A sudden rainstorm hit Hogsmeade, sending Hogwarts students and residents rushing for shelter. None of them noticed the man who stood at the end of the street, watching them scurry about, trying to finish their shopping before they returned to the comfort of their homes. One really couldn't blame them, they were in a hurry, and he wasn't really a very interesting looking stranger. One girl however, did notice him; she was in her seventh year at Hogwarts, top of her class. Her name was Ginevra Weasley, Ginny for short, Ginny noticed things. Whether they were little things such as the fact that her mum's hair had begun to gray just a little, or big things, things like this stranger who seemed oddly familiar. She couldn't quite place what it was about him that prodded her curious nature but she knew that it was something important. Before she had a chance to think about the matter any further he disappeared. Shaking her head in frustration, she turned back towards her friends who were gesturing impatiently, and followed them into the three broomsticks.

------

The man who had caught Ginny Weasley's interest in the rainy Hogsmeade street really was a very remarkable man, even by wizarding standards. Ginny did know him, she was right about that, she just hadn't seen him in nearly four months. Harry Potter was the man's name and he was in Hogsmeade because Albus Dumbledore had summoned him for an important meeting at the school. As he made his way through the castle, towards Dumbledore's office, Harry thought back over the last few months. Things had definitely changed since his school days, sure, Harry was still the champion for the light and Voldemort was still trying to nurse his bruised ego by taking over the world.

"Some people never give up, Harry grumbled inwardly, you'd think that losing once would be plenty for him, but no, had to have another go at it didn't he? Just can't stand the thought of going down in history as a failed psychopathic world domination obsessed freak. If your plans to conquer the world are thwarted, go home and create plans to destroy it."

By now Harry had reached the to Dumbledore's revolving staircase and he uttered the password (Carpe Diem, a reflection of how desperate the times were becoming as his passwords had previously reflected the professor strange sweet tooth) before riding towards the door to Dumbledore's office. Knocking, Harry waited patiently until Dumbledore opened the door, smiling happily upon seeing who was on the other side.

"I'm glad you could make it old friend, come on in and tell me how things have been going for you since we last spoke."

"Old? You're one to be talking about age Albus, what are you, three hundred now?"

"I'll have you know that I'm a very spry hundred and ten, I could take you any day, so I suggest you watch yourself young pup." Dumbledore countered grinning as he hugged his former student.

"Yes, I'm sure you believe that, and to show what a nice guy I am I'll even let you keep right on believing." Harry replied, returning the hug and sitting down behind Dumbledore's desk.

Sitting in the chair that was usually occupied by students was a young miscreant who Harry supposed had been sent up by either Professor McGonagall or Snape.

"Your timing couldn't have been better, since you seem to be right at home where you are, you may advise me as to Mr. Abercrombie's punishment. Professor Snape sent him to see me, it seems he somehow managed to dispose of Mr. Filches cat." Dumbledore said, confirming Harry's suspicions.

"D'you have any proof that it was him? You may not realize it but I remember serving plenty of unwarranted punishments from the two of them."

"Oh yes, I most certainly do remember, one that comes to mind rather vividly was the time that you and Mrs. Weasley were accused of inappropriate displays of affection in a broom closet, although she still managed to overcome that particular scandal and become Head Girl. Argus Filch himself saw Mr. Abercrombie shove the cat into the Vanishing Cabinet that Misters Weasley and Weasley discovered during your fifth year." Dumbledore smiled from behind Abercrombie.

"Oh, well in that case I think that he should be given an award for special services to the school and fifty points for Gryffindor."

"Well Scruffy, now we know why you aren't the headmaster."

"Not that it'd really work out very well, it just wouldn't do to have a crush on one's headmaster and with my dad's good looks and my mum's abundant charm, well, suffice it to say, they'd be sorely tempted." Harry said, grinning cheekily.

"You are insufferable, Sirius and James would've been proud and though she would have sighed and rolled her eyes a lot, your mum would have particularly enjoyed it. Now, since it is nearly dinner time, I believe that we should get Mr. Abercrombie squared away with a punishment."

"Oh come on Al, She'll show up in a few weeks, and when she does I'm sure she'll go back to stalking people around like her usual genial self."

"True, why, only yesterday she followed me on my way to the loo. 'It was really rather embarrassing, especially when Filch tried to follow her, he was pounding on the door and made a remarkable fuss about his plans to string me up from my ankles. Mr. Abercrombie, you will be serving one detention with Professor Hagrid on Friday next and five points will be removed from Gryffindor house."

"Ah well, you can't have everything, eh Euan? Do try not to get caught next time, and please when you see her next, could you give her a nice hard kick from me?"

"Sure sir, no problem, I'd love to." Euan said grinning as he left.

"One would hope that he doesn't break the rules again, you shouldn't be encouraging his behavior, at least not in my presence."

"Oh, you were always good about going temporarily deaf when one of us said something we shouldn't have. Although maybe it was just your age catching up to you."

"As enjoyable as it is for you to be calling me old and deaf, I believe that we need to make our way to the great hall if we wish to eat." Dumbledore sniffed haughtily

"Sounds like a plan, lets go." Harry laughed as he and his former professor made their way towards the great hall.

