Disclaimer: I think by now you all know what I'm going to say so I shant say it! You'll figure it out!
Summery: Story picks up with Harry leaving the train station at the end of fifth year. The Order gets some cool new members, Harry finds a cool new object at Grimmauld Place and…oh yeah! A little Harry/Ginny ship!
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It was Friday evening. Harry Potter laid down on his bed thinking about the last week. It had been a relatively good one considering his past summer memories at the Dursleys'. Over the past week he had dueling lessons and Occlumency every day. They had seen a slow improvement in his Occlumency skills, and Harry cleared out his head every night, which stopped the nightmares and mysterious dreams he had been having. In their dueling lessons he had helped Neville to catch up on hexes that he didn't know how to do, and now Neville was at a level where he could learn alongside Harry.
Harry had never seen Neville look so determined before, and he suspected it had everything to do with the visit to Saint Mungo's Neville had taken the day before their training began. Yes, Harry decided, this week has been pretty good. To top it all off, Harry had seen in the paper that morning that Umbridge had been sacked from her position at the Ministry, and had been put on magical probation.
Harry rolled over onto his side, and caught sight of a picture of three of the Marauders, and his mother lying on his bedside table. He picked it up and looked at it for a moment before rolling on his back again. The sight of Sirius made Harry think about the hearing that was going to be taking place in two days time. Dumbledore had mentioned it to him in their Occlumency lesson that morning. He was sad about it at first, but in the process of clearing his mind had forgotten about it. Now it all came back to him like a lead weight. A loud rap at his window shook him out of his thoughts.
Harry looked up to see a small owl zooming around in circles outside his window. He immediately recognized Ron's owl Pig and let him in. Harry had to duck as it came speeding in the window. Hedwig gave a hoot and eyed Pig disapprovingly. Harry gave her a sympathetic look, and reached out and caught Pig just before he flew into a lamp. Harry took the letter and was surprised when he didn't see Ron's handwriting. Harry opened the letter curiously.
Dear Harry,
First of all I want to say that I am sorry for everything that happened in June, and I hope you are doing well. We just arrived at London today, and Hermione was supposed to arrive today also, but she owled Ron yesterday and said that she had obligations to her parents or something. You might wonder about why I am writing you this letter and not Ron. I'm not supposed to say anything, but I don't want to upset you like last summer and keep you in the dark.
Ron can't write you now because he has gone to see a healer in Saint Mungo's about the damage done by the brains in June. I wasn't supposed to say anything because Mum didn't want you guilting yourself. I think I speak for everyone when I say IT' NOT YOUR FAULT HARRY. Please don't feel guilty. If you want someone to blame, blame Peter. From what I've heard (or overheard on extendable ears rather) none of this would have happened without Peter. I hate him for doing this to you and everyone else.
The reason I'm supposed to write this letter is to tell you that nothing that has happened is your fault, and that we will see you at Sirius's hearing on Sunday, so I shall. Harry, none of this is your fault, and we will see you at Sirius' hearing on Sunday. Can you tell Ron I told you that because he didn't seem to trust me much with writing you a letter.
Ron annoys me sometimes. He has been in a state ever since he found out about Hermione not arriving straight away. If I didn't know better, I'd say he likes her. I won't though, because I found a picture of Lavender Brown in his trunk. I think our ickle Ronnikins is having girl troubles Harry. Maybe you should talk to him.
Oh damn, Ron just walked in, so I'm going to send this before he sees it.
Ginny xo
PS. I'm not sure if Ron told you, but Percy, the biggest git in the world, is back.
Harry reread the letter twice. He usually couldn't stand it when everyone told him that it wasn't his fault, but this time he didn't seem to mind. He supposed that it was because Ginny had taken a different approach to the whole thing by placing the blame on Peter. He knew Ginny probably did it because she knew it would be an easy task for him, however Harry couldn't help but wonder why she had taken the time to try and help him feel better instead of giving him the standard 'its not your fault' everyone else had done. It wasn't as though you could call them good friends. He had hardly ever spoken to her, and before fifth year she had never said thirty words in front of him.
He didn't dwell on that thought for long however, as he read the part about Ron's so called girl troubles. Harry had suspected that Ron had a thing for Hermione ever since he had gotten so worked up at the Yule ball, and every time after when Krum's name had been mentioned. But according to Ginny, Ron may also have a thing for Lavender. Harry laughed to himself as he thought about himself talking to Ron about his girl problems. The mental image was quite funny, and Harry found himself shaking with laughter.
Harry got out a piece of parchment and wrote out a reply to Ginny.
Ginny
Thanks for your letter. I wanted to say thank you because you are the first person who has told me that everything that happened in June wasn't my fault, who I believed. I think it was because you gave me someone else to dump the blame on. I know it's not right to dump the blame all on him, but thank you because it made me feel better.
Ron told me that Percy came back asking forgiveness and he didn't sound too happy about it. From what he told me, neither were you. I'm sorry that Percy did that to you and your family, and I won't tell you to try and forgive him, because I can imagine that that's what everyone else is doing, and I know from recent experience that that is annoying. All I can say is that you should try to be civil to him now that he is back, and maybe things will get better. It can't have been easy for him to run back to eight people each sporting the famous Weasley Temper and ask forgiveness for supporting Fudge over them. I'm surprised he didn't wet himself out of fear.
Your letter gave me a good laugh as I think about Ron and his girl troubles. I agree with you that he likes Hermione. I have thought so ever since the Yule Ball. He really does get jealous of Krum sometimes. I can't talk to him however because I am hardly an expert, and it would be rather difficult in a letter. I don't think his thing for Hermione is something he would act on anyway, as I'm sure he is not aware that it exists. I think we should let him be for now. Or you could get someone else to talk to him. I would suggest Fred or George, but I think they will be more interested in making Ron a guinea pig for their latest joke.
I suppose I will see you all at the hearing on Sunday. I don't know how long I will stay after the hearing however. I am going with Remus, and don't know what we're going to do afterwards. It's going to be pretty hard. I'm sorry I ended this letter so depressing, but I had to add this in at some point. See you then.
Harry
Harry read his response to Ginny, and went to tie it to Pig's leg when he heard a crash. Pig had just knocked Hedwig's water out of her cage. Lucky the dish didn't break thought Harry as he quickly tied the letter to Pig's leg and sent him flying out into the night to avoid more damage. Harry bent down and cleaned up the water with a wave of his wand.
As he shut the window, Harry realized that he would have to clear his mind all over again. He did so, and fell asleep feeling very happy.
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The next day Harry finished his Occlumency lesson feeling very proud of himself, as he had been able to shut out Dumbledore almost immediately. He walked out of the office to meet Neville and Remus for their jog.
"You're looking happy this morning Harry," commented Neville. "Why? It's still too early in the morning to be happy."
"I had a very good Occlumency lesson," said Harry happily.
"Congratulations."
"Thanks."
They ran the rest of the way in silence to the park.
Once they got there, Moody announced that they would start the day practicing the Patronus Charm.
"Now, to produce a patronus, you must concentrate on a very happy memory, and say the incantation 'expecto patronum'" said Moody more to Neville than Harry. "Let me demonstrate."
Moody cleared his throat, and then cried "expecto patronum!" A silver bull erupted from Moody's wand and ran across the clearing then vanished.
"Wow," said Neville. "I have to do that? The only true Patronus I have seen was Harry's. I couldn't do it last year when Harry was teaching us in the DA. All I got was a silver cloud."
"You just have to think of a happy thought, and say the words," said Tonks. "Go on, try it."
Neville gave an attempt and produced only a silver wisp of smoke. He groaned.
"Harry," said Moody. Let's see what you've got."
Harry concentrated on the mental image he had had last night of himself sitting down to talk to Ron about his girl troubles. He had to hold back laughter. Harry waved his wand and said, "Expecto Patronum!" They all watched as a stag galloped around the clearing twice before nodding at Harry and disappearing.
"Potter," barked Moody. "How long have you been able to do that?"
"Since my third year sir," Harry replied.
"Third year!" Tonks exclaimed. "I couldn't do that until halfway through Auror training. Hell, most of us couldn't! I had heard you could do a Patronus, but like that! Who taught you?"
"Remus," Harry replied.
Everyone turned to look at Remus. Harry however was thinking. He remembered the first time he conjured a patronus. He tried hard to think of how he had been able to do it that time. Suddenly Harry had an idea.
"Neville," he said. "I'm going to cast a cheering charm on you, and then see if you can do a patronus, okay?"
"Alright then," replied Neville.
Harry cast a cheering charm. Neville gave a small giggle, and thought for a moment. EXPECTO PATRONUM! Neville bellowed, and Harry heard Tonks gasp in amazement as a Falcon came shooting out of Neville's wand.
"Potter," said Moody. "He has to learn how to do a patronus on his own."
"I know sir, but I was thinking, and part if the reason I could produce a good patronus the first time was because I knew I could do it."
They waited a few minutes for the cheering charm to wear off, and then Harry told Neville to try and produce the Falcon again.
Neville tried, and only got a wisp of silvery smoke. Neville lowered his head and Harry frowned.
"Neville, concentrate on the same thought you used with the cheering charm, since you know that one works," Harry said.
Neville's face screwed up in concentration again, and shouted "Expecto Patronum!" Once again a silver Falcon erupted from the tip of Neville's wand.
"Wow!" shouted Neville as he watched the bird fly across the clearing. "I actually did it!"
A chorus of 'good jobs' and 'I knew you could do its' came from everyone in the clearing.
They spent the rest of the afternoon practicing the patronus, and Tonks had once again taken them to a muggle ice cream shop as a treat.
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Harry had returned to his room after training thinking about Sirius's hearing tomorrow. Neville had wished him luck, and had said that he would be visiting his parents so neither of them would have a great day and don't worry about it. Harry flopped down on his bed feeling depressed, and instantly jumped up again. He had sat on what looked like a dishrag. He looked closer and noticed the rag was breathing.
"Errol?" he said recognizing the Weasley family owl. He untied the letter from his leg, and placed Errol in Hedwig's cage to rest and get some food. Then Harry opened the letter.
Harry Potter I resent that Weasley Temper comment!
I thought I should let you know something though. I remembered the night Percy came back, and he looked like he nearly did wet himself. I guess the temper isn't so bad after all, huh?
Ginny xo
Harry chuckled as he read this short letter. Harry walked across the room and scribbled a response.
Well I just thought you should know, the mental image of me talking to Ron about his girl problems would have been enough to produce adman good patronus. It was hysterical. And yes, Percy wetting himself is too.
Harry
He tried to make it sound like he could have produced a patronus, because Ginny was not supposed to know about his and Neville's training.
Harry thought about the hearing once more. Suddenly Harry had an idea. Harry sighed and got another piece of parchment.
Remus,
I was thinking that maybe tomorrow after the hearing would be a good time to check out that room the letter told us about. Nobody would be at the house, so it would be easy to keep secret. Tell me what you think when I see you tomorrow.
Harry
Harry tied this to Hedwig, who looked happy to finally have a job, and tied Ginny's letter to Errol's leg, and carried them to the window.
"Hedwig go with Errol to Snuffle's house, and deliver this to Remus okay?"
Hedwig gave a hoot and she and Errol took flight into the dark night sky.
Harry watched them as they flew over the street lamps of Privet Drive, and then disappear into the darkness. Harry closed the window, and flopped down on his bed, suddenly weary. He had one thought in his head before he cleared his mind completely as he was supposed to do.
Sirius's hearing is tomorrow.
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A/N: Don't worry, Harry/Ginny ship will go further than writing cute little letters.
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