DISCLAIMER: I own nothing – it all belongs to JK Rowling.

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The events of the night had exhausted them all, and once the Death Eaters had been removed from Hogwarts' premises, Harry and the others were escorted back to Gryffindor Tower by Tonks and Professor McGonagall.

"Now, then, no more heroics from you lot tonight, please!" said Professor McGonagall firmly. "To bed, all of you! You're all excused from lessons tomorrow morning, so try and use the time to catch up on sleep and rest a bit." She departed in a swirl of tartan robes, but Tonks lingered for a moment.

"Nice job!" she said, her eyes shining with pride. "There aren't many qualified wizards who could fight off Death Eaters, and you did really well!"

"The DA lessons are starting to prove themselves very handy," said Harry softly to her, rubbing his scar absent-mindedly. "Maybe we should start expanding the DA? After tonight, I'm starting to think I was wrong – even the Slytherins need to know stuff like that. They're not all dark wizards, I suppose…"

Tonks nodded enthusiastically. "We'll talk about it after the holidays – sleep well!" She tried to slip quietly away, but banged her elbow hard on the frame of the Fat Lady as she left. "Careful, young lady!" said the Fat Lady reprovingly. "I might not look it, but I'm fairly fragile, you know!"

When Harry turned back to the common-room, everyone had gone to bed except Ginny, who was waiting for him on the sofa in front of the fire. She held out her arms to him, and he went to receive her hug gratefully. He'd never received affection like this from the Dursleys, and it was like getting a present he'd longed for all his life.

"The stakes are getting higher, Harry," Ginny said softly into his hair, dropping a kiss onto his scar. "Voldemort's supporters are taking major risks – I can't believe they actually came into Hogwarts …"

"Mmhmm," mumbled Harry, stretching out on the sofa with his head on her lap. "We'll have to keep our eyes open. Constant vigila…"

The next thing he knew, sun was streaming in through a window onto his face. Groggily, he opened his eyes to find himself still sprawled on the sofa in the common-room, using Ginny as a pillow. He gazed blearily up at her, settling his glasses straight on his nose, and saw that she was fast asleep. Started by a poke in his ribs, he looked up. Standing over them was Katie Bell, looking scandalized.

"Honestly, Harry!" she said furiously. "I should give you a detention for this! Sleeping on the common-room sofa with your girlfriend …"

"Shh!" he said, causing her to glare furiously at him. "You'll wake Ginny!"

"I'm the Head Girl! Don't you tell me to be quiet!" Kate hissed, but much more softly. "I should -"

She stopped abruptly at the look he gave her.

Harry gently disentangled himself from Ginny's arms and stood up a bit unsteadily. He put his finger to his lips and dragged Katie by the arm over to the window, where they wouldn't disturb Ginny.

Quickly, he filled Katie in on the events of the previous night. Her expression rapidly went from angry to shocked, and then horrified.

"What is it with you, Harry?" she asked, concerned. "I'm starting to think you've got a death wish! Why didn't you just wait for Dumbledore and the Aurors to arrive?"

"Oh, yeah," said Harry, irritated. "I should have just stepped into Snape's office and said: 'Excuse me? Would you mind not murdering Snape right this minute, please? There's some people coming who want to have a word with you.' That would have gone over well."

Katie looked a bit abashed. "Well, I suppose you're right," she said. "I can't believe Umbridge is a Death Eater!"

"Can't you?" said Harry quietly. He glanced down at the back of his hand, where he could still see the faint pink marks where she had forced him to use the quill that wrote lines in his own blood. "I think she fits the mould perfectly…"

After a shower and some breakfast, Harry spent the rest of the morning with the others in the common-room, snoozing and relaxing in front of the fire. True to form, Hermione was catching up on homework and was determinedly translating Ancient Runes despite all of Ron's attempts to distract her. Harry and Ron quickly ordered some extra gifts by owl order from the Daily Prophet's Magical Gift Catalogue, and sent the forms off with Hedwig. There was no way either of them were going to risk another illicit trip into Hogsmeade.

At lunch, however, they were pounced on by some of the other DA members. Ernie Macmillan and Justin Finch-Fletchley came rushing over as soon as they saw them.