-----

The Order members who were able to come to the meeting in Dumbledore's office began to gather and Harry watched them with interest from the corner in which he sat. There was professor McGonagall; he doubted if she had changed at all since she had begun teaching. Professor Snape, Harry seemed to have inherited his parent's dislike for the slimy potions master, nicknamed Snivellus by Harry's godfather and his dad. Mundungus Fletcher, Harry liked Dung, their resident criminal and friend to the Marauders and Lily Evans. Remus Lupin, last remaining loyal Marauder, former teacher, resident werewolf, good friend. Hermione Granger, one of Harry's best friends, brilliant witch and the only one who had been even remotely capable of controlling Harry and Ron. Ronald Weasley, best friend, loyal companion, obsessive quidditch buff, brother to Ginevra Weasley. Harry was interrupted from his thoughts when the door was slammed, allowing the entrance of Alastor 'Mad Eye' Moody, Kingsley Shacklebolt, and Nymphadora Tonks.

"Now that we are all here, we seem to have hit something of a snag in our plans, Severus tells me that Voldemort has put all of his deatheaters on alert, he will offer a significant reward to anyone who can bring him the body of Harry Potter. He requests that Harry still be alive but gives them permission to use violence, he wants to have the privilege of finishing what he started seventeen years ago." Dumbledore announced gravely.

"Well, I probably could have told you that, I discovered the information the hard way when I was ambushed in my apartment a week ago. They really have no manners, not even so much as a knock on the door, rather inconsiderate." Harry grumbled irritably, surprising the other order members as he made his presence known.

"Harry, what are you doing here, I thought you were on a mission in Australia." Hermione blurted.

"I returned ten days ago, the Australian Minister of Magic agrees that something needs to be done and he has promised to extend our offer to some of his most trusted and talented Aurors, they will be given the choice of joining us or not."

"That's good, we need all of the help we can get, and those diggers are tough monkeys." Ron said enthusiastically.

"What are we going to do, we cant have you captured, with that many people out after you it's a wonder you're even here," Hermione asked irritably.

"Yes, I hear that they arent much for houskeeping and they haven't managed to perfect the art of hospitality, 's a bloody shame that is."

"Harry, how can you joke about this, we are talking about your life here-not some stupid quidditch game or house cup."

"Yes Hermione, I am perfectly aware of what we are talking about, I have faught more Death Eaters in the last four months than I would really like to meet. They aren't exactly subtle about it either, its not like we sit down for a cup of tea and chat about our families, the only reason I don't hide in a cupboard and wet myself until this is over is because I can make jokes about it! They don't take it easy on anyone and they are bloody terrifying, if my mind didn't go into autopilot when I'm under attack then I'd probably be rotting away in some dank cell or six feet under in the cold hard ground! Believe me I know exactly what we're talking about!" Hermione looked embarrassed and muttered an apology and Harry started to feel bad about yelling at her, he knew that she was just concerned about his welfare, he shouldn't have gotten angry.

Dumbledore cleared his throat before continuing "Well, now that we have that all cleared up, who has an idea as to what we should do?"

"Albus, if I may, Harry seems more than capable of taking care of himself. Why don't we continue with our current plans, we need to have cooperation from the Russian Embassy of Magic, they have some very strong ties and if we could get them on our side we would have yet another advantage over Voldemort."

"Thank you Moody, I'm glad that someone around here doesn't think I need a babysitter, when do you want me to leave for Russia?" Harry asked, turning to Dumbledore.

"We should have everything you will need in two weeks."

"Two weeks? It's never taken that long before, we need to get started as soon as possible, we can't let Voldemort get to them first." Harry argued, frustration evident on his face.

"The commencement exercises for seventh year students will be in one and a half weeks, at which point you will have a companion for your travels."

"What? I've never had a partner; I've always worked alone. Albus, you cant be serious, I don't want to have someone else to worry about if we are attacked, and this is not a safe little babysitting mission."

"I understand your feelings on the matter Harry, and I realize that you work quite well on your own but we will have to wait until after the meeting to discuss this further." The look in his eyes told Harry that the argument was closed for now.

--------

Harry, could you please stay behind, I need to speak with you about the next mission."

Harry sat down and waited as the other Order members slowly filed out of the room. When the last person was gone and the door closed, Dumbledore sat heavily in his chair and looked sadly at his former student.

"Harry, your new partner has been training hard all year on her own time and is quite ready to accompany you, she doesn't know yet that she will be accompanying you but I am certain that she will be a valuable asset. She is very talented in the art of healing and with your help she could become a remarkable duelist."

"I don't need a healer, I have always managed just fine on my own and I don't want to be a part of this, I would prefer that kids stay kids as long as they possibly can. There are already enough desensitized people in this world without adding her." Harry snapped irritably.

"You really don't have much choice in the matter, either you hand the mission over to someone else and risk letting them botch it up, or you accept that Ginevra Weasley will be accompanying you and do as you're told."

"But, Ginny, no, you can't send Ginny on this mission, its too dangerous." Harry spluttered

"I'm sorry Harry, but what Ginny does is entirely up to her, she is of age and she has the energy needed for this job."

"You're bleeding mental, the Weasley's have already given up everything for the order and now you are willing to take their only daughter as well?"

Dumbledore seemed slightly taken aback yet strangely pleased at this outburst.

"Yes Harry, they have indeed given their all, would you have Ginny feel like she is the only one who isn't out helping in any way she knows how? I know how frustrated you felt before you joined the order, think how she feels.

Harry hated it when Dumbledore gave such a good argument to such a bad idea. Glaring once again at his former headmaster, Harry slumped in his chair.

"I still don't agree with this, it's a bad idea and that wont change, but I'm not going to try forcing you to change your mind 'cause I'd still be arguing two weeks from now when its time to go. Is there anything else you need before I leave?"

"Yes, I would like you to work with her until you leave for the mission, I will provide a room for practice training as well as a place for you to stay as your flat is obviously not safe anymore."

"Fine, but that doesn't mean I agree with your plan, and I wont hide my feelings on the matter from her."

"I didn't expect that you would, come, I'll show you to your rooms."