only other females in the family are ones that have married into it, not born as Weasleys."
"So, what do you transform into?" said Harry, who was as flabbergasted by this piece of information as all the others.
"Miss Weasley is a true Gryffindor in her transformation," said Professor McGonagall proudly. "Go ahead, Ginny – show them."
In the blink of an eye, Ginny was gone and a magnificent, tawny-red lioness stood before them, purring gently and swishing her tail from side to side. She strolled over to where Ron was standing, and rubbed her head against his leg. She looked up at Harry and Hermione with huge brown eyes, and then in another instant, turned back into Ginny.
"I think I need to sit down," said Ron, who had gone ashen. Snape pushed a chair towards him with his foot and Ron collapsed onto it, still staring at his sister.
"Do Mum and Dad know?" he whispered.
"Yes, we owled them this afternoon with the confirmation," said Ginny. "Don't worry, Ron, I'm still me – I promise I won't maul you. Well," she added thoughtfully, "only if you don't annoy me, that is." She smiled wickedly at him.
"Wow – you will be useful!" said Hermione excitedly. "Only problem is, with a transformation like that, you're not exactly going to blend in with the crowd, are you?"
Harry said nothing, but thought privately that Ginny's transformation into a lioness was very appropriate. She's got the courage and strength of a lioness, and she can be as protective as one, he thought.
Suddenly, Harry remembered Ernie Macmillan's request. "Professor Dumbledore?" he said. "One last thing – the DA members have been asking me to reform the club and start defensive work again. We'd like your permission, sir … and perhaps a little help?
Dumbledore looked thoughtful. "I must admit, Harry, I do like the idea of sending young people out into this world well-prepared," he said slowly. "Fine – go ahead. Tonks, would you consider supervising?"
"Absolutely!" said Tonks, delighted. "When do we start?"
"Well," said Hermione, "I'm sure we're going to have a little trouble arranging times to fit in with all the Quidditch practices that need to happen, but I'll work something out and let you know."
Things, Harry decided, were definitely looking up this year. The only dark thing in his life was the loss of Sirius, and he was starting to get a handle on that too. Sixth year was turning out to be one of the best ones he'd ever had at Hogwarts.