I realize this is kind of a short, bridge chapter, but I'm swamped with finals—and I just wanted to write a chapter! So I couldn't get all the info I wanted to put in into it, but I promise more will come.)

Ron couldn't figure out how in the world he and Percy were able to return to the world of the living. He had expected something nice and dramatic, like the way they were thrown into darkness and then into a pre-development Quidditch field. Leaving the spirit world had to be worth something, didn't it?

But the truth was surprisingly boring. Sirius had led them to the field, where they had remained a few moments talking. Well, Ron and Sirius had talked; Percy had just hung nearby. Then Sirius said his final goodbye and. . .

Ron closed his eyes for the fifth time. Perhaps if he kept trying, he'd open them to some whirling vortex of terror rather than the Gryffindor common room. Not that he would have especially enjoyed a whirling vortex of terror, but it had all happened so fast.

"How predictable," Percy muttered from nearby. He swooped towards the floor, flinging his hand effortlessly through a passing second-year. "The Ministry of course would have to set something like that up."

Ron opened his eyes. Again, the Gryffindor common room. "A pesky second-year?"

"No." Percy moved to the fireplace and into it. "Dang this. . . I mean, that veil of yours and Sirius Black's."

"So you're impressed that your precious Ministry could do it?" Ron sighed, testing his eyes again. No use. He was still in the common room, floating near the ceiling. Whatever version of a stomach he had tried to flip itself. The short experience of tangibility in the spirit world had been so familiar. . . he hadn't meant to get so used to it again. "What about coming back here? We were just barely in the field with Sirius and then. . . Percy, we're not even in the Ministry!"

"Exactly!" Percy shot back up from the fireplace. "Ron, you moron, that's what I've been trying to say. We're not in the Ministry."

It was much too confusing. Ron snorted. He knew Percy was trying to make a point, but why did it have to be so ridiculous? Yet how like him to worry about that when some anti-climax of the supernatural had just happened. Percy has always had an obsession with the trivial doings of the Ministry. If it fascinated him so much, why did Ron have to listen? The fact that he didn't intend to would bother Percy all the more. . . He bit his lip to squeeze back a laugh, his bewilderment over their return leaving his mind.

But. . . Ron's frown became real. Percy seemed almost ready to laugh as well.

"We're not in the Ministry," he continued, "But that's where we entered the spirit world. But when Sirius Black sent us back here, well, he seemed to have done nothing. It was all so simple." The almost-laugh vanished. "Why do they have to mess everything up? What do they think they're playing at, having that thing in there?"

That wasn't the reply Ron has expected. "I thought that would actually impress you."

"Yeah." Percy's hand subconsciously fell to the rope around his wrist. "But haven't I been whining about the Ministry long enough?"

"Well, the Ministry was responsible for your death." Ron let the laugh out that time. "Or would that be the broccoli?"

"It's not funny."

"Hm. Maybe that's why the Ministry has that veil. Wouldn't it be funny if someone up there doing some boring report of whatever it is you people do in the Ministry and accidentally tripped?" So it had sort of happened to Sirius. That didn't matter; somehow the concept was suddenly hilarious.

Percy stared at him, a loose portion of the rope twisted around a finger. "That wouldn't be funny at all. Didn't that happen to your friend?"

The humor was lost on Percy. As usual. "I was just saying. . ."

He shrugged and shook his head. "That's okay. You were just talking." He let the rope slip from his finger. "That's so strange. I want nothing more to get this off and it looks like we won't be able to until next century, but it's so nice to touch it. The spirit world. I haven't been able to touch anything forever."

Touch. . . Ron frowned and leaned out to touch the wall. Nothing there. "If you miss it so much, I could go push you through the veil again."

"What veil?" Jillie popped out suddenly before them, grin spread tight over her freckled face. "Is that where you've been? Nick was saying something about something, but of course no one bothered to listen. . . "

Ron sighed again. Of course they would appear.

"I thought that was your job," Cornelia's voice said softly. The air next to Jillie flamed. "If it concerned you so much, Jillie. . . ." A portion of the flame turned. "So. . . where have you been forever?"

"I'm not exactly sure that really concerns you girls," Percy said icily.

Jillie's eyes lit up. "Oh? You weren't out trying some subtle means to get Harry Potter with Ginny, were you?"

It took Ron a moment to remember what they were talking about. Harry and his little sister. . . the idea had been lost among the panic of the veil. "You're still on that?"

"We've been working on it for the past two weeks."

"Two weeks—" Percy shook his head, frowning. "That's impossible."

"You're just awful!" A new voice rang out as a third girl swirled into view, an angry face surrounded by a messy cascade of pale hair. "Impossible? You're the one sneaking off while some Gryffindor psycho tries to make me do her dirty work." Pale eyes snapped to Percy, and her frown increased. "Percy Weasley. I've been avoiding you since you died. You were always so awful to watch when you went to school here."

Cornelia closed her eyes, sighing for patience. "Dream, please. . ."

The girl known as Dream drew back from Percy, though her face still remained stone. "I'm sorry, Cornelia," her voice not sorry at all. "But I don't plan on working with—"

"Dream. . . Percy, ignore her." Cornelia opened her eyes and gave a sheepish smile. "May I present Dream Oracle of the Ravenclaw ghosts to you?"

"A particularly brilliant conspirator, might I add," Jillie said with a laugh.

"Dream Oracle?" Ron repeated. Jillie and Cornelia had mentioned her earlier. But by some other name. "Isn't your name really—"

"That's not my name!" Dream screeched. "My name is Dream Oracle and if any stupid Muggle law office wants to argue otherwise, they can give me their address and I'll haunt them."

"But if that's your law name," Percy started. "Then isn't that what you should go by?"

Dream all but snarled at him. Then she slowly unclenched her fists and smoothed back her hair. The result was a surprisingly calmer Dream. "My parents were Muggle hippies," she explained nonchalantly. "I know you think Dream Oracle is a silly name, but they liked it enough to give it to me when I was born, and I like it. It's not my fault they changed their ways and legalized me something more 'traditional', darn them." She flashed a smile at Ron. "Don't you like it?"

"Er. . ." Ron wasn't quite sure how to respond. But the girl was smiling at him—still smiling at him—and his experience with girls taught him that she expected some sort of reply. "It's fantastic."

"Glad you agree. So, like the Gryffindor ghost girl asked, where have you been the past two weeks?"

"But we haven't been gone two weeks. . ."

"You say you haven't?" The confusion Ron had felt earlier rushed to Jillie's face, and Cornelia and Dream exchanged significant looks. "You must be lying, Ron. Very funny."

"Jillie, I don't think they're lying," said Cornelia.

"Though it would be very Percy Weasley-like to lie. . . ." Dream's former snarl seemed ready to return.

"Percy doesn't lie!" Ron heard himself shouting. It was true—other than the colorful account of the funeral, Percy could always be counted on for at least that.

Even Percy gave him a funny look. "Thanks for that spirited defense, Ron. Dream, I'm not sure what you have against me, but we certainly have not been gone for two weeks."

"But the last time we saw you was when Harry and Hermione were kissing," Jillie mused, her brows furrowed in concentration. "That was two weeks ago. This doesn't make any sense."

For the first time Cornelia seemed almost to laugh at Jillie. "Okay. Well, then. We might be able to figure this out. Percy, I know it probably isn't any of our business, but. . . where did you go?"

It was an awkward circle, Ron thought. Himself and Jillie lost in confusion, Cornelia badgering Percy, and this Dream Oracle about ready to jump down his throat. If anyone said the wrong thing. . . he looked away, down at the common room. Two weeks? How could that be? The common room didn't seem any different, but then again, it had changed so little over the years. A few second-years sat on the floor playing some game while several other students were scattered among the armchairs, talking or studying. He felt his stomach flip again. And there was Hermione—why hadn't he noticed her earlier? Because she was being Hermione? A book covered her face, her sleeping body curled in one of the chairs. Yes, Hermione falling asleep studying. Not entirely characteristic of her, but. . . he wondered how long she had been studying.

"The spirit world?!" Jillie suddenly shrieked, jerking Ron back to the present. Evidently the conversation had continued without him. "You went there?!"

"It wasn't nearly so hard as everyone made it out to be," Percy said with a shrug.

"But how? How did you get in?"

Ron felt his brother's eyes turn to him. "What?"

Percy frowned disapprovingly. "You're the expert on the veil here."

"Veil?" Dream echoed. "Yes, I think you are lying."

"But there really is a veil," Ron started.

Dream shook her head and shot another smile at him. "You don't have to defend him just because he's your brother, Ron. Though your kindness would be helpful if you do want to help with our little scheme." In a pivot of emotion she glared at Percy. "Prove you went to the spirit world."

Percy reeled back. Ron recognize the look on his face. A temper was about to flare. "I can't prove something like that!"

"Sure you can!" Jillie exclaimed, moving toward him. "I mean, no ghost who would go to the spirit world would leave without some token. Percy, what did you bring back?"

"Exactly," Dream said. "You claim it, and Jillie's right. You would have brought something back."

"That's not necessarily true," Cornelia said, inching back from the two other girls moving in on Percy. "But if they're telling the truth, well, that might explain for the time difference if. . ." Whatever she wanted to say went ignored.

"Get off me!" Percy's arms flailed as he pushed away from the girls. "You can't just. . . hey, give that back!"

Dream held an envelope in her hands and was gazing greedily at it. "Is this important, I wonder? Is this your proof?"

A letter. . . "Where in bloody hell did you get that?" Ron asked. The answer hit him before his question was out. Percy had been slipping something into his pocket outside the ice cream parlor. How could he have ignored that.

Percy growled and made a grab for the letter, but Dream held it above his reach. "Not until you tell me the truth," she sang.

"This is so childish. .. no wonder someone pushed you into the lake."

"No wonder you're such a jerk, Weasley. Here, Ron. Catch." She tossed the letter in his direction.

Ron easily caught the envelope despite Percy's attempt at a diving rescue. "To. . . Rebeccah Grey," he read.

A row of flame slid quickly over Cornelia's face. "The Grey Lady?"

"You're reading someone else's mail?" Dream asked Percy. "Yes, where did you get that?"

Percy slid back against the wall, frowning, until he nearly melted into the shadows. "I got it from Cedric Diggory," he muttered.

"Ceddy!" Dream squealed. "I was so disappointed when he didn't come back as a ghost. He and Cho Chang were so close; it was rather sweet. But when he died I figured if he did come back. . ." She blushed silver after a look from Jillie.

Ron handed the note back to Percy. "Is that why you took so long at the council?"

Percy gave a slight nod and a grumble. "It was right after you left. Remember how he disappeared during that ridiculous trial? He came back with this. Apparently it's been waiting in the spirit world for a long time, but since so few people go back and forth it was near impossible to get it to her. So Diggory entrusted me with that responsibility."

"Hmm." Dream twisted her finger into her hair thoughtfully. "So Cedric would trust you with something like that?"

Percy rolled his eyes and stuck the letter back in his pocket. "Don't even think about taking it."

"How come Cedric didn't give me the letter?" Ron complained. "And as for the Grey Lady, she practically forced us through the Veil for nothing."

"How utterly Ravenclaw of her," Percy muttered. "No offense, Cornelia. But. . ." His voice trailed off as he pulled the envelope back out. He read the address, lips moving. "Ron, you don't suppose. . ."

"Suppose what?"

Percy stared at him, frowning.

Ron hated it when Percy automatically expected him to know something.

"Never mind." The letter was returned to the pocket. "I'll tell you later. When we're alone."

"Lunatic," Dream muttered.

Ron laughed.

"As I was saying," said Cornelia. "Maybe time moves differently in the spirit world."

"But two whole weeks?" Percy asked. "I'm still not sure I believe you."

"You had better," Jillie put in cheerfully. "We've already gone far into our little Cupid plot."

A sudden wave of horror washed through Ron. "You've gotten Harry and my sister together already?"

It was Dream's turn to laugh. "I don't think they know which one is your sister, Ron."

At that moment, Harry slipped through the portrait hole, calling Hermione's name. Immediately Ron's attention was there.

Harry darted over to the chair, still saying her name.

"Huh?" Hermione groggily pushed the book from her face. She looked. . . so beautiful, despite the hair still clinging toward the pages and the panic in her eyes. "Oh, no! I fell asleep! Now I'll never get a proper chance to study and Snape assigned the essay a week ago and I'm so behind and..." She took a deep breath. "Sorry, Harry. Thanks for waking me up."

Harry smiled apologetically. "I think you do need to sleep more, Hermione. Um, I have a question?"

"Harry, I know the professors are letting you slide a little on your studies, but that only gives you all the more reason to do the work yourself—"

"It's not about that. Do you know who Charity Broadbent is?"

"Charity Broadbent. Yes, she's—" Hermione frowned. "Why do you want to know?"

"Because. . ." Harry sighed, his face going red. "Because I have this sudden urge to ask her out and I'm not sure who she is."

"See my point?" Dream asked.

SHOUT OUTS!!!

Kaitee: Art lessons rock!

xXNaziHaloXx: You're incredible. Thank-you so much for your review, and your advice on waiting for inspiration! I hate forcing things, and I'm glad you understand that.

HiddenFlame42: How dare you forget about Ceddikins!

meenyrocks: Well, I sort of explained what the note was in this chapter, so....

Tru Lys: No, I didn't change the chapter. At least I don't think I did. Maybe FF was being weird again....

Icy Dragon Claws: Oh, dear. I don't want to send Harry over the edge. . . that's true, I'm not sure how he would react to hearing about his parents. Oh, dear. Now I get to fret over I shall handle all of that.

starsmiles: I'm glad you liked that part of the chapter! The discussion about Harry was one of my favorite parts as well.

hydraspit: And I'm loving your story!

v-babe24: Thank-you, Danikins!

Shades of Ink: Yes, suspense. Suspense is our friend. Pelts her with Altoids.

Mooncheese: No, not all angels are angelic. This heaven isn't quite how I imagine it—I actually don't have that definite a concept either. But I do believe in an afterlife, and that we will be actually be doing things and being with those we love. I also believe that the spirit world and our world aren't that far apart, so that the dead do look in on us.

Pline: Yeah. Percy actually has issues that Harry let Ron die—at least that's how he sees it.

Crystal Lightening; Thanks! And ice cream always makes me feel better, so...

Dr. Huff-Puff: Actually, I bet if you think about it, you could figure out who the ghost representative is.

RVG: =) Don't try and blow your mind out about it.

HotDog-Jo: I like playing around with different perspectives of Percy like that. He's such an interesting character.

Muses' Advocate: Thanks so much for your review! It made my day! And I'm so flattered by your word for it.

Liseli: Ooh! I like your plot!

From the Silent Planet: Hah! I'm sorry to remind you of Dante when you seemed to have had such a lousy experience with him, but I couldn't resist throwing in Virgil!

Hi Im Crazy: To be honest, Ron won't go visible for a few more chapters. Sorry.

Libby Bird: The dream idea is good.... You'll see. =)

Lady Meriadoc: Don't worry! Being tired sucks.

Rosepetal13: Muffin! Yummy! Thank-you!

UniCornVampire3z: Ron wouldn't be Ron if he weren't clueless. So why do you feel sorry for Lily and James?

A Little Birdie Told Me: Haha! Percy the Pickpocket. It is nice to say.

Midnight Dove: Thanks! Percy had to sympathize so he wouldn't be a complete git.

Duj: Thanks! And even more info will be out later!

LJ Fan: Awww... I love it how you're also so concerned with Ron's dilemma. It's bothering me, and I'm the almight authoress. It just strikes me as something to think about.

pIPPENpIRATE: Wal-Mart is the whore of the earth. By the way, you're the 300th reviewer!