"Potter, the next time you decide to flex your wand, let us know!" said Justin excitedly. "I can't believe you did it again!"

 "I didn't do anything," Harry said, grinning. "In fact, I got myself well thumped by a Deadening Jinx and was the only one who ended up in the hospital wing. If you want to talk to the heroes, chat to the others …"

Word about their encounter had spread around the school like wildfire, and everyone was pointing at them and whispering. Used to this, Harry just ignored it. Ron and Neville, however, were delighted by all the attention and were telling a group of fourth-year Gryffindors the story again, and a handful of thunderstruck Ravenclaws that had edged closer to their table were blatantly eavesdropping. Luna seemed oblivious, singing "Weasley is our King" quietly under her breath as she ate rice, grain by grain, off her knife. Colin Creevey was excitedly talking to Ginny about her animagus form, and Hermione just looked irritated. Glancing over at the Slytherin table, Harry noticed that Malfoy was conspicuous by his absence. Crabbe and Goyle were keeping a very low profile, muttering quietly to each other.

"Wonder where Malfoy is?" he said, when Ron had returned to his seat, flushed with the compliments he had received from his newly-formed fan club.

"Heard he's gone home to be with his mother, after he heard the news about his father," said Ron shortly, tucking into a huge plate of stew and potatoes. "Must say, I'm not too upset at the thought of Lucius Malfoy being tortured by Vol … You-Know-Who. I reckon he's finally getting what he deserves."

Harry nodded, but couldn't help feeling a twinge of sympathy for Malfoy, who'd received the shock of his life last night when he thought his father had turned against him.

The last few days before the holidays sped past, and before they knew it, it was time to head home for Christmas. Ron was a complete bundle of nerves about spending the time with Hermione's family. Before departing, he spent a good hour combing and re-combing his hair, changing his jumper at least three times, and pacing nervously around the dormitory.

Arriving in the common-room to meet Ginny and dragging his case behind him, Harry was surprised to find Moody waiting in front of the fire.

"Hello," he said guardedly, suspecting that once again, Moody would be escorting him to The Burrow. "What's up?"

"Nice to see you too, Potter," said Mad-Eye, sounding a bit annoyed.

"Er… sorry," said Harry, abashed. "How are you?"

Mad-Eye glared at him for a second, and then started to laugh. "Nice save, Potter," he said, grinning. Mad-Eye smiling was not a pretty sight, and Harry was rather unnerved.

"I'm here to organize your transport," said Mad-Eye, stopping grinning and suddenly business-like once more.

"Again?" said Harry, irritated. "Why can't I just go home like everyone else, on the Hogwarts Express?"

"Home?" said Ginny's voice from behind him. He turned to see her laughing at him. "Nice to see you think of The Burrow as home already, Harry!"

He blushed. "Well, I've had some of the happiest times of my life there," he said honestly, taking her hand. "Privet Drive doesn't count as home to me."

"Yes, well, be that as it may, neither of you are going to The Burrow," said Moody grimly. "Things are hotting up – you'll be spending Christmas at Grimmauld Place. Only safe place for you now, apart from Hogwarts."

Harry stared at him, aghast. The last place he wanted to see again was Grimmauld Place, which was full of memories of Sirius and the Christmas he had spent there with him. Ginny was squeezing his hand hard, also gazing in horror at Moody.

"Wh … What?" she stammered. "But … I haven't spent a Christmas at home in years! I was really looking forward to it!"

"Well, your whole family will be at Grimmauld Place for Christmas," said Moody, taking a small box out of his pocket. "So just use your imagination – it'll be almost like being at The Burrow."

Harry and Ginny exchanged looks. Right, thought Harry bitterly. With Mrs Black screeching in the hallway, Kreacher prowling around, and dark objects in every cupboard, it'll be exactly like the warmth and comfort at The Burrow. He glared at Moody.

"No point being annoyed with me, lad," said Moody, glaring right back – and with his spinning, magical eye, it was much more intimidating than anything Harry could produce. Moody opened the box he was holding to reveal a small pile of glittering floo powder.

"Right, then," he said abruptly, and threw a handful into the fire, turning the flames emerald. "You first, Ginny."

She let go of Harry's hand and picked up her case. Stepping into the fire, she said, very clearly: "12 Grimmauld Place!" There was a roar and a flash, and she was gone.

"Off you go," growled Moody, nodding towards the fire.

Taking a deep breath, Harry stepped into the fire. Great, he thought. Every time I have Moody as an escort, he uses the travel methods I hate the most. First Portkey, and now this.

"12 Grimmauld Place," he said dully, and then he was off, spinning faster and faster while images of other fires and hearths shot past him. As he felt himself slowing down, he put his hands out to stop himself and found himself standing in the hearth of the fire at the house of Black.

Ginny was already being brushed off and dusted down by her mother, and when Mrs Weasley caught sight of Harry she abandoned her only daughter and rushed over to him.

"Hello, dear!" she said, enveloping him in a tight hug. "Now, what did I say to you lot before you left? NO MORE HEROICS. And here you are, fighting Death Eaters again …"

She stepped back and looked appraisingly at him. "At least you're looking better than the last time I saw you," she said, brushing ashes off his flanks.

"Good grief, Mum, leave the poor bloke alone," said an amused voice. "He's only just got here."

Bill was standing with his arm around Ginny, who was looking up at him in unbridled adoration. His long ponytail was gone, replaced military-style brushcut. Gone, too, was the fang earring.

"Hello, Bill," said Harry, going over to shake his hand. "You clean up nicely!"

Bill laughed. "Yeah, well, Dumbledore reckoned I stood out too much with the hippie look, and with red hair to boot I wasn't exactly blending into the crowd. Mum's delighted, of course, but Fleur wants to hex the barber that did the haircut."

There was another flash at the fireplace, and Moody appeared. "Hello, Molly," he said to Mrs Weasley. "Did the others arrive OK?"

"Which others?" said Ginny, but here question was answered when Ron and Hermione appeared in the doorway.

"What are you two doing here?" Harry said, shocked to see them. "I thought you were going to Hermione's family this year?"

"We were," said Ron, who was trying desperately not to look utterly relieved by the change of plans. "But apparently things are 'too hot' so we had to come here."

"Oh, I'm sorry, Hermione," said Harry, seeing the gleam of disappointed tears in her eyes. "I know you really wanted to see your parents."

"Yes, but not if it means they might get hurt," said Hermione softly, sniffing a little. "Mad-Eye says we're all targets now, and Voldemort might use my parents to try and get Ron and me, and get to you that way."

Harry felt awful. Yet again, his mere existence was affecting the lives of his friends. Before he could open his mouth to say this, however, there two loud cracks as Fred and George apparated into the room.

"Well, well, isn't this a happy group," said Fred cheerily, hugging his mother and Ginny before mock-punching Ron and Harry.

"Indeed – they all look thrilled to be here, don't they?" added George, who was pulling brightly-coloured packages from his pockets, all emblazoned with the Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes logo.

Harry eyed the packages suspiciously. They all looked a bit dodgy, especially the slim box wrapped in bright pink tissue paper, which was wriggling gently and emitting faint purple fumes.

"Fruits of our labours and your investment, my son!" said Fred enthusiastically to Harry. "Thought you might like to be the first to sample our new products."

"Not on your life," said Harry fervently. "I'll take your word that they'll be bestsellers, shall I?"

"Very wise," said Charlie, who had just walked into the kitchen. "I have a funny feeling about that pink one – didn't I overhear you two discussing a love potion that would make someone completely irresistible to members of their own sex?"

"Oh boy, I have just got to have that one to use on Malfoy!" said Ron at once. "I can just see Crabbe and Goyle falling all over themselves to give him flowers, and buying him sweets from Honeydukes." He mimicked Crabbe's gruff voice. "Oh Draco, darling, do sit next to me! I'll just expire if you don't!"

Everyone fell about laughing. In the midst of the hubbub, no-one noticed a figure at the doorway, which hovered hesitantly as if trying not to be noticed. However, he finally spoke.

"Hello, everyone."

The noise died down immediately, and they all turned around to see Percy standing in the doorway, painfully thin, his normally immaculate hair standing on end, and looking like he hadn't slept in ages.

Ron was the first to speak. "What the hell are you doing here?" he said in a lethal whisper. "Get out – you're not welcome."