Ron waited patiently on the sofa in the sitting room. Hermione was upstairs getting dressed and Ginny was in the kitchen with Tonks starting on lunch. He glanced at his watch quickly and looked up as Hermione descended the stairs.

"Not here yet?" Hermione asked, worriedly. "You don't think something happened, do you?"

"Don't worry Hermione," Ron said reassuringly. "You-Know-Who can't get at Harry at the Dursley's. Plus Mum, Dad, and Lupin have to get all of his things together anyway. They only just left, you know." As these words left his mouth, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley appeared with Harry's belongings in a burst of green flame. Ron and Hermione helped to move the things from the fireplace, when another burst of green flame brought Professor Lupin and Harry himself.

"Harry!" Hermione shrieked, dropping Hedwig's cage with a clang. The door flew open and a very angry Hedwig flew upstairs to join Pigwidgeon. Hermione leaped onto Harry and hugged him tightly, knocking him over.

"Nice to see you too, Hermione." Harry said, laughing.

Ron looked over at the pair uneasily. He had long since forgiven them, but sometimes it just felt awkward seeing the two of them together. He didn't know where he fit. At Hermione's squeal, Tonks and Ginny had entered the room.

"Hey Harry," Ginny said, grinning.

"Wotcher Harry," Tonks said, her hair currently a violent shade of green.

"How've you been mate?" Harry asked, after getting up and dusting off his trousers.

"Alright, I guess," Ron said, his smile returning. "It's been boring without you and Hermione, she only just arrived last weekend."

For the first time, Harry looked around Grimmauld Place. He hadn't been there for an entire year. "It looks so different," he said, softly. And different it was. The cobwebs and dust were gone and bright light streamed through the bay windows. The once rough ebony floor was now smooth and gleaming and the items in the display case were replaced with far friendlier things.

"Well, I've pretty much been here all summer," Ron explained. "I haven't seen the Burrow much at all. Mum had me working like a house elf."

As they made their way upstairs, Harry noted someone missing at the mention of house elves. "Where's Kreacher?" Harry asked, quietly, before Hermione could interrupt about S.P.E.W.

"Died," Ron said. "We found him in his room when we came back from the summer. We don't know how, but I think Lupin did it."

"He deserved it," Harry said menacingly, flopping onto the bed.

Ron feared the conversation was steering into dangerous waters. He didn't want Harry to get upset about Sirius all over again. "So what's been happening with you? I mean, we've all been sending each other letters, but anything we should know about?"

Harry replied by retelling his earlier conversation with Aunt Petunia. "Doesn't that seem...you know...a bit random?" Hermione said, puzzled. Harry just shrugged.

"How does it feel to be an adult, Harry? Don't think we forgot it was your birthday!" Ron said.

"I dunno," Harry said. "Feels pretty much the same, I guess. How's it for you?"

"Excellent," Ron said, enthusiastically. "Especially apparating."

At this Hermione scowled. "He's as bad as Fred and George. He apparates downstairs just to get a glass of milk!" she exclaimed.

"I can't wait to take my test," Harry said.

"You might not have time," Hermione said. "Even though I'll be able to take the test in a couple of months, I think I'll wait until after we graduate."

"Hermione!" Ron exclaimed, incredulously. "It's the best part about being of age! Why wouldn't you have time?!"

"Well we have N.E.W.T.s to be studying for," Hermione said, prudishly. "Why would I bother with the A.P.T.s if I spend most of my time at Hogwarts anyway? I might not even take it until after I get out of The Academy."

"So you decided to become an Auror after all?" Ron asked. Hermione had been considering being a Healer among other things.

"Yes," replied Hermione. "I think it makes the most sense, seeing that we're currently at war. Besides, you and Harry wouldn't last a day there without me."

Harry and Ron grinned. "I reckon you're right," Ron said. "And seeing N.E.W.T.s are coming up, we'll need all the help we can get."

"Well you'll have to manage the specialty classes on your own," said Hermione.

"Our what?" Harry asked, confused.

"Didn't McGonagall tell you?" Ron asked, surprised.

"I guess not," Harry said. "But then, she was a bit preoccupied during my session." Preoccupied was an understatement. Every five seconds Professor McGonagall was interrupted by Professor Umbridge, saying that there was no way that Harry would ever be an Auror.

"The Heads of House choose a fifth class for each potential Auror, according to either his or her talent or the necessity of the skill," recited Hermione.

"You'll probably end up in Defense Against the Dark Arts," Ron said.

"Don't be stupid, Ron," Hermione said. "Every Auror-To-Be has to take that class. Specialty classes are usually outside of the core curriculum, but every now and then, there'll be exceptions. I don't know what Professor McGonagall would give me. I rather like Ancient Runes and Arithmancy, but I just don't think that it has the proper applications in the Auror field."

Ron rolled his eyes behind Hermione's back. Hermione would have continued, but Mrs. Weasley called them down for lunch. After lunch, Ginny joined them upstairs, talking about what went on during the summer. Later that evening, Professor Dumbledore, Fred and George, and several other members of the Order joined them for Harry's first birthday party. The trio went back upstairs that evening considerably heavier and quite tired indeed. Ron and Harry practically fell into bed.

When it seemed that Ron had just closed his eyes, he was suddenly awakened by a blood-curdling scream. He quickly sat up and looked across to Harry, who, like him, was sitting straight up, wide-eyed with fear. They jumped up and felt around for their wands, finally finding them and igniting them. They stepped out cautiously from their room, back to back. The darkness pressed against they eyeballs, even with the light from their wands. Ron wondered where everyone else was, could they have been the only ones to hear the scream? They quietly made their way up the stairs to Hermione and Ginny's room. Harry knocked softly on the door.

"Are you alright?" Ron whispered urgently. "We heard a scream―"

"I heard it too," Hermione whispered back, her voice breaking. "Ginny...she's not here."

Reviews:

Truly Anna: Thanks for reviewing! Yeah, English is the language I speak everyday (I think the phrase is my first language) That's pretty cool that you live in Denmark! I've noticed a lot of members of are...is it hard for you to understand?

Merlindamage: Thanks much!

Geena-Waters: Only sort of cool? Anyway I can make it better...

Chrys-Moony-Marauder: Yeah, I guess it was, and I know how you hate that. It really was sort of a whim...hopefully I'll be able to work it into the story somehow. Oh, and I decided not to make it Apparition Permit Test because apparition indicates a ghost or something. BTW, loving your fic.

Avalon64: Lol, here ya go!