A/N: I feel that I need to clear up the whole name thing between Albus and Harry, in my home growing up it was considered an insult to elder family members if a child addressed them using their first name, as such, I was not given permission to address my mother (or any other family member) as Samantha until I was eighteen. Although I did it on occasion just to piss her off!

Needless to say I just wanted to incorporate a little bit of my personal experiences.

Huge thank you to Michelle for being my beta, (although neither of us know what the hell that means) I am forever in your debt! And yes! Please send me the corrections on 1-3, it will help a lot!

THIS CHAPTER RATED R FOR LANGUAGE. Just one or so but, YOU'VE BEEN WARNED.

The New Minister

Dinner that night was a busy affair; Harry was sure there were at least fifty people in his new home. The "grown ups' had taken their dinner in the dining room, whereas the children (Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Draco and the twins) had decided to eat in the kitchen.

There was to be an Order meeting held after dinner, an initiation of sorts for Fred and George. Harry knew he would no longer be left out of the Order's information but had not expected to be given the opportunity to actually sit in on a meeting.

Remus came to him just before dinner and said Dumbledore had asked that Harry attend, if he wanted to. Harry had accepted but was now almost regretting his decision.

He knew that anything that went on during the meeting had to stay between himself and the other Order members, this meant he had to add to his list of topics that he couldn't share with his two best friends. It saddened him to no end knowing that he had to keep things from Ron and Hermione, although he knew it was for the best, for now.

The food was amazing and Harry found he no longer regretted his decision about Dobby and Winky; they seemed to be very happy working so closely with so many people. He assumed that the only real contact they got at Hogwarts was when someone went down to the kitchens or if they were up really late at night to catch a house elf cleaning.

They all finished dinner rather quickly, most of the occupants knew to keep all food and drink away from the Weasley Twins, in case they had a new line of pranks to test.

Unfortunately for Draco, no one had warned him of this and he soon found himself unable to hear and missing his ears. After chasing Fred and George all over the house, Draco's ears had returned and the three had joined the table once more.

Draco had taken to joining in on most conversations lately but still felt strange speaking often in front of Harry. He couldn't quite name the fear but guilt sounded familiar, not that he would ever admit it.

The others had noticed his subdued behavior and had dismissed it as depression of some sort, perfectly understandable, but Harry could see the emotions occasionally behind the famous Slytherin mask.

"Now that everyone's here, how did the meeting go Ron?" Harry asked, with all of the day's excitement, he had not been able to get any details from his best friend.

"Well, they're strange gits."

"Ron!" Hermione slapped him on the arm.

"Well, they are! I mean they poked and prodded me and then put me under fifty different spells and then knocked me out."

Harry looked at him slightly worried, "Why did they put you to sleep?"

"Only to see how much information Ron's brain is holding that's not his own." Hermione said in a very matter of fact tone as if that conclusion were obvious.

"Not his own?" Draco said with a smirk. Hermione and Ginny briefly filled him in on the ministry incident, leaving out most of the more painful details for Harry's sake.

Harry watched as Draco took in the information, waiting for him to bring up Sirius. To his surprise the other young man simply nodded as the two girls finished.

"Well, what did they find out about the brain?" Harry prompted.

Ron smiled arrogantly and said in a very Percy way, as Hermione rolled her eyes in annoyance, "It seems that the brain that attacked me belonged to a Hogwarts headmaster who died two hundred years ago-"

"One hundred and twenty seven years ago." Hermione corrected.

"-his name was Hamomil or something-"

Hermione snorted, "Hemindil."

"Whatever, anyways, apparently this guy was pretty smart and when his brain made contact with my skin it transferred most of his memories and almost all of his knowledge to me."

"That's insane!" Harry said.

"So, now you're some kind of genius or something?" Draco asked, smirking at the redhead. At this statement Fred and George rolled off their chairs in fits of laughter.

Ron ignored them and Hermione answered, "No, he has to go to the Department of Mysteries twice a week to learn how to distinguish information from emotion and how to utilize it, if he wants to, lessons similar to Occlumency I believe."

"Yes, but the potential for genius is there, only a matter of time really." Ron finished smugly. At this remark the twins picked themselves up off the floor and started in.

"Way to not let it go to your head-"

"Yeah, Ronnikins, we were worried you might get conceded about this or something-"

"Good to see that our worst fears were groundless." The twins added mockingly.

"Yes, well, if you have the potential, I expect to see better grades this year, Ronald Weasley." Hermione sounded too much like Mrs. Weasley for everyone in the room and after they all finished laughing Fred was the first to speak up.

"You know what they say George, a man usually marries a woman just like his mother."

"Yes, Fred, that is what they say." The other responded.

"So George, should we announce the engagement to Mum?" Now it was Ron's turn to chase the two and Hermione could barely contain her laughter.

Harry watched the merry-go-round of red hair, laughing out loud, until Hermione caught his attention.

"So, Harry, how did your meeting go?"

"Uh," Harry stammered, caught off guard by the question. He didn't want to discuss any of it with them but knew he had to say something. The only thing he got around to explaining earlier was about the Dobby and Winky situation.

That was only out of necessity because Hermione threw a fit when she came home to newly enslaved house elves. Only after explaining about the wages and clothing did she stop yelling.

"Well, I'm to start Occlumency again as soon as possible." Ron's eyes widened in horror and Harry quickly held up his hand to silence his best friend.

"Not with him?" Hermione elaborated after a pause, "Professor Snape?"

"So, it wasn't remedial potions after all? Not that it was inconceivable." Draco smirked but Harry caught the playful tone and read the amusement in his eyes. Harry glared back, making sure his face showed humor.

"No, no more 'remedial potions' with Snape. This time I will be taking lessons from Professor Dumbledore. He's going to teach me once a week starting next week. I think he said something about special training too."

"Ooh, I bet its animagus!" Ginny squealed.

"Maybe. Oh, and I'm now your Defense against the Dark Arts teacher one day a week."

"What?" Ron blurted.

"Good God Potter, what won't they let you get away with?" Harry grined at the blonde and saw his smirk turn into a true smile. Harry thought carefully about his next words, knowing full well the reaction he would get.

"Well, Krum has Quidditch practice every Friday so Dumbledore wants me to teach the same stuff I was teaching in the DA meetings to all the classes every Friday." It was like waiting for a bomb to explode as Harry watched Ron's face as his brain processed that statement.

"That is wonderful Harry!" Hermione beamed at him.

"Krum?" Ron said faintly as realization sunk in. Harry had been worried about his reaction and Ron didn't let him down. "He's the new Defense teacher?" Harry hesitated but nodded, knowing full well the storm that was about to issue from his best friend.

"NO FUCKING WAY!" Ron yelled as he stood abruptly and sent his chair flying.

"Ron! Wait!" Hermione called after him as he stormed from the room. She shot Harry an annoyed look as if it was his fault and ran after her boyfriend.

"Well, that was eventful-"

"-if you'll excuse us gentlemen, Ginny, we have an initiation to get to." Fred and George stated in amusement as they made their way upstairs to the dining room.

"What is this about Krum?" A soft voice spoke from behind Harry as he stared after his two best friends. Harry briefly told him about the slight relationship Hermione and the Bulgarian seeker had and Draco laughed out loud.

"If only Parkinson knew."

"Knew what?"

"She was convinced that Hermione slipped him a love potion."

Harry snorted. "You should have seen Ron's face when he saw them at the ball."

"Oh, I did, it was hilarious."

As the conversation continued Harry noticed how easy it was becoming to talk to Draco. He also made note of the fact that he used Pansy's last name and Hermione's first. 'Hmm, maybe his really has changed.'

'Or maybe he was never really that bad.' The small voice in his head responded.

Harry stood and said his farewells to Draco and Ginny and felt a strange emotion shoot through him as he saw the two start up a conversation. He shrugged off the burning in his ears and headed to the meeting.

The meeting was not at all what he expected. First, the twins took an oath to serve the Order of the Phoenix. Drawing his wand, Dumbledore made a complicated movement and directed a long spell at each mans chest.

Harry assumed this was normal as everyone in the room seemed to know what was going on.

When Dumbledore had finished, he motioned for everyone to take their seats and for Harry to take the seat opposite him at the head of the table. Snape was the first to speak out against this instruction.

"Albus, Potter is not an Order member; he has no right to be present at this meeting," the Potion Master said with contempt. The others seemed to side with Snape and did not take their seats until an explanation was given.

"Harry is here as my guest and has my full confidence. He will not betray any information that is given in this meeting."

"He risks my cover! He has not mastered the skills of Occlumency! If the Dark Lord obtains information from his sleeping mind…"

Dumbledore held up his hand. "That has already been taken care of Severus. After the meeting I will give Harry an aide that will insure he has no memory of the details of this meeting while he sleeps. Now, if you all would please take you seats, we will begin."

No one moved and it was Kingsley who spoke up.

"He has not taken the oath, Albus. If he is going to attend the meeting shouldn't he be initiated?" Several people agreed to this and it was Harry's turn to speak up.

"I would like to take the oath. I want to be in the Order."

"It is too dangerous for you to be an Order member while in school Harry and we do not allow members under seventeen." Dumbledore said firmly but was met with more opposition from the young man's Godfather.

"I give my consent Albus. I think Harry deserves to be initiated." Remus added with a determined glare to the older man.

Dumbledore searched the Order member's eyes briefly, seeing that all were in agreement, even Severus. He sighed to himself and stood, asking Harry to do the same. The elderly man asked the same of him as he did Fred and George.

"Harry James Potter, do you fully accept the magical bind of the Order of the Phoenix and in so doing, will you keep all information secret to only you and the Order?"

"Yes, I swear."

Dumbledore sighed audibly before performing the binding spell. Harry felt his chest burn slightly when the spell hit and took his seat as the twins patted him on the back.

"Harry, you will not be able to attend all meetings while you are at school, but as I said before, I will keep no vital information from you and will brief you as often as possible."

"Thank you, Albus."

The meeting lasted about two hours and Harry was disappointed in the amount of followers they had managed to find. Dumbledore said it was mostly due to the current Minister of Magic and that this problem would be taken care of soon.

Harry saw the determination in the older man's eyes and wondered who the new minister would be.

He also learned that Voldermort had succeeded in getting the giants help but not many had survived the travel to a closer valley. He had been spotted in a town far away and so far there were very few deaths. Severus gave his report and Harry saw something in his Potion Master's eyes he had never seen before; fear.

He said that the Inner Circle was formulating a plan but did not have any details worked out yet and he had not been given a full description of who was involved.

"The only thing the Dark Lord said was 'the brat will soon learn what fear means.'" With those words Snape took his seat and spoke no more.

The meeting ended and Harry made his way to Dumbledore wanting to know how his mentor managed to fix his 'dream' problem. Dumbledore handed Harry the same jade crystal from earlier that day and said,

"All you have to do is concentrate on any thought that you do not wish to have in your mind and press the crystal to your temple. It works much the same as a pensive but can only be accessed by the informant. When you want to replay the information or return the details back to your mind simply tap the crystal with your wand.

Your mind will remember that it is missing these details, but only that. If you want to return the information to your mind, place the crystal back to your temple after that particular image has played. Do you understand?"

"Yes sir, thank you. Um, does it always glow like that?"

"Yes and it is always strangely warm. Do not tell anyone of this and keep it in a safe place. You can keep it with you if you wish; the crystal places a very powerful charm on your mind when you store information in it, making it impossible for any outside force to know you have it."

"Even if a powerful wizard breaks the charm I have to access the crystal myself right?" Dumbledore nodded. "I think I will keep it in a separate room at night then, just in case."

"Good thinking. Goodnight Harry."

"Goodnight Albus."

Harry stepped in the hall as everyone was still making their way out of the house and spotted one bubble gum pink head trying to escape unnoticed. He darted through the drawing room to head Tonks off at the front entrance.

"So, how's it going?" Harry couldn't resist catching the young Auror off guard. She was just too easy to fluster lately.

"Harry!" She stammered, glancing around slightly, "Have a good day?"

"Actually, it was kind of overwhelming." He added thinking briefly of the day's events.

"Visited any Hogwarts professors lately?"

Tonks paled, 'He knows, oh no, this can't be happening!' Harry saw the fear in her eyes and was mad at himself for upsetting her. He just wanted to push her buttons really.

"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone about Krum, I promise." Harry had put the pieces together earlier that day, or so he thought. The look on the young woman's face made him think he could be wrong.

"Krum, right, well I'll tell him you said hello Harry. Goodnight." Tonks said with a smirk and quickly disappeared through the front entrance.

Harry watched her leave, 'Maybe not' he said to himself before dismissing the whole thing and going to the kitchen.

He walked in on Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Draco, Ginny, and Remus already in full discussion. Plans were being made that all of them, minus Ginny, Hermione, and Mr. Weasley, would make their way to St. Mungo's and Diagon Alley in the morning.

Ginny begged to go but was told no. They were going to have a hard enough time hiding Harry without adding more people to the group.

Harry insisted that he be allowed to take Dobby and Winky in order to get them fitted for robes, but Winky said she did not want to go, so that left Dobby to pick out her things. Harry worried that Winky may not like what she got stuck with and he made a mental note to 'help' Dobby with her robes.

Harry found Hermione lying on her bed looking very upset after her argument with Ron. He told her about going into Diagon Alley and St. Mungo's and while she wanted to go, she understood why she couldn't.

Harry also told her briefly about his parents bond, saying that Remus mentioned it in passing.

This completely captured her attention and she promised him she would spend the day tomorrow finding as much information the Black library had on the subject. Harry then went to his bedroom to find Ron pretending to be asleep. He knew the redhead was still mad because he was huffing and puffing while trying to snore.

Harry went up stairs to Buckbeak's old room and concentrated on all the day's information. He found the Order meeting and the private meeting with Dumbledore. He then placed the star to his temple and felt the warm crystal pulse before turning cold. He removed the star and put it in the middle drawer of the dresser and locked it with a quick spell.

He made his way downstairs to his room after pausing outside Draco's door slightly. He wondered if Draco was awake, 'Why? What do you want him for?' he thought to himself. He heard Hermione and Ginny having an animated discussion inside their room and he found himself chuckling at Hermione's shrill voice.

Shaking his head at Ron's attempt at sleep, Harry took off his glasses and placed them on his night stand for what he hoped would be the last time.

~~

Harry laughed as Draco came down the stairs wearing his muggle best. He noted that the Slytherin's clothes were fairly expensive but still Harry thought the blonde looked terribly out of place in slacks and a button up shirt complete with tie.

Draco raised an eyebrow at Harry's laughing and said "Something amusing Potter?"

Harry cleared his throat in an attempt to stop laughing. "Oh no Malfoy, you'll fit right in with the muggles."

Draco shot him an evil glare and threw on a black cloak with hood. Harry was vividly reminded of a death eater robe. He shivered as he went to the kitchen.

Harry would be wearing his invisibility cloak and be concealed under the disillusionment charm 'just in case.' Mad-Eye had come over just after breakfast to discuss the precautions for the day's events and insisted on the charm.

~~~

"You know, in case your hood falls off." Draco put on his Slytherin face as he remembered that day by the Shrieking Shack. Harry laughed and gave the blonde his best innocent look before letting Mad-Eye put the charm on him.

The cold slid down him and he was glad he would be wearing the cloak, invisible or not, it would help.

"How will we know he hasn't run off?" Remus asked in amusement. Harry sneered at his godfather but remembered no one could really see his face.

"You'll be able to hear his footsteps and he should remain in voice contact at all times unless in close proximity to others. I will be following you on the streets to keep watch."

"Ok."

~~~

The three visible beings made their way through the busy street to the dingy department store glass, Madeye following yards behind. Dobby had agreed to meet them in Madame Malkin's shop later that afternoon, giving them time for Draco's visit, Harry's appointment and a quick trip to Gringotts.

Harry was so glad to be out of that house he almost wanted to skip for joy. 'It's feels like being back on a broom.' He thought to himself as he tried not to bounce on his heals like a child.

He did find one thing very difficult to keep from doing though and thought it was a very good thing no one could see his face.

Staring at the youngest Malfoy was becoming very hard not to do and Harry had to make a conscious effort to not run into anyone from lack of attention to his surroundings.

Harry told himself that he felt sorry for his new 'friend?' That's all it was, sympathy stares. No matter what the reason, he was glad when they made it to their respective floors at the Wizarding hospital and could be free of the urge to stare.

Moody had explained earlier that a friend of Dumbledore's would meet them in the hospital, a private Healer who would be there on business.

Harry walked behind his godfather, taking the same steps but making a slightly louder noise so that the werewolf knew he was there. They entered a small room and waited for the old wizard who introduced himself as Warren Oehrey.

The elderly man waited as Remus took off Harry's charm. Feeling properly warm again Harry removed his cloak and the Healer set to work.

He explained that the spell was fairly complicated and if done incorrectly could cause permanent damage, which is why most wizards still use glasses.

After Harry assured the healer he still wanted to go through with the spell, the old man set to work. Harry took off his glasses and lifted his head to stare at the ceiling. He was told not to blink.

He did as he was told and after a few minutes the spell was over and he was told he could put his head back down. The young man instinctively reached down and put on his glasses.

Harry blinked hard but no matter what he did he couldn't make his eyes focus. The shapes before him melted together in a haze of fuzziness. He started to panic.

"It didn't work, I can't see."

The old man simply reached up and took the glasses off the young mans face and asked, "Is that better?"

Harry felt completely stupid for making such a mistake and apologized as Remus put him back under the charm. Feeling slightly dizzy Harry thanked the Healer as he put his cloak on and made his exit. Harry stuck the glasses in his pocket and decided to keep them, not really knowing why.

~~~

Draco was in complete shock the entire day. He only spent a few minutes at his father's bed. The man looked awful, his face had deep scars that his son never noticed before and his eyes were glazed over as he stared at his only son, not seeing the young man before him.

Draco stared for only a minute until his father recognized him as a person and opened his mouth as if to speak. Draco quickly backed away from his fathers bed and opened the curtain to his mother's.

Draco found it easy to remain calm staring at his father, 'the bastard got what he deserved' he thought bitterly, but when he pulled the sheet from his mother's hand to see her face he shuddered and tried to hold back the tears.

This was the first time he had seen his parents since the deatheater meeting and his only comfort during the last few weeks was that maybe his mother would be ok someday. He soon realized that this was not to be.

Narcissa Malfoy was no longer the beautiful mother Draco had as a child, she was too thin, her face twisted in pain and her eyes showed no emotion, only confusion. Her only son made his way quickly out the door and into Mrs. Weasley's arms.

It was the first time he had ever been hugged by a mother before, both his parents considered conversation the only means of comfort. He buried his face in her arms and cried openly for the first time.

This is how Arthur Weasley found the two. He led them down the stairs to the lobby once Draco had composed himself. Arthur told Draco of the release on his estate and mentioned that Draco would be seventeen in May and that he could live in the Malfoy Manor next summer if he wanted to.

Draco searched for courage he never knew he had and asked if he could spend next summer with the Weasley's instead. He had no intention of returning to that house. The Weasley's looked shocked at first but quickly recovered.

"We are your family now Draco, if you will have us, and you can live with us for as long as you like." A tear slid down the older man's face as he spoke and Molly was bawling.

"Thank you, for everything you've done, thank you." Draco said as Arthur pulled him into a hug.

~~~

The appointment had not taken very long at all and the two men expected to wait in the lobby for Mrs. Weasley and Draco. Instead they arrived to see Arthur Weasley slip something into the blonde's hand before giving him a quick hug.

Harry's heart fell to his stomach as he saw the pain in his new friend's eyes.

Remus and Arthur greeted each other as if they rarely spoke. Shortly after, Mr. Weasley excused himself and apparated back to the ministry. Molly waited until the four were out in the busy foot traffic before she quietly told Remus why Arthur was there.

"The Ministry has finally released their hold on the Malfoy estate. Arthur came to give Draco his key to the Malfoy vault."

"Ah, well, off we go." Remus said airily but Harry could see the sympathy in his eyes.

'Like Draco didn't have enough on his mind, now he has to take care of his family's fortune?' Harry was just beginning to realize how big of a burden a large estate could be and he did not envy Draco at all.

The four made their way to Gringotts and then to Madame Malkin's to meet Dobby. Harry bought dozens of robes in every color for Dobby and Winky and even some colored robes for himself along with some new, much longer, school ones.

They made their way through Diagon Alley gathering all the school supplies they would need for the upcoming year. Mrs. Weasley assured Harry that she would collect his new books when their Hogwarts letters came so for now he concentrated on the small items he knew he would need.

Harry and Draco had a good time despite Draco's emotions and Harry's invisibility. They made snide comments about one another in the robe shop and rude jokes about lack of intelligence in others.

To anyone else it would seem as if nothing had changed between the two enemies, but to Draco and Harry it was completely different. They laughed at each other when no one else was looking and tried to play pranks on their werewolf companion.

Quickly the two realized they would need much more practice to pull anything over on Moony and gave up, silently agreeing to work on it.

Mrs. Weasley, Remus, Draco, and Harry made it back to Grimmuald Place just before dinner. Harry and Draco visited with Ron, Hermione and Ginny in the library for a while, laughing at Harry's re-enactment of Dobby at the joke shop.

The elf went nuts and Harry had to restrain him from bouncing off the walls. He finally ordered the elf back to the house to help Winky with dinner, knowing it was the only thing Dobby would respond to in such excitement.

The five then made their way into the dining room for dinner. Mr. Weasley arrived just before the meal was served and ate quickly. Molly noticed and took her leave fom the table when he did, there was obviously something her husband was trying to cover-up, she knew him too well.

~~~

Arthur was startled as he entered his tiny office to find the Headmaster of Hogwarts sitting in a chair playing with a muggle bouncing ball.

The head of the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts office greeted his guest cordially before shutting the door and placing a very powerful privacy charm on it.

"Albus, what a pleasant surprise."

"Arthur, how are you today?"

"I'm fine, is anything wrong?"

"No. No, nothing is wrong Arthur. I have come to deliver a message and offer you a great opportunity. But first, the message." Dumbledore said as he pulled a scroll of parchment from his robes.

At Mr. Weasley's questioning glance Albus pulled open the parchment and began to read:

"We, the assigned Wizengamot do herby find the current Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, incompetent and unfit to serve in office due to the following charges: and the list goes on forever." The old man's eyes glinted with an unnamed emotion as he looked back up to the balding red-haired man before him.

"Congratulations Albus, if you need me to, I can appear in court to testify to the charges."

"Ah, I'm afraid there will be no court hearing, you see, the majority has already ruled and signed. It is done."

"So, the great Minister Fudge is no more? When will the board start looking for his replacement?" Mr. Weasley's mind immediately wandered to his middle son, 'he will be devastated, but maybe this will open his eyes.' The father thought hopefully.

"Actually, Arthur, a few names have already been submitted and voted on. As the reinstated Chief Warlock it is my privilege to deliver the invitation to the most qualified candidate." He then pulled another scroll from his robes and handed it to the senior Weasley.

Arthur jumped back from the parchment as if it had bitten him. "You can't be serious Albus?"

"I assure you that I am." The elderly man chuckled, his electric blue eyes twinkling in delight. "The job was offered to me of course but I refused. I do not feel I could devote any effort into the position, so they allowed me to choose the best person for the job; and you were the first wizard that came to mind."

"I am flattered but, I-I can't even keep up with my own department." Arthur said as he fell into his chair looking around at all the files that had yet to be read.

"Arthur, I'm not trying to push you into anything, and even if you do accept, there is no reason for you to remain Minister when the war is over, if you do not wish to."

"But..?"

The twinkling eyes hardened as the man spoke again. "Our world needs a strong Minister if we are to survive this war Arthur, and I would trust this job to no one else but you." there was a lengthy pause in which Dumbledore popped a Jelly Belly into his mouth.

'Much more predictable than Bernie Bott's,' he thought to himself as he waited for Arthur to speak

"All right Albus, I will speak to Molly about this and think about it over the weekend. When do you need an answer?"

"We plan on announcing our decision Monday morning, so if you could sign this and get it back to me before then, the Wizengamot will take care of the rest."

Arthur paled slightly but took the parchment and slowly began to read.

"Wonderful." Dumbledore stood and made to leave. The old man turned to his dear friend as he took another scroll from his robes.

"Now, if you will excuse me Arthur, I have to fire the Minister." Dumbledore left the small office with a smile on his face and eyes twinkling in sheer delight.

A/N: Ok, I have a great place to start from on the next chapter but would like to welcome any input from my readers as to avoid more writers block. It's a very nasty bug and is currently driving me nuts (believe me I don't need any help in that department) so, will ya help me? Please? I beg well! Oh and if someone has a request on who to pair Ginny up with I would be more than wililng to consider it as I can't think of anyone besides Neville, hmmm